Lok Sabha Question No. 1069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Adverse Effects of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jual Oram, Guman Singh Damor

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1069

ANSWERED ON 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

1069.  SHRI JUAL ORAM: SHRI GUMAN SINGH DAMOR:

## Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण

be pleased to state:-

मंी

- (a) whether any authentic study has been conducted in regard to the adverse effects of chemicals and fertilizers;
- (b) if so, the names of the research institutes working for the said purpose along with the findings of their research;
- (c) the names of the States in which the use of chemicals and fertilizers is maximum;
- (d) whether chemical fertilizers contaminate ground water and environment and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the impact of excessive use of chemicals and fertilizers on the quality of groundwater and if so, the details thereof;
- (f)  the  details  of  steps  taken  to  protect  ground  water  and  environment  from  chemical fertilizers; and
- (g) the policy of the Government to promote organic farming along with the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a), (b) & (d) to (g): The  registration  committee  constituted  under  section  (5)  of the  Insecticides  Act,  1968  while  registering  the  pesticides  for  use  in  the  country evaluates their safety and efficacy based on the field trials conducted at State Agriculture Universities/ICAR  institutes  and  lab  studies  conducted  at  NABL  /ISO:17025/  and  GLP accredited  laboratories.  Based  on  the  studies,  Registration  Committee  approves  the details  of  doses,  crops,  precautionary  measures,  antidotes  etc  on  Label  and  Leaflets. The registered  pesticides  if  used  as  per  Label  and  Leaflets  do  not  pose  any  harm  to human beings, animals, environment and living organisms other than pests.

Further,  with  the  objective  of    educating,  orienting  and  training  of    farming community about the judicious use of pesticides and their use as per the directions given in  the  label  and  leaflets,  Central  and  State  Governments  through  their  field  agencies ensure that farmers are provided right knowledge/ information about the recommended pesticide use. Further, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through its Central

Integrated Pest Management Centres located in 28 States and 2 UTs, KVKs, ICAR etc. is propagating the Integrated Pest Management approach.

For  fertilizers,  Soil  Health  &  Fertility  in  RKVY  scheme  is  being  implemented  to promote soil test based Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through conjunctive use of chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers. Promotion of INM is expected to  reduce  consumption  of  chemical  fertilizers  and  increase  use  of  organic  sources  of plant  nutrients,  which  in  turn  improve  the  soil  fertility  as  well  nutrient  use  efficiency. Under  this  scheme,  State  Governments/UTs  are  assisted  to  issue  the  soil  health cards(SHC)  to  all  farmers  in  the  country.  Soil  Health  Cards  also  advise  them  not  to overuse  and  underuse  fertilizer  thus  reducing  the  input  cost  and  enhancing  farmers' income. Apart from this, SHC recommendations also help farmers to apply appropriate quantum of amendments for the amelioration of  problematic  soils  viz:  Acidic  and  Salt affected Soils.

To promote use of organic fertilizer, Paramparagat Krishi Vikash Yojana (PKVY) scheme  is  being  implemented  in  a  cluster  mode  (with  min  20  ha  size).  Financial assistance  of  Rs.  50,000  per  ha.  for  3  years  is  provided  to  farmers,  out  of  which Rs.31,000 is given as incentive to farmers for organic inputs including organic fertilizers directly  through  DBT.  Besides,  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) Scheme is also being implemented to promote organic farming in the North Eastern Region.

(c): State Governments and Union Territories report data related to consumption of pesticides to the Central  Government.  As  per  the available data, the trend of consumption of chemical pesticides has varied from year to year and region to region. The  consumption  of  pesticides  has  been  found  to  be  maximum  in  the  State  of Maharashtra for the year 2021-22. The state wise details on consumption of chemical pesticides  and  bio-pesticides  are  attached  at  Annexure-I  and  II  respectively.  The consumption of fertilizers in terms of nutrient (N+P+K) in kg/Ha is maximum in Punjab State for the year 2021-22. State wise consumption details of fertilizers (nutrient wise) are attached at Annexure-III.

## STATE-WISE CONSUMPTION OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES

## Quantity : Metric Ton (Tech. Grade)

| S. No.            | States/UTs                           | 2017-18           | 2018-19           | 2019-20           | 2020-21           | 2021-22           |
|-------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh                       | 1738              | 1689              | 1559              | 1559              | 1759              |
| 2                 | Bihar                                | 840               | 850               | 850               | 995               | 995               |
| 3                 | Chhattisgarh                         | 1685              | 1770              | 1672              | 1639              | 1740              |
| 4                 | Goa                                  | 24                | 25                | 30                | 30                | 32                |
| 5                 | Gujarat                              | 1692              | 1608              | 1784              | 1573              | 1869              |
| 6                 | Haryana                              | 4025              | 4015              | 4200              | 4050              | 4066              |
| 7                 | Himachal Pradesh                     | 467               | 322               | 881               | 56                | 454               |
| 8                 | Jharkhand                            | 619               | 646               | 681               | 1161              | 1195              |
| 9                 | Karnataka                            | 1502              | 1524              | 1568              | 1930              | 1930              |
| 10                | Kerala                               | 1067              | 995               | 656               | 585               | 554               |
| 11                | Madhya Pradesh                       | 502               | 540               | 540               | 691               | 654               |
| 12                | Maharashtra                          | 15568             | 11746             | 12783             | 13243             | 13175             |
| 13                | Orissa                               | 1633              | 1609              | 1115              | 1158              | 1240              |
| 14                | Punjab                               | 5835              | 5543              | 4995              | 5193              | NR                |
| 15                | Rajasthan                            | 2307              | 2290              | 2088              | 2330              | 2104              |
| 16                | Tamil Nadu                           | 1929              | 1901              | 2225              | 1834              | 1851              |
| 17                | Telangana                            | 4866              | 4894              | 4915              | 4986              | 5090              |
| 18                | Uttar Pradesh                        | 10824             | 11049             | 12217             | 11557             | 11688             |
| 19                | Uttarakhand                          | 210               | 195               | 224               | 135               | 114               |
| 20                | West Bengal                          | 2982              | 3190              | 3630              | 3630              | 3630              |
|                   | Sub Total                            | 60315             | 56401             | 58613             | 58336             | 54140             |
| North-Eastern     | North-Eastern                        | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     |
| 21                | Arunachal Pradesh                    | NR                | 5                 | 5                 | 2                 | 3                 |
| 22                | Assam                                | 241               | 256               | 410               | 420               | 428               |
| 23                | Manipur                              | 27                | NR                | 25                | 46                | NR                |
| 24                | Meghalaya                            | Organic State     | Organic State     | Organic State     | Organic State     | Organic State     |
| 25                | Mizoram                              | NR                | 26                | 27                | NR                | 23                |
| 26                | Nagaland                             | 20                | 21                | 19                | 36                | 41                |
| 27                | Sikkim                               | Organic State     | Organic State     | Organic State     | Organic State     | NR                |
| 28                | Tripura                              | 330               | 349               | 364               | NR                | NR                |
|                   | Sub Total                            | 618               | 657               | 850               | 503               | 494               |
| Union Territories | Union Territories                    | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories |
| 29                | Andaman & Nicobar                    | NR                | NR                | NR                | 1                 | NR                |
| 30                | Chandigarh                           | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 31                | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 32                | Delhi                                | NR                | 110               | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 33                | Jammu & Kashmi                       | 2430              | 2459              | 2198              | 3352              | 4086              |
| 34                | Ladakh                               | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 35                | Lakshadweep                          | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 36                | Pondicherry                          | 43                | 42                | 40                | NR                | NR                |

Annexure-I

| Sub Total   |   2473 |   2611 |   2238 |   3353 |   4086 |
|-------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Grand Total |  63406 |  59669 |  61701 |  62193 |  58720 |

Source: States/UTs Zonal Conferences on Inputs (Plant Protection) for Rabi & Kharif Seasons. NR - Inputs Not Reported.

Annexure-II

## STATE-WISE CONSUMPTION OF BIO-PESTICIDES

## Quantity : Metric Ton (Tech. Grade)

| S. No.            | States/UTs                           | 2017-18           | 2018-19           | 2019-20           | 2020-21           | 2021-22           |
|-------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh                       | 5.25              | 10.00             | 8.79              | 8.79              | 45.22             |
| 2                 | Bihar                                | 320.00            | 350.00            | 360.00            | 360.00            | 360.00            |
| 3                 | Chhattisgarh                         | 405.00            | 505.00            | 605.00            | 605.00            | 705.00            |
| 4                 | Goa                                  | 4.50              | 6.00              | 6.00              | 1.78              | 5.30              |
| 5                 | Gujarat                              | 353.50            | 306.00            | 307.00            | 320.00            | 392.00            |
| 6                 | Haryana                              | 390.00            | 410.00            | 400.00            | 430.00            | 440.00            |
| 7                 | Himachal Pradesh                     | 1.45              | 1.50              | 4.20              | 18.04             | 5.02              |
| 8                 | Jharkhand                            | 37.88             | 41.43             | 91.00             | 91.00             | 97.00             |
| 9                 | Karnataka                            | 544.00            | 544.00            | 564.00            | 561.00            | 561.00            |
| 10                | Kerala                               | 717.28            | 861.74            | 778.64            | 757.69            | 607.80            |
| 11                | Madhya Pradesh                       | 326.00            | 322.00            | 322.00            | 346.00            | 349.00            |
| 12                | Maharashtra                          | 1271.46           | 1164.17           | 1082.14           | 934.41            | 934.44            |
| 13                | Orissa                               | 310.00            | 310.00            | 333.00            | 165.00            | 121.97            |
| 14                | Punjab                               | 259.00            | 246.00            | 219.00            | 210.00            | NR                |
| 15                | Rajasthan                            | 10.00             | 15.00             | 929.00            | 1021.00           | 1268.00           |
| 16                | Tamil Nadu                           | 630.00            | 500.00            | 820.00            | 861.00            | 891.00            |
| 17                | Telangana                            | 77.00             | 84.00             | 329.80            | 496.00            | 522.00            |
| 18                | Uttar Pradesh                        | 46.22             | 46.85             | 47.73             | 47.94             | 50.88             |
| 19                | Uttarakhand                          | 50.14             | 51.68             | 154.58            | 111.23            | 231.03            |
| 20                | West Bengal                          | 951.00            | 997.00            | 1017.00           | 1017.00           | 1017.00           |
|                   | Sub Total                            | 6709.68           | 6772.37           | 8378.87           | 8362.88           | 8603.65           |
| North-Eastern     | North-Eastern                        | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     | North-Eastern     |
| 21                | Arunachal Pradesh                    | NR                | 17.25             | 18.05             | 18.05             | 18.00             |
| 22                | Assam                                | 217.10            | 233.50            | 242.85            | 247.85            | 256.85            |
| 23                | Manipur                              | 1.05              | NR                | 0.85              | 1.43              | NR                |
| 24                | Meghalaya                            | 75.10             | NR                | 8.49              | 8.87              | 8.55              |
| 25                | Mizoram                              | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 26                | Nagaland                             | 14.00             | 17.50             | 19.00             | 4.40              | 8.12              |
| 27                | Sikkim                               | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 28                | Tripura                              | 141.96            | 137.58            | 167.28            | NR                | NR                |
|                   | Sub Total                            | 449.21            | 405.83            | 456.52            | 280.60            | 291.52            |
| Union Territories | Union Territories                    | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories |
| 29                | Andaman & Nicobar                    | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 30                | Chandigarh                           | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 31                | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 33                | Delhi                                | NR                | 12.60             | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 34                | Jammu & Kashmir                      | 1.40              | 1.60              | 1.63              | 3.67              | 3.75              |
| 35                | Ladakh                               | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 36                | Lakshadweep                          | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 37                | Pondicherry                          | 14.14             | 11.08             | 9.90              | NR                | NR                |
|                   | Sub Total                            | 15.54             | 25.28             | 11.53             | 3.67              | 3.75              |

| Grand Total   | 7174.43   | 7203.48   | 8846.93   | 8647.14   | 8898.92   |
|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|

Source: States/UTs Zonal Conferences on Inputs (Plant Protection) for Rabi & Kharif Seasons. NR - Inputs Not Reported.

