Lok Sabha Question No. 321 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Use of Long Standing Chemicals
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 321* TO BE ANSWERED ON: 11.08.2023

## Use of Long Standing Chemicals

## 321*  SHRI  NARANBHAI  KACHHADIAYA:

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

- (a)      the  details  of  awareness  programmes  conducted  in  the  State  of  Gujarat  about  the adverse consequences on soil health and environment due to regular and heavy use of long-standing chemicals;
- (b)      whether  the  Government  has  taken/proposes  to  take  any  steps  to  discourage  the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)   the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to manage the use of funds spent on public awareness  in the prescribed standard for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for companies engaged in chemical manufacturing across the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

(DR.  MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (c):  A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  321*  FOR 11.08.2023 REGARDING 'USE OF LONG STANDING CHEMICALS' TABLED BY SHRI NARANBHAI  KACHHADIAYA:

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(a): In each of the districts of the Gujarat State, District Agriculture Officers and Village Level Workers (Gram Sevaks) have been encouraging the farmers for adopting Organic and Natural Farming practices in their villages by arranging different trainings in villages and  they  also  guide  them  to  decrease  the  use  of  long-standing  chemical  fertilizers  for increasing crop-production in upcoming years. The Government of Gujarat has declared the Dang district as the 'Natural Farming District' in which, minimum 75 farmers per village are encouraged to follow for Natural Farming practices. Different training programmes and demonstrations  have  been  arranged  by  Agriculture  Technology  Management  Agency (ATMA) Team for encouraging farmers towards Natural Farming practices. For this task, concerned Officers are also appointed as Nodal Officers on duty for encouraging farmers towards Natural Farming practices.

(b):     Government has been promoting organic farming using organic fertilizers/ manure and other organic inputs on priority in the country since 2015-16 through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and 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, i.e., from production to processing, certification and marketing and post-harvest management. Training and Capacity Building are integral part of the scheme. Incentives to farmers for producing and using organic fertilizers/manure are inbuilt  in  these  schemes as on-farm and off-farm organic inputs.  Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is provided to the farmers for using organic inputs including organic manure.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  recommends  soil  test  based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (green manure, bio-fertilizers, animal manure, etc.) of plant nutrients for judicious use of chemical fertilizers to improve soil health and environmental quality. In addition,  split  application  and  placement  of  fertilizers,  use  of  slow  releasing  N-fertilizers and nitrification  inhibitors,  growing  leguminous  crops  and  use of Resource  Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also advocated. These measures reduce the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers.  ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and soil types with higher shelf life.

National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility has been implemented to assist States in promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical  fertilizers  including  secondary  and  micro  nutrients  in  conjunction  with  organic manures & bio fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity.

Recently, the Government has approved Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ ₹ 1,500/MT to promote organic fertilizers i.e., manure produced at plants under GOBARdhan  initiative  covering  different  biogas/CBG  support  schemes/programmes  of stakeholders Ministries/ Departments at the total outlay of ₹ 1,451.84 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26).  It will promote integrated nutrient management and reduce overuse of chemical fertilizers ensuring sustainability, soil health and better use efficiency of inputs.

Government  has  also  approved  PM  Programme  for  Restoration,  Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM) for three years (FY  2023-24  to  2025-26)  to  incentivize  States/Union  Territories  to  promote  alternative fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.

(c): Under  the  provisions  of  the  Section  135  of  the  Companies  Act,  2013,  the  Public Sector  Undertakings  engaged  in  manufacture  of  chemical  fertilizers  have  been  utilizing funds under Corporate Social Responsibility on activities specified in Schedule VIIof the Act  including  conservation  of  natural  resources  and  maintaining  quality  of  soil,  air  and water.

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