Lok Sabha Question No. 2022 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Use of Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: R.K. Singh Patel

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2022

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  AUGUST, 2023

## USE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES

2022. SHRI R.K. SINGH PATEL:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  the  use  of  organic  fertilizers  and pesticides in agriculture;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the extent to which crop yield has increased by the use of bio-fertilizers and pesticides during the last three years;

(d) the action plan prepared by the Government to increase the use of bio-fertilizers and pesticides in the country;

(e) the  steps  being  taken  to  reduce  the  use  of  chemicals  and  promote  the  use  of  biofertilizers; and

- (f) the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): Government is promoting the use of organic-fertilizers under organic farming in the country through dedicated schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER) since 2015-16.  Farmers are provided subsidy of Rs 31000/ ha / 3 years under PKVY and 32500/ ha/ 3 years under MOVCDNER for various organic inputs including organic fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers are also made integral part of package of practices developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agriculture Universities.

Government has announced 'PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment  and  Amelioration  of  Mother  Earth  (PM-PRANAM)'  to  incentivize  States  and Union Territories to  promote alternative fertