Lok Sabha Question No. 4841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Promotion of Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Gopal Jee Thakur, Shri Saumitra Khan

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4841

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 01 ST  APRIL, 2025

## PROMOTION OF ORGANIC FARMING

## 4841. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN: SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR

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

- (a) the details of amount sanctioned and allocated for promotion of organic farming under PKVY Scheme in Darbhanga and Bishnupur Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar and West Bengal respectively;
- (b) whether the Government is  promoting  the  use  of  eco-friendly  organic  fertilizers  and biofertilizers in the States of West Bengal and Bihar;
- (c) if  so,  the  district-wise  details  of  such  initiatives  including  awareness  programmes, subsidies and farmer support mechanism in both the States, district-wise; and
- (d) the details of the challenges in promoting the use of eco-friendly fertilizers particularly in  Bishnupur  and  Darbhanga  Lok  Sabha  constituency  along  with  steps  being  taken  to overcome them?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a): Government of Bihar has informed that Rs.170.0125 lakh funds has been sanctioned for  500  ha  area  under  organic  farming  involving  457  farmers  in  Darbhanga  Lok  Sabha Constituency under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) scheme since 2023-24.

Government of West Bengal has informed that PKVY scheme in not implemented in the Bishnupur Lok Sabha Constituency.

- (b) & (c): Government  is  promoting  the  use  of eco-friendly organic fertilizers  and biofertilizers through the organic farming scheme of PKVY including the State of Bihar and West Bengal. The PKVY scheme provides end-to-end support to organic farmers i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing in cluster based approach. The primary focus of the scheme is to form organic clusters in a cluster where preference is given to small and marginal farmers to help them to create a supply chain.

For  spreading  awareness  among  farmers,  several  initiatives  under  PKVY  scheme through training, handholding, publicity and marketing are undertaken. Under PKVY scheme, States/UTs  are  provided  financial  assistance  of  Rs.31,500/ha  over  3  years  in  the  organic clusters, out of which, Rs.15,000/ha is provided directly to farmers through DBT for on-farm and  off-farm  organic  inputs  including  biofertilizers,  Rs.4,500/ha  for  marketing,  packaging, branding, value addition etc., Rs.3,000/ha  for certification and  residue analysis  and Rs.9,000/ha  for  training  and  capacity  building.  One  farmers  can  avail  assistance  for maximum 2 ha area.

National Center of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF) and its Regional Center of Organic  and  Natural  Farming  (RCONF)  located  at  Ghaziabad,  Nagpur,  Bangalore,  Imphal and Bhubaneswar are organizing various HRD trainings and online awareness campaign on organic and natural farming including the use of biofertilizers.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research also imparts trainings, front-line demonstrations,  awareness programs etc. to educate farmers on organic farming,  through network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

The district wise data is not maintained centrally.

(d): The main challenges faced initially are being  perceptions about fall in production of crops  with  use  of  eco-friendly  fertilizers.  Through  hand  holding  support  and  training  for production of eco-friendly fertilizers from locally available items, the cost of input reduces.

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