Lok Sabha Question No. 3664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Organic Carbon in Agricultural Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Utkarsh Verma Madhur

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3664

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## ORGANIC CARBON IN AGRICULTURAL LAND

3664. SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the presence of organic carbon in agricultural land is regularly checked and the time interval thereof;
- (b) the reasons for decrease in organic carbon in soil over the past two decades;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to take any action to increase the organic carbon availability in soil; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): The presence of organic carbon in agricultural land is regularly checked through Soil Health Card (SHC). As per guidelines of the scheme, States to generate Soil Health Card once in a three years to address nutrient deficiencies in soil. Till date, 24.60 crore SHCs have been generated.
- (b): The major reasons for decrease in organic carbon in soil are, (i) defective practices such as injudicious or excessive  use of chemical fertiliser, frequent tillage / ploughing, stubble  burning,  overgrazing,  and  erosion;  (ii)  replacing  perennial  vegetation  with monoculture crops and pastures and (iii) soil physicochemical properties such as soil bulk density,  high  gravel  content,  soil  erosion  and  low  soil  water  content  /  poor  moisture conservation measures.

(c) & (d): To address the issue, Government is implementing Soil Health and Fertility Scheme to issue SHCs to farmers. SHC gives the details of organic carbon content in the soil and advisories are given to the farmers on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) for judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients along with organic manures & bio-fertilizers, for improving soil organic carbon and health.

Government is also promoting organic farming for improving soil organic carbon through  Paramparagat Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY) in  all  the  States/UTs  and  Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). Assistance of  Rs.15,000  per  ha for a  period of  three  years  is  provided  to  farmers  through  Direct Benefit Transfer for on-farm/off-farm organic inputs majorly bio-fertilizers under PKVY and MOVCDNER. Union Cabinet has also approved National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) on 25.11.2024 to promote farming practices such as biomass mulching, multicropping  system,  use  of  on-farm  made  natural  farming  bio-inputs  for  improving  soil organic content, soil structure, nutrition, enhancing  soil water holding capacity.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  also  developed  several location  specific  bio-engineering  measures  to  check  soil  erosion  due  to  run-off  of rainwater, sand dune stabilization and shelter belt technology to check wind erosion and reclamation  technology  for  problem  soils  that  enhances  soil  organic  carbon.  ICAR  is implementing 'Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF)' with 20 centers in 16 States. Under this programme, ICAR has developed location specific organic farming packages for 68 cropping systems suitable for 16 States, which are demonstrated through various Central/ States schemes.

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