Lok Sabha Question No. 3929 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Excessive use of Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3929

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  MARCH 2025

## EXCESSIVE USE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES

3929.  SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to soil degradation in  various  parts  of  the  country  including  Maharashtra,  if  so,  the  regions  in  the  country affected  by  soil  quality  degradation  along  with  the  measures  taken  to  prevent  further deterioration of soil quality and restore degraded lands;
- (b) whether the Government is promoting organic farming and reduced chemical fertilizer usage to improve soil health and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  there  are  any  incentives  or  subsidies  for  farmers  adopting  soil-friendly agricultural practices and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has assessed the decline in organic carbon content in Indian soil, if so, the details thereof, including the States most affected;

(e) the impact of declining organic matter on agricultural productivity;

(f) the corrective steps taken to improve soil organic carbon and overall soil fertility;

- (g)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  a  national  policy  on  sustainable  soil management, if so, the key provisions of the policy; and
- (h) the financial allocations made for implementing soil conservation programmes?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): There are concerns on excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides leading to soil quality degradation in various parts of the country including Mahrashtra. To address the same, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recommends soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management. ICAR has suggested combined use of both inorganic and organic sources (manure, bio-fertilizers etc.) of plant nutrients and location  specific  soil  &  water  conservation  measures  for  preventing  deterioration  of  soil health and fertility. Government is implementing Soil Health and Fertility Scheme to assist State Governments in promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use  of  chemical  fertilizers  including  secondary  and  micro  nutrients  along  with  organic manures & bio-fertilizers, for improving soil health and fertility.

Government is promoting organic farming and reduction in chemical fertilizer usage to improve soil health through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY) in all  the  States/UTs  (except  North  Eastern  States)  and  for  North  Eastern  States,  Mission Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER).  Both  the schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming. The schemes promote  natural  resource  based  integrated  and  climate  resilient  sustainable  farming systems  that ensure  maintenance  and  increase  of  soil  fertility, natural resource conservation, on-farm nutrient recycling and minimize dependence of farmers on external inputs.

Under PKVY scheme, States/UTs are provided financial assistance of Rs. 31,500/ha in total in 3 years in the organic clusters out of which, Rs.15,000/ha is provided directly to farmers through DBT for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs, Rs.4,500/ha for marketing, packaging, branding, value addition etc., Rs.3,000/ha for certification and residue analysis and Rs.9,000/ha for training and capacity building. Under MOVCDNER scheme, assistance of  Rs.46,500/ha  in  total  in  3  years  is  provided  for  creation  of  Farmers  Producer Organizations,  support  to  farmers  for  organic  inputs  etc.  Out  of  this,  assistance  @ Rs.32,500/  ha  is  provided  to  farmers  for  off  -farm  /on  -farm  organic  inputs  including Rs.15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers.

(d) to (h): Presence of organic carbon in agricultural land is regularly checked through Soil Health Card (SHC) under the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme. 24.84 crore SHCs have been generated under the Scheme till date. Under Soil Health & Fertility Scheme, 7 Lakh demonstrations, 93,781 farmer's trainings and 7,425 farmer's melas have been organized on the balanced use of fertilizers to improve soil quality. Advisories are issued to farmers through Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).  In  addition,  70,002  Krishi Sakhis have  been  trained  to  issue  soil  health  card advisories. Rs.1721 crore funds under this scheme have been released so far.

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