Lok Sabha Question No. 2586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Special Fertilizer Package
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Pallab Lochan Das, Y. S. Avinash Reddy, Manne Srinivas Reddy

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

## LOK   SABHA

UN STARRED QUESTION NO . 2586 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 04.08.2023

## Special Fertilizer Package

## 2586.    SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY:

SHRI PALLAB LOCHANDAS:

SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  a  special  package  estimated  at  Rs.  3.7  lakh  crore  for  farmers  is proposed to be brought in as the use of fertilizers has become unbalanced in the country and the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium ratio which should have been 4:2:1 is now 8:3:1 in the country;
- (b) if so,  the details and the present status thereof;
- (c) whether the balance of the soil has been altered and production has become saturated which has  its impact on health of soil, humans, animals as well as environment;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  corrective  steps  taken/proposed  in  this regard;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  for  schemes  to  promote  one health package and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  incentives  have  been  provided  by  the  Government  to  States  and Union  Territories  to  promote  alternative  fertilizers  and  balanced  use  of chemical fertilizers in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

- (a) to (f):   The Government has approved a special package of innovative schemes for farmers which total outlay of ₹ 3,70,128.54 crore. The package includes:
- (i) Continuation of the existing Urea Subsidy Scheme upto 31 st March, 2025 (FY 2022-23 to 2024-25) at a total estimated outlay of ₹ 3,68,676.70 crore;
- (ii)        PM  Programme  for  Restoration,  Awareness  Generation,  Nourishment  and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM) for three years (FY 2023-24 to 20252026) to incentivize States/UTs to promote alternative fertilizers and balanced use of  chemical  fertilizers.  This  will  incentivize  the  farmers  to  reduce  the  overall consumption  of  fertilizers  for  improving  soil  health  and  fertility  and  sustainable productivity; and

(iii) Market  Development  Assistance  (MDA)  @  ₹  1500/MT  to  promote  organic fertilizers i.e.,  manure  produced  at  plants  under  GOBARdhan  initiative  covering different  biogas/CBG  support  schemes/programmes  of  stakeholders  Ministries/ Departments at the total outlay of₹ 1451.84 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes  a  corpus  of  ₹  360  crore  for  research  gap  funding  etc.  It  will  promote integrated nutrient management and reduce overuse of chemical fertilizers ensuring sustainability, soil health and better use efficiency of inputs.

Government has been promoting use of bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers and  bio-pesticides  under  organic  farming  through  the  scheme  of  Paramparagat Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  in North  East  Region  (MOVCDNER) since  2015-16. Under these schemes, farmers are primarily encouraged for organic cultivation using organic inputs and end to end support  to  farmers    i.e.   from  production  to  marketing  of  organic  produce  is ensured.  Hands-on  training to farmers about  on-farm  production of organic fertilizers  and  its  use  are  integral  part  of  these  schemes.  Farmers  are  provided subsidy  of  ₹  31000/  ha  /  3  years  under  PKVY  and  ₹32500/ha/3  years  under MOVCDNER for on-farm organic inputs including bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides as well as for procurement of off-farm organic inputs.

Trainings are provided to farmers on use of bio/organic fertilizers by National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF)  and  Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and soil types with higher shelf life.

National Project on  Management  of  Soil  Health  &  Fertility  has  been implemented to assist States in promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures & bio fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity.

All these initiatives of the Government on promotion of organic fertilizers and alternative  fertilizers  address  the  imbalanced  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  thereby restoring the standard NPK ratio.

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