Lok Sabha Question No. 1158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Promotion of the Use of Bio-Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Shri Miteshbhai Rameshbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1158

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## PROMOTION OF THE USE OF BIO-FERTILIZERS

1158. SHRI HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI PATEL: SHRI MITESH PATEL BAKABHAI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is promoting the use of bio-fertilizers;
- (b) if so, the details of the initiatives/schemes aimed at promoting bio-fertilizers; and
- (c) the statistics of the use of bio-fertilizers during the last ten years till date, year-wise and State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Government  of  India  is  also  promoting  the  use  of  bio-fertilizers  which  are effective and eco-friendly source of nutrient and considered as an important component of organic farming and Integrated Nutrient Management.

Government is promoting organic farming using bio-fertilizers through the schemes of  Paramparagat Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  in  all  the  States  other-than  North  Eastern States and  Mission  Organic Value Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region (MOVCDNER)  exclusively  in  the  NE  States.  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.

Under the PKVY scheme, farmers are provided financial assistance of Rs 15000/ ha  for  3  years  through  DBT  for  on-farm  and  off-farm  organic  inputs  including  organic manure.

Whereas,  under  MOVCDNER  scheme,  farmers  are  directly  provided  financial assistance of Rs. 32500/ ha for 3 years to farmers for off -farm /on -farm organic inputs under the scheme out of which Rs. 15,000 through DBT for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs including organic manure and Rs. 17,500 for the planting material to be given to the farmers by State Lead Agency (SLA) in kind.

In order to ensure the availability of good quality organic-fertilizers, the Government of  India  regulates  its  quality  under  the  Fertilizer  Control  Order  (1985).  Standards  have been  specified  which  are  required  to  be  adhered  mandatorily  by  the  manufacturers. Government  of  India  has  notified  32  quality  testing  laboratories  and  initiated  steps  to accredit its laboratories under NABL to strengthen quality control activities.

The Government of India is not granting assistance for distribution of bio-fertilizer. However, under the Soil Health & Fertility component of RKVY, bio-fertilizers are promoted through provisions of financial assistance for strengthening of infrastructure for production and quality control. The scheme is proposal driven and assistance is granted on the basis of proposals submitted by states for setting up Bio-fertilizers Unit and Bio/Organic fertilizer Quality Control lab.

The State-wise consolidated financial assistance given since 2014-15 for establishment  of  Bio-fertilizers  Unit  and  Bio/Organic  fertilizer  Quality  Control  lab  in  the country under Soil Health & Fertility of RKVY is given at Annexure-I.

Government of India has approved the 'PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM)', which aims to complement  the  efforts  initiated  by  States/UTs  to  save  the  health  of  Mother  Earth  by promoting  sustainable  and  balanced  use  of  fertilizers,  adopting  alternate  fertilizers, promoting organic farming and implementing resource conservation technologies. Under the scheme, 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved by a State/UT in a particular financial year by  way  of  reduction  in  consumption  of  chemical  fertilizers  (Urea,  DAP,  NPK,  MOP) compared to previous 3 years' average consumption, will be passed on to that State/UT as Grant.

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.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  developed  efficient  strains  of bio-fertilizers  specific  to  different  crops  and  soil  types  to  reduce  the  use  of  chemical fertilizers  in  agricultural  production.   When  these  bio-fertilizers  are  applied  along  with compost @ 5tonne/ha or vermi-compost @ 4tonne/ha, fertilizer saving is estimated to be upto 50%.  Therefore, ICAR recommends integrated use of fertilizers and manures. Biofertilizers,  both  liquid  and  powdered form have been developed and promoted under All India  Network  Project  on  Soil  Biodiversity.  Bio-fertilizers  for  Phosphorus  solubilization, Nitrogen fixation, Potassium and Zinc solubilization suitable for different crops across the country  are  developed  and  many  of  them  are  commercialized.   The  ICAR  also  imparts training on use of bio-fertilizers, organizes front-line demonstrations, awareness programs etc.  to  educate  farmers  on  all  these  aspects.  In  addition,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra  (KVK) produced 26110.69 quintals vermicompost and are also making, promoting and distributed organic and bio-fertilizers to the farmers during 2023-24.

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, One Day Stakeholder consultations/ conferences on Natural Farming, 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 bio- fertilizers.  NCONF  and  RCONF  also  organize  online  awareness  campaign  and  training programmes on organic and natural farming and production and use of organic and biofertilizers. State wise production of Bio Fertilizers is enclosed at Annexure II.

To encourage farmers to use the bio-fertilizers, Government has taken various initiatives such as:

- i. The integrated use of bio-fertilizer, organic fertilizer and organic  manure has been made integral part of package of practices developed by ICAR and State Agriculture Universities.
- ii. ICAR has developed liquid bio-fertilizer technology with higher shelf -life and also developed improved strains of bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and soil types.

Annexure - I

State-wise consolidated financial assistance given since 2014-15 for establishment of  Bio-fertilizers  Unit  and  Bio/Organic  fertilizer  Quality  Control  lab  in  the  country under Soil Health & Fertility of RKVY

(Rs. in lakh)

| S. No   | State             | Financial Assistance provided for Bio- fertilizer Production Units   | Financial Assistance provided for Bio/ Organic- fertilizer Quality Control Lab   |
|---------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Arunachal Pradesh | 36.00                                                                | 19.13                                                                            |
| 2       | Assam             | 23.43                                                                | 89.25                                                                            |
| 3       | Chhattisgarh      | 48.00                                                                | 76.50                                                                            |
| 4       | Haryana           | 92.16                                                                | -                                                                                |
| 5       | Meghalaya         | 108.00                                                               | -                                                                                |
| 6       | Nagaland          | 504.00                                                               | 95.63                                                                            |
| 7       | Sikkim            | 144.00                                                               | 76.50                                                                            |
| 8       | Tamil Nadu        | 144.00                                                               | 76.50                                                                            |
| 9       | Telangana         | 144.00                                                               | 76.50                                                                            |
| 10      | Tripura           | 108.00                                                               | -                                                                                |
| 11      | Uttar Pradesh     | 160.00                                                               | -                                                                                |
| 12      | Andhra Pradesh    | -                                                                    | 76.50                                                                            |
| 13      | Gujarat           | -                                                                    | 38.25                                                                            |
| 14      | J & K             | -                                                                    | 76.50                                                                            |
| 15      | Jharkhand         | -                                                                    | 38.25                                                                            |
| 16      | Puducherry        | -                                                                    | 50.00                                                                            |
| 17      | Punjab            | -                                                                    | 11.25                                                                            |
| 18      | West Bengal       | -                                                                    | 63.75                                                                            |
|         | Total             | 1511.59                                                              | 864.51                                                                           |