Annexure-III

| S.No.   | Per Hectare consumption of fertilizers (State-wise, Nutrient-wise)   |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   20 | Uttranchal    | 141.72   | 23.23   | 7.50   | 172.45   | 130.82      | 22.51   | 7.45   | 160.78   | 101.06   | 25.07   | 7.19   | 133.32   | 98.10        | 23.57       | 6.80        | 128.47      | 86.34   | 20.15 5.57   | 112.06   |
|------|---------------|----------|---------|--------|----------|-------------|---------|--------|----------|----------|---------|--------|----------|--------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|---------|--------------|----------|
|   21 | Himachal Pr.  | 39.90    | 10.66   | 12.20  | 62.75    | 40.90       | 10.66   | 10.02  | 61.57    | 41.96    | 11.38   | 10.90  | 64.24    | 41.27 12.30  |             | 11.22 64.78 | 41.77       | 10.02   | 9.32         | 61.11    |
|   22 | J & K         | 69.86    | 26.25   | 19.47  | 115.58   | 62.11 20.35 |         | 14.06  | 96.51    | 26.30    | 8.71    | 5.79   | 40.80    | 59.69        | 19.65 15.09 | 94.43       | 44.68       | 11.32   | 6.82         | 62.82    |
|   23 | Delhi         | 99.49    | 26.27   | 2.71   | 128.47   | 168.62      | 22.08   | 5.60   | 196.30   | 126.29   | 21.10   | 3.29   | 150.68   | 110.49 17.54 | 2.99        | 131.02      | 133.46      | 17.92   | 1.67         | 153.05   |
|   24 | Chandigarh    | NA       | NA      | NA     | NA       | NA          | NA      | NA     | NA       | NA       | NA      | NA     | NA       | NA NA        | NA          | NA          | NA          | NA      | NA           | NA       |
|   25 | Bihar         | 147.93   | 51.33   | 21.01  | 220.27   | 160.72      | 47.28   | 18.34  | 226.34   | 149.46   | 51.22   | 19.58  | 220.26   | 145.57 51.87 | 18.99       | 216.43      | 114.30      | 34.90   | 9.88         | 159.08   |
|   26 | Jharkhand     | 45.52    | 34.73   | 7.20   | 87.45    | 69.66       | 21.47   | 2.72   | 93.86    | 43.98    | 15.06   | 1.53   | 60.58    | 39.15 15.82  | 1.55        | 56.52       | 38.76       | 14.53   | 1.82         | 55.10    |
|   27 | Odisha        | 72.20    | 31.18   | 15.88  | 119.27   | 68.31       | 29.16   | 14.74  | 112.21   | 43.89    | 19.06   | 9.45   | 72.40    | 43.67 22.50  | 10.70       | 76.86       | 40.48 19.42 |         | 7.71         | 67.61    |
|   28 | West Bengal   | 75.09    | 43.85   | 37.01  | 155.95   | 77.20       | 40.23   | 32.60  | 150.04   | 82.96    | 48.35   | 36.61  | 167.92   | 84.06 54.44  | 43.93       | 182.42      | 83.54       | 46.73   | 31.57        | 161.84   |
|   29 | Assam         | 38.75    | 12.38   | 11.12  | 62.26    | 53.76       | 12.19   | 13.02  | 78.98    | 45.90    | 12.66   | 11.74  | 70.29    | 37.65        | 11.74 10.55 | 59.95       | 37.02       | 10.01   | 7.24         | 54.27    |
|   30 | Tripura       | 18.84    | 6.64    | 6.80   | 32.27    | 25.26       | 9.08    | 2.94   | 37.27    | 17.04    | 10.97   | 10.31  | 38.32    | 14.10 11.98  | 5.02        | 31.10       | 22.36 12.31 |         | 3.60         | 38.27    |
|   31 | Manipur       | 25.29    | 10.80   | 10.22  | 46.31    | 25.33       | 1.02    | 0.23   | 26.57    | 38.02    | 10.97   | 2.91   | 51.90    | 29.12 6.89   | 4.37        | 40.38       | 26.24       | 7.25    | 0.38         | 33.87    |
|   32 | Meghalaya     | 0.00     | 0.00    | 0.00   | 0.00     | 0.00        | 0.00    | 0.00   | 0.00     | 0.00     | 0.00    | 0.00   | 0.00     | NA           | NA NA       | NA          | NA          | NA      | Na           | NA       |
|   33 | Nagaland      | 2.38     | 1.58    | 1.06   | 5.02     | 0.42        | 0.02    | 0.00   | 0.43     | NA       | NA      | NA     | NA       | 0.62         | 0.08 0.00   | 0.70        | 1.97        | 0.00    | 0.00         | 1.97     |
|   34 | Arunachal Pr. | 0.00     | 0.00    | 0.00   | 0.00     | 0.00        | 0.00    | 0.00   | 0.00     | NA       | NA      | NA     | NA       | NA NA        | NA          | NA          | NA          | NA      | NA           | NA       |
|   35 | Mizoram       | 24.97    | 0.00    | 0.00   | 24.97    | 32.58       | 0.48    | 0.05   | 33.12    | 29.62    | 1.65    | 0.71   | 31.97    | 7.76 1.02    | 0.00        | 8.78        | 9.72        | 0.16    | 0.00         | 9.87     |
|   36 | Sikkim        | NA       | NA      | NA     | NA       | NA          | NA      | NA     | NA       | NA       | NA      | NA     | NA       | NA NA        | NA          | Na          | NA          | NA      | NA           | NA       |
|   37 | ALL INDIA     | 84.79    | 34.27   | 13.89  | 132.96   | 90.72       | 34.75   | 12.82  | 138.29   | 86.51    | 34.70   | 11.81  | 133.02   | 88.60 38.99  | 13.69       | 141.28      | 83.42       | 33.60   | 10.85        | 127.87   |

Source:- Cropped area(Land Use till 2018-19, 2019-20 onwards State Government),  NPK Cons. for 2018-19 onwards from iFMS Portal NA: Not Available.

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