Lok Sabha Question No. 692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Use of Bio-fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 692

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 Th  JULY, 2023

## USE OF BIO-FERTILIZERS

692. SHRI DULAL CHANDRA GOSWAMI:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to encourage the use of bio-fertilizers in place of  chemical  fertilizers  and  pesticides  keeping  in  view  their  adverse  effects  on  human health;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has conducted any study to observe the effects of use of biofertilizers on the production; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  production/research  work  in  the field of such organic fertilizers to mitigate outcome effects of the usage of such fertilizers on their production which can also be economical in terms of cost?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (c): In view of adverse effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on human health,  Government  encourages  the  use  of  bio-fertilizers  which  are  cheap  and  ecofriendly source of nutrient and considered as an important component of organic farming and Integrated Nutrient Management.

In order to ensure the avaibility of good quality of bio-fertilizers, the Government of India  regulates  its  quality  under  the  Fertilizer  Control  Order  (1985).  Government  has notified  32  quality  testing  laboratory  and  initiated  steps  to  accredite  its  laboratories  to strengthen  quality  control  activities.  Government  has  also  developed  a  web  portal (https://frs.dbtfert.nic.in/ ) for online  registration of all kinds  of  fertilizers  to  make registration easier and simplified.

To  incentivize  the  farmers  to  reduce  the  overall  consumption  of  fertilizers  for improving soil health and fertility and sustainable productivity, Government  has announced 'PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM)' which will be launched to incentivize States and Union Territories  to  promote  alternative  fertilizers  and  balanced  use  of  chemical  fertilizers. Under this programme, 50% of subsidy savings will be passed on as a grant to the state that saves the money.

Under  Mission  Life  programme,  Government  is  taking  up  various  environment Initiatives  to  encourage  natural  and  organic  farming  using  organic  and  bio-fertilizer  to reduce  carbon  foot  print,  reduced  emission  of  Green  House  Gas  (GHG)  through reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

National  Center  of  Organic  and  Natural  Farming  (NCONF)  and  its  Regional Center  of  Organic  and  Natural  Farming  located  at  Ghaziabad,  Nagpur,  Bangalore, Imphal  and  Bhubaneswar  are  organizing  various  HRD  trainings  namely  One  Day Farmers' Training, Two Days Training for Extension Officers/Staff, Two Days Training on PGS, 30 Days Certificate course, One day Jaivik evam Prakratik Kisan Sammelan for 500 participants, One Day Stakeholder consultations/ conferences on Natural Farming for 100 participitants, Orientation Program on Natural Farming and awareness programmes  across  the  country  to  disseminate  information  on  organic  and  natural farming  as  well  as  on-  farm  production  and  use  of  various  kinds  of  organic  and  biofertilizers. NCONF and RCONF also organize online awareness campaign and training prpgrammes on organic and natural farming and production and use of organic and biofertilizers.

The ICAR also imparts trainings, organizes front-line demonstrations, awareness progrmas etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.

Study  conducted  by  Indian  Council  of  Research  confirms  that  bio-fertilizers can improve crop yields by 10-25% and supplement costly chemical fertilizers (N, P) by nearly 20-25% in most of the cases when used along with chemical fertilizers. In order to promote use of organic fertilizers, the Council has developed cost effective technology to prepare  various  types  of  organic  manures  such  as  phosphocompost,  vermincompost, bio-enriched compost, municipal solid waste compost, etc. from various organic wastes. Besides,  the  Council  has  developed  improved  and  efficient  strains  of  bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and soil types under Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Biofertilizers . Liquid Bio-fertilizer technology with higher shelf-life has also been developed. The ICAR also imparts training to educate farmers on use of bio-fertilizers.

******