## State-wise bio-fertilizer Production Statistics since 2014 till 2022-23

|                        | 2014-15       | 2014-15     | 2015-16           | 2015-16         | 2016-17       | 2016-17       | 2017-18      | 2017-18      | 2018-19           | 2018-19         | 2019-20       | 2019-20     | 2020-21       | 2020-21          | 2021-22                          | 2021-22              | 2022-23                          | 2022-23              |
|------------------------|---------------|-------------|-------------------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------|-----------------|---------------|-------------|---------------|------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------|
| State                  | Carrier (MT)  | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT)      | Liquid (KL)     | Carrier (MT)  | Liquid (KL)   | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL)  | Carrier (MT)      | Liquid (KL)     | Carrier (MT)  | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT)  | Liquid (KL)      | Carrier based (in metric tonnes) | Liquid Based (in KL) | Carrier based (in metric tonnes) | Liquid Based (in KL) |
| Andhra Pradesh 2668.8  | 274.86        | 3062.6      | 317.811           | 3375.91         | 365.24        | 4983.6        | 369.75       |              | 263.88            | 0               | 228.27        | 0           | 123.19        | 98.49            | 353.87 62.61                     | 104.988              |                                  | 40.67                |
| Karnataka 16462.62     | 23.06         | 23042.91    | 488.142           | 31553.06        | 993.44 3      | 34493         | 1352.8 5     |              | 3253.7            | 758.19          | 3606.72       | 1218 5512.1 | 1446.5        | 870.53 1510.61   | 1368.3 7                         |                      | 1456.87                          | 1691.51              |
| Kerala 4916.97         | 10.51         | 4926.045    | 56.5751           | 4993.87         | 59.614 3      | 6040.1        |              | 82.85        | 108.24            | 2.098           | 91.029        | 4           | 164.98        | 2612 127.19      | 660.6                            |                      | 57.1837                          | 0.07355              |
| Puducherr 560.95       | 1.4976 11.301 | 283.641     | 4.088 861.953     | 203.97 27427.96 | 11.197 875.29 | 297.58 28059. |              | 28.37        | 121.9 4187.24     | 6.192           | 121.9         | 7.57 1481.5 | 97.17 88652.4 | 2.16 434.31      | 90.15 5.66 1108.8                |                      | 90.041                           | 8.338 1209.44        |
| Tamilnadu 15373.29     | 7             | 23721.21    | 5                 | 2               | 2             | 4             |              | 46.18        | 3                 | 536.784 12711.7 | 11611 1536.33 | 9           | 3             | 3                | 0 9                              |                      | 133205                           | 6                    |
| Telangana 0            | 0             |             | 0 0               | 0               | 0             | 574.15        |              | 236.09       | 2556.29           | 4               | 4             | 174.75      | 448.72        | 150.14           | 290.31 105                       |                      | 3453.20 5                        | 5195.06              |
| Chattisgar 1024.68     | 9.62          | 954.371     | 9.38              | 955.07          | 10.23         | 969.07        |              | 16.63 3519.2 | 172.029           | 133.74          | 26.77         | 189.64      | 558.88        | 268.68 8055.7    | 9.78 103.45 8030.3               | 373.73               |                                  | 212.328              |
| Gujarat 3667.929       | 2800.5        |             | 3963.42 2873.31 7 | 3909.82         | 2857.7 7      | 4248.1 5      |              | 9            | 10596             | 430.529         | 20788         | 9444        | 19483.3 1     | 2 24772.1 4      | 2                                |                      | 67227.3                          | 112040. 1            |
| Goa                    | 802.52        | 0 820.52    | 0                 | 822             | 0             | 838.74        |              | 0            | 2044              | 0               | 50            | 0           | 30            | 0                | 124.26 0                         |                      | 296.798                          | 0                    |
| Madhya Pradesh 2637.99 | 119.21 6      | 2741.307 8  | 131.033           | 5609.01         | 238.10 3      | 6561.5 1      |              | 290.4        | 7426.51 7         | 327.193         | 1330.00 5     | 315.64      | 21834.3       | 15811. 1 6584.79 | 84200                            |                      | 6635.59                          | 18339.7 6            |
| Maharashtr 14847.39 7  | 324.76        | 7 7825.142  | 389.665           | 8323.62         | 398.33        | 10024. 9      |              | 427.4        | 15049.7 5 4193.78 |                 | 15897         | 237.14      | 5328.18       | 2140.9 5         | 7452.94 4680.8 8                 | 7820.1               |                                  | 51 10.83             |
| Rajasthan 599.898      | 0             | 680         | 0                 | 711             | 0             | 791.81        |              | 1.12         | 791.81            | 1.12            | 2142.78       | 0           | 10612         | 0                | 0 0                              |                      | 0                                | 0                    |
| Delhi 104.5            | 0             | 106.2       | 0                 | 116.2           | 0             | 119.72        |              | 0            | 394               | 0               | 345           | 0           | 0             | 0                | 173 0                            |                      | 0                                | 0                    |
| Haryana 872.955        | 46.489        | 1097.457    | 58.032            | 2360.64         | 70.148        | 2504.6 1      |              | 76           | 2128.7            | 246.54          | 2794.77       | 0           | 3105.42       | 113.17 99809.6 1 | 108982                           |                      | 61727.4 8                        | 1748.59 9            |
| Himachal Pradesh 0.768 | 33.07         | 2.712       | 190.05            | 3.28            | 194.7         | 8.48          |              | 209.7        | 135.112           | 12.05           | 320           | 137.9       | 0.22          | 0.22 120.45      | 137                              |                      | 46.274                           | 34.3                 |
| Jammu & Kashmir 0      | 0             | 0           | 0                 | 0               | 0             | 0             |              | 0.04         | 0                 | 0.04            | 0             | 0           | 0             | 0 0.55           | 3.3                              |                      | 0.275                            | 2.885                |
| Punjab 6305.453        | 74.278        | 2197.197    | 149.581           | 5533.77         | 210.17 7      | 5645.2 8      |              | 236.09       | 7167.38 4         | 220.785         | 9252.19       | 192.49      | 16042.2 7     | 361.37 3063.7    |                                  | 85.7                 | 416.9                            | 2367.8               |
| Uttar Pradesh 4099.068 | 98.036        | 3053.115    | 223.34            | 2835.79         | 696.9         | 3441.3        |              | 743.95       | 2451.8            | 2444.55         | 2142.78       | 2539.8 9    | 0             | 5725.6 4 132.11  | 0                                |                      | 22663.4 7                        | 0                    |
| Uttarakhan 2129.952    | 208.03 4      | 3549.39     | 428.22            | 3720.68         | 461.19        | 3942.0        | 5            | 0            | 3359.79           | 281.406         | 3118.98       | 4980        | 3708.83       | 1150.8 1         | 3476.03 566.84                   |                      | 3447                             | 646.25               |
| Bihar 64.9             | 0             | 97          | 0                 | 107             |               | 0             | 128.76       | 0.02         |                   |                 | 375           | 1900        | 74.59         | 2.11             | 6545.66 0                        |                      | 1144.43 6                        | 867.104              |
| Jharkhand              | 9.08          | 0           | 9.172             | 0 18.552        | -             | 20.96         |              | 0.01         | 130.83 20.96      | 0 0             | 5.15          | 0           | 0             | 0                | 0 0                              |                      | 0                                | 0                    |

