Lok Sabha Question No. 155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Chemical Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Anurag Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO\_ 155 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 02.02.2021

## CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

## 155. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the use of chemical fertilizers acted as a catalyst for increased agricultural production especially in food production during the Green Revolution in the 1960s;
- (c) whether 86% of farmers in the country are small and marginal farmers and if so, the extent to which, are debt-ridden due to chemical fertilizers; they
- (b) the ill effects , that surfaced by the use of chemical fertilizers since 1960 along with the alternative measures being taken to mitigate it;
- (d) whether the fertilizer manufacturing companies are getting the benefit of subsidy on fertilizer instead of small and marginal farmers;
- (f) the levels at which the Government is promoting organic farming instead of chemical fertilizers along with the efforts being made in this regard?
- (e) if the steps being taken to provide direct benefit of subsidy to the farmers; and SO,

## ANSWER MINISTER OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## (SHRI D V SADANAND GOWDA)

- (a): Chemical fertilizers are contributing   substantially towards increase in   crop production since green revolution due to introduction of high yielding varieties.
- (b): There is no scientific evidence of degradation of soil with  judicious use of chemical fertilizers . However, imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers coupled with low addition of organic matter and neglect of micro and secondary nutrients over years results in multi-nutrient deficiencies and deterioration of soil health particularly in intensively cultivated areas The limiting nutrients, not allowing full expression of other nutrients , lower the overall fertilizer response and crop productivity.

The NRM division of Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (manure, biofertilizers , green manuring, in-situ crop residue recycling etc ) of plant nutrients with 4Rs approach i.e right quantity, right time, right mode and right type of fertilizer for judicious chemical fertilizers.

(c) As per Agriculture Census 2015-16, the percentage of small and marginal farmers holding taken together 00-2.00 ha:) constitute 88% of total holding (0.

(d): Urea is being provided to the farmers at a statutorily notified Maximum Retail Price (MRP) The MRP\_of 45 Kg of\_urea is Rs 242 per (exclusive\_of\_charges towards neem coating and taxes as applicable): The difference between the delivered cost of urea at farm and net market realization by the urea units is given as subsidy to the urea manufacturerlimporter by the Government of India: Accordingly, all farmers including small and marginal farmers are being supplied urea at the subsidized rates. bag bag gate

The Government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy W.e.f. 1.4.2010 for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers. Under the policy, a fixed amount of subsidy, decided on annual basis, is provided on subsidized P&K fertilizers depending market dynamics at reasonable level which is monitored by the Government: Accordingly, any farmer who is buying these fertilizers is getting benefits of subsidy:

(e): The steps being taken to provide direct benefit of subsidy to the farmers are as follows:

## 1. DBT in Fertilizers:

The Government has introduced Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system in Fertilizers W.e.f. October 2016. Under the fertilizer DBT system, 100% subsidy on various fertilizer grades is released to the fertilizer companies on the basis of actual sales made by the retailers to the beneficiaries. Sale of all subsidized fertilizers to farmers/buyers is made through Point of Sale (PoS) devices installed at each retailer shop and the beneficiaries are identified through Aadhaar Card, KCC , Voter Identity Card etc. Different States/U.T.s have been on Go-Live mode W.e.f. 01.09.2017 and the pan-India Roll out has been completed by March, 2018 Across the country, DoF have conducted 10878 training sessions till date. 2.26 Lakh PoS devices have been deployed across all States put

## 2. DBT Dashboards for various stakeholders:

After successful PAN-Inclia Roll out, attention was devoted to the development of Dashboardslvarious reports for stakeholders Kisan Corner , DOFIMovement Division, States Agriculture Departments, District Collector/District Agriculture Officer, Fertilizer companies and the Marketing Federations. i.e.

These dash-boards provide various reports , viz.

- ii . Proportionate requirement for the season and availability of stocks at various levels
- Fertilizer Stock position (overall and production): at Ports, at Plants, in States and District levels\_
- iii. 20 Buyers' List Top
- V Retailers not selling fertilizers
- iv. 'Most Frequent Buyers

DBT dash-boards can be accessed by general public by clicking the e-urvarak website of DOF (www.urvarak nicin).

## 3 Launch of PoS Software 3.1 Version:

th 3.1 Version  launched on 30' Sept 2020, in addition to existing biometric authentication, contact less OTP based authentication has been introduced keeping in view prevailing Covid-19 Pandemic. Android based Mobile Application and Desktop App been developed. have

## 4 SMS Gateway:

The provision has been made in 3.1 version for  sending SMS alerts on the following activities:

- SMS Alert to the Farmers as and when new stock is receivedlacknowledged by the retailer about total stock availability at the retail outlet from where the farmer purchased fertilizer last time.
- On every transaction through PoS/Desktop and Android Application for purchase of Fertilizers, buyer will also receive the Invoice detail by SMS on the number provided at the time of purchase.
- Periodic (fortnightly in season & monthly in off-season) SMS to the farmers about for stock availability at the retail outlet from where the farmer purchased fertilizer last time.

(f): Government of India is   creating awareness among the farmers on growing traditional crops in the country under the schemes Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) & Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Padhati (BPKP) for natural   farming: Handholding of the farmers   beginning with formation of cluster/Farmers   produces Organization and ensuring their capacity buildinglawareness generation for taking up organic farming are integral components of PKVY , MOVCDNER & BPKP schemes Moreover, ICAR through its Plan Scheme "Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF)" conducts research in 20 centres covering 16 states to develop location specific organic farming package of practices for crops and cropping systems. Organic farming package of practices for 51 cropslcropping systems have been developed to provide technical backstopping to Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) scheme under implementation in the country: Besides, ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers specific to different crops and soil types under Network project on #Soil Biodiversity-Biofertilizers' Liquid Biofertilizer technology with higher shelf-life has also been developed: The Council has also developed technology to prepare various types of  organic manures as phosphocompost; vermincompost; bio-enriched compost,  municipal  solid waste compost, etc. from various  organic wastes. It also imparts  training, organises front-line demonstrations to educate farmers on all these aspects. such