Lok Sabha Question No. 1572 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Chemical Free Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1572

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## CHEMICAL FREE FARMING

1572. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ǒष एवं Ǒकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

(a) whether natural farming is being promoted as chemical free farming by the Government and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to provide organic certification assistance to individual farmers, which is not a part of existing organic scheme, if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether any alternative scheme is being formulated by the Government to reduce the excessive consumption of Urea in the country, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ǒष एवं Ǒकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a): Government is promoting natural farming as chemical free farming since 2019-2020 through a sub-scheme namely Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). So far 4.09 lakh ha area has been sanctioned and Rs. 55.99 Crore has been released for natural farming in 8 states under BPKP across the country. An areas of 1.48 lakh ha have also been sanctioned for promotion of natural farming  along  the  Ganga  Corridor.  To  motivate  farmers  to  adopt  natural  farming  and  to enhance the reach of natural farming, the Government has formulated National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a separate and independent scheme by up scaling the BPKP.

(b): Under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) scheme provision has been made for  providing  assistance  of  Rs.  2700/ha  for  3  years  for  Participatory  Guarantee  System (PGS)  /  National  Programme  for  Organic  Production  (NPOP)  organic  certification  to individual  farmers  who  are  not  part  of  the  PKVY  scheme.  States  are  required  to  identify individual farmers and encourage them to register with concerned Regional Council (RC) under  PGS-  India  programme/  Accreditation  certification  body  under  NPOP.  Enrolled farmers  will  have  to  register  on  the  Jaivik  Kheti  Portal  with  their  C-1  status.  State  will access the details of farmers from jaivik kheti portal. Based on state-wise registration and verification, funds are provided as reimbursement directly to RCs or certification bodies. In case a farmer is having land less than 1.00 ha, then the cost will be calculated on prorata basis.

(c): For  reducing  excessive  consumption  of  urea,  under  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)/  Soil Health  Management  (SHM)  schemes,  Government  is  promoting  Integrated  Nutrient Management  (INM)  through  judicious  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  in  conjunction  with  biofertilizers  and  organic  manures  for  improving  soil  health,  fertility  and  productivity.  Under PKVY  &  MOVCDNER  scheme  organic  manure  and  bio-fertilizers  are  used  for  organic farming which reduces the consumption of chemical fertilizers including urea.

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