## Annexure- II

|                     | 2014-15      | 2014-15     | 2015-16      | 2015-16     | 2016-17      | 2016-17     | 2017-18      | 2017-18     | 2018-19      | 2018-19     | 2019-20      | 2019-20     | 2020-21      | 2020-21     | 2021-22                          | 2021-22              | 2022-23                          | 2022-23              |
|---------------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|----------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------|
| State               | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL) | Carrier (MT) | Liquid (KL) | Carrier based (in metric tonnes) | Liquid Based (in KL) | Carrier based (in metric tonnes) | Liquid Based (in KL) |
| Odisha 1074.46      | 4.7          | 467.634     | 13.701       | 516.28      | 31.79        | 560.2       |              | 46.18       | 149.692      | 449.2       | 1719         | 19406.6 4   | 859.6        | 13367.9 7   | 200.82                           | 319.53               |                                  | 8166.89 77.597       |
| West Bengal 2061.83 | 14.63        | 2826.27     | 23.537       | 3195.18     | 26.21        | 3513.0 7    | 37.74        | 2050        | 37.74        | 2200        | 0            | 448.59      | 33.54        | 703         | 12.48                            | 3                    | 1034.11                          | 6.74135              |
| Pradesh 59          | 0            | 118         | 0            | 119.7       | 0            | 232.9       | 0.11         | 0           | 0            | 0           | 0            | 0           | 0            | 0           | 0                                | 0                    |                                  | 0                    |
| 88                  | 0.000        | 1315        | 22.5         | 1359.05     | 26           | 1742.6 2    | 33.1         | 617.2       | 0            | 640.33      | 4.9          | 438.54      | 3447.3 5     | 524.85      | 22582                            | 427.16               | 13645                            | Assam                |
| 0                   | 0            | 0           | 0            | 25          | 0            | 23.94       | 0            | 81.5        | 100          | 13.2        | 11.51        | 20          | 24.01        | 22.1        | 24.74                            | 0                    | 0                                | Manipur              |
| 3.6                 | 0            | 4.2         | 0            | 2.5         | 0            | 8.99        | 0            | 2.5         | 0            | 1.4         | 0            | 1.4         | 0            | 0.9         | 0                                | 0                    | 0                                | Mizoram              |
| 7.45                | 0            | 8.81        | 0            | 51.45       | 0            | 70.62       | 0            | 17.452      | 0            | 18.75       | 0            | 19.14       | 0            | 6.04        | 0                                | 0                    | 0                                | Nagaland             |
| Sikkim 12.4         | 0            | 12.91       | 0            | 16.25       | 0            | 33.15       | 0            | 0           | 51.5         | 0           | 0            | 0           | 69.02        | 0           | 11.31                            | 0                    |                                  | 0                    |
| Tripura 240         | 0            | 1143.07     | 0            | 1153.5      | 0            | 1187.8 8    | 1.12         | 81.79       | 0            | 340.06      | 39.78        | 283.99      | 9.02         | 117.04      | 2.32                             | 1387.7               |                                  | 166.76               |

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