Lok Sabha Question No. 697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Scaling up of Eco-Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 697

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 Th  JULY, 2023

## SCALING UP OF ECO-AGRICULTURE

697. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  concurs  with  the  view  that  there  is  an  urgent  need  to scale up Bio-Fertilizers, Bio-Pesticides, Bio-Composts and Bio-Stimulants for transition to Regenerative/Eco-Agriculture;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  initiatives  which  are  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government in this regard; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): It  is  a  agreed  that  there  is  an urgent need to scale up Bio-Fertilizers, BioPesticides, Bio-Composts and Bio-Stimulants for transition to Regenerative/EcoAgriculture  and  lesson  the  adverse  affects  of  chemical  fertilizers,  pesticides  on  human health and ecology.

In order to facilitate regenerative/eco agriculture, ICAR suggests use of organic sources of  plant  nutrients  (manure,  bio-fertilizers,  green manuring,  in-situ  crop  residue  recycling etc.) which are eco-friendly and not only provide nutrients for maintaining soil fertility but also improve soil physical & biological health vis-à-vis crop productivity. The Council has developed improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilizers specific to different  crops  and soil types under the Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers . Liquid Bio-fertilizer technology  with  higher  shelf-life  has  also  been  developed.  Besides,  the  Council  has developed 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, Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research through its  Plan  Scheme 'Network Project on Organic Farming' (NPOF) is undertaking research  to  develop  location  specific  organic  farming  package  of  practices  for  various crops and cropping systems.

Government has been promoting organic farming 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).  Under PKVY, States/UTs of the country are provided financial assistance of Rs. 50000/ha for 3 years out of which, Rs. 31000/ha/3 years is provided directly to farmers through DBT for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs.  Whereas under MOVCDNER, an assistance of Rs. 46,575/ha  for  3years  is  provided  for  creation  of  FPO,  support  to  farmers  for  organic inputs,  quality  seeds/  planting  material  and  training,  hand  holding  and  certification. Financial assistance @ Rs 32500/ ha for 3 years is provided to farmers for off farm /on farm organic inputs under the scheme.

In order to ensure the avaibility of good quality bio-fertilizers, organic fertilizers and Bio- stimulants, 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  kind  of fertilizer to make registration more easy and simplified.

For  encouraging  production  and  use  of  organic  fertilizers  Government  has approved Market development assistance @ Rs. 15,000/ tones for Fermented Organic Manure (FOM).

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.

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

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 training 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 bio-fertilizers. NCONF and RCONF also organize online awareness campaign and training prpgrammes on organic and natural farming and production and use of organic and bio-fertilizers.

The  Govemment  of  India  has  taken  various  steps  to  promote  the  use  of  bio pesticides.  Simplified guidelines have been  formulated by Registration Committee (RC) for the registration of bio pesticides. For bio-pesticides, provisional registrations are being granted under Section 9(3B) of the Insecticides Act, 1968 along-with the permission for commercialization  during  the  provisional  registration  period  of  two  years  based  on  the confirmation of molecular identity of the strain from ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important  Microorganisms  (ICAR-NBAIM)  and  quality  verification  of  the  product  from Central Insecticide Laboratory (CIL). Further, Ministry .of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through  its  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs),  ICAR  and  36  Central  Integrated  Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs) located  in 28  States  and  2  UTs,  etc.  conduct  various training  programmes such  as  Farmers  Field  Schools,  two/five  days  HRD  programmes, Kisan  Goshthis,  IPM  Exhibitions  and  Seed  Treatment  Campaigns  where  awareness  is created  amongst farmers,  Pesticide  dealers/State  agriculture  functionaries  on  safe  and judicious  use  of  chemical  pesticides,  use  of  bio  pesticides,  bio  control  agents  and botanical formulations as an alternative to chemical pesticides for pest management and usage as per doses given in label and leaflet approved by Registration Committee

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