Lok Sabha Question No. 67 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Excess use of Chemical Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 67 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2024

## Excess use of Chemical Fertilizers

## 67.     SHRI  ASHOK MAHADEO RAONETE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any research to ascertain the fertility of land which is declining due to excess use of chemical fertilizers in the country;
- (b) if so, the details and outcome of the said research report thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government as per the said report?;

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

(a) to (c):   The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has conducted long-term fertilizer experiment and soil test crop response under All India Coordinated Research Programme implemented by ICAR-IISS, Bhopal.  The results indicated that imbalanced application of fertilizer nutrients resulted in reduced crop yield and low soil fertility levels. ICAR has undertaken surveying of the entire country (1:250,000) and published the soil resource map.

The  long-term  experiments  conducted  since  1973,  have  indicated  no  adverse effect  of  recommended  dose  of  fertilizers  on  soil  health. It  has  been  found  that  the status of available Sulphur (S) and micronutrients in cultivated soils changed over the period. Inadequate and imbalanced application of plant nutrients through fertilizers/manures resulted in decline in availability of Sulphur (S) and micronutrients in some soils. Excessive  use  of  fertilizers  on  soils  where  soil  test  does  not  recommend otherwise has been observed to cause significant monetary loss.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  is  recommending  soil  test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic  and  organic  sources  (manure,  bio-fertilizers,  green  manuring,  in-situ  crop residue recycling etc.) of plant nutrients with 4R approach i.e., right quantity, right time, right  mode  and  right  type  of  fertilizer  for  judicious  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  and  to reduce  use  of chemical  fertilizers.  The ICAR  also  imparts  trainings to different stakeholders, organizes front-line demonstrations, awareness programs etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.

Moreover,  the  Cabinet  Committee  on  Economic  Affairs  (CCEA)  in  its  meeting held on 28th June, 2023 has approved the 'PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation,  Nourishment,  and  Amelioration  of  Mother-Earth  (PM-PRANAM)'.  The initiative  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  like  nano/bio/organic  fertilizers  etc,  promoting  organic  farming  and implementing resource conservation technologies. Further, CCEA in its meeting held on 28 th June,  2023  has  approved  the  Market  Development  Assistance  (MDA)  @  Rs. 1500/MT to promote organic fertilizers.

Government of India is promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) which includes soil test based  balanced  and  integrated  use  of chemical  fertilizers in conjunction  with  organic  sources  of  nutrients  like  Farm  Yard  Manure  (FYM),  city compost,  vermi-compost  and  bio-fertilizers  that  leads  to  saving  in  use  of  chemical fertilizers.  INM  is  being  promoted  through  implementation  of  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC) scheme  since  2015.  Soil  health  card  provides  nutrient  status  of  the  soil  along  with prescription  about  balanced  and  integrated  use  of  inorganic  and  organic  fertilizers  to maintain good soil health that results in increase in production.

Demonstrations  about  balanced  use  of  fertilizers  based  on  soil  health  card recommendations and training to the farmers on proper and integrated use of fertilizers are  integral  part  of  the  scheme  of  Soil  Health  &  Fertility.    Financial  assistance  is provided to State Governments for   training of farmers, demonstrations on farmer fields and organizing farmer melas.

For  reducing  the  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  in  agriculture,  Government  of  India (GoI) is also promoting the balanced and judicious use of fertilizers based on soil test based  recommendations  in  conjunction  with  organic  fertilizer  and  bio-fertilizers  under Soil Health & Fertility Scheme. Further, under organic schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Namami  Gange,  Bhartiya  Prakritik  Krishi  Padhati  (BPKP), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North- Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) etc., farmers are provided assistance for use of organic and bio-fertilizers. Further, National Centre for Organic Farming (NCOF) is  involved  in  awareness  generation  &  training  activities  for  promotion  of  organic farming.

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