Lok Sabha Question No. 2080 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-20
Subject: Use of Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Nalin Kumar Kateel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2080

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## USE OF FERTILIZERS

2080 . SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI: SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of budget outlay for fertilizers during the last three years;
- (b) the steps taken for balanced and integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizers to maintain good soil health that results in increase in production;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  any  scheme  about  balanced  use  of fertilizers based on Soil Health Card recommendations and training to farmers on proper and integrated use of fertilizers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the current status of Soil Health Card Scheme; and
- (e) whether the Government provides financial assistance to States/UTs for training of farmers, demonstrations to farmers' fields and organising farmer melas about the balanced use of fertilizers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

(a):  The details of budget outlay for fertilizers during the last three years are as under: (Rs in Crore)

| Subsidy Schemes                                                  |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 (BE) |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------|
| Urea Subsidy Scheme                                              |     57099 |     99537 |    104870 |          67187 |
| Nutrient Based Subsidy ( NBS) Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) Scheme |     26369 |     38990 |     57202 |          42600 |
| Total Subsidy (Gross)                                            |     83468 |    138527 |    162072 |         109787 |

(b) to (c):    Government has been implementing the Soil Health Card (SHC)/ Soil Health Management  (SHM)  scheme  under  National  Project  on  Management  Soil  Health  & Fertility since 2015 to provide soil test based fertilizer use recommendations periodically to the farmers in the country.  Soil health card provides nutrient status of the soil along with prescription about   balanced and integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizers to  maintain  good  soil  health  that  results  in  increase  in  production.    To  augment  soil samples testing capacity in the country so far, 12682 new soil testing labs (499 static, 113 mobile, 8811 mini labs and 2395 village level labs and strengthening of 864 existing labs) have been sanctioned to the states.  From 2014-15 to 2021-22 total Rs.1335.68 crore has been released to State/UTs.  Since 2015, around 6.45 lakh demonstrations, 93781 farmer's trainings & 7425 farmers melas and 79 workshops have been organized/conducted  through  the  State  Governments  at  Panchayat  and  village  level under the Scheme.    In Cycle- I (2015 to 2017), 10.74 crore and in Cycle- II (2017 to 2019), 11.97 crore grid based soil health cards have been distributed to farmers.  In Model Village Programme (2019-20), 19.64 lakh and during the year 2020-21, 11.52 lakh land holdings  based  soil  health  cards  have  also  been  distributed  to  farmers.    SHC  based fertilizer  use  advisories  are  issued  to farmers  through State Government from time to time.  Training to the farmers on proper and integrated use of fertilizers are integral part of the scheme and demonstrations about balanced use of fertilizers based on soil health card recommendations are also organized.

Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) is recommending soil test based fertilizer  application  through  conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and  organic  sources (manure,  bio-fertilizers,  green  manuring,  in-situ  crop  residue  recycling  etc.)    of  plant nutrients with 4R approaches i.e. right quantity, right time, right mode and right type of fertilizer in order to improve the quality of soil to increase crop production.   In addition, growing leguminous crops and use of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also  advocated.      ICAR  has  developed  location  specific  bio-engineering  soil  &  water conservation  measure,  land  management  techniques,  soil  reclamation  measures  for saline, alkali, waterlogged and acid soils, selection of suitable crop including agroforestry interventions to reclaim and develop barren lands. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) also imparts training, organizes front line demonstrations to educate farmers on these aspects. It also imparts training, organizes Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.

Government  is  focusing  on  creating  awareness  and  education  of  the  farmers  about organic  farming  practices  under  the  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  and Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER) schemes.

- (d):       Soil Health Card (SHC) & Soil Health Management (SHM) Schemes of National Project  on  Management of Soil Health & Fertility has been merged as Soil Health & Fertility  Component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from year 2022-23 and Budget Estimate (BE) of Rs.274.61 crore also been allocated under this component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for the year 2022-23 for implementation of various activities during the year.   An amount of Rs.13.59 core has been released during the current financial year under the Scheme so far.
- (e):        Yes  Sir,  the  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  State  Governments  for  farmers training, demonstrations on farmer fields and organizing farmer Melas about the balanced use of fertilizers since, 2014-15 under the scheme.  The details are as under:

| Sr. No   | Activities                      | Physical (in Numbers)   |   Financial (Rs. in crores) |
|----------|---------------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 1        | Farmers training                | 93781                   |                       92.33 |
| 2        | Demonstrations on farmer fields | 645324                  |                       68.58 |
| 3        | Organizing farmer Melas         | 7425                    |                       35.03 |
|          |                                 | Total                   |                      195.94 |

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