Lok Sabha Question No. 2954 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Use of Organic Fertilizers in Rajasthan
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. 2954

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 th  MARCH, 2025

## USE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS IN RAJASTHAN

2954. SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR:

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

- (a)  whether  the  examination  of  presence  of  biological  carbon  in  agricultural  land  is conducted regularly and if so, the details of the time interval;
- (b)  the  reasons for  the  reduction  of  biological  carbon  in  agricultural  land  during  last  two decades; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering any action plan to increase its availability in land, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The presence of organic carbon in agricultural land is regularly checked through Soil Health  Card  (SHC)  under  the  Soil  Health  &  Fertility  Scheme.  As  per  guidelines  of  the scheme, for all land holdings, States generate SHC once in a three years to address nutrient deficiencies in soil. Till date, 24.84 crore SHCs have been generated.

(b): The major reasons for decrease in organic carbon in soil are; (i) injudicious or excessive    use  of  chemical  fertilizer,  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. Government  is  implementing  Soil  Health  and  Fertility Scheme  to  issue  SHCs  to  farmers.  SHC  gives  status  of  pH,  electrical  conductivity, available Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, micro-nutrients (Zinc, Copper, Iron, Manganese & Boron) including Organic Carbon in the soil and advisories are given to the farmers on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). INM guides judicious use of chemical

(c): To  address  the  issue, fertilizers  including  secondary  and  micro  nutrients  along  with  organic  manures  &  biofertilizers, for improving soil organic carbon and soil 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. National  Mission  on  Natural  Farming  (NMNF)  is  also  implemented    to promote farming practices such as biomass mulching, multi-cropping system, use of onfarm 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.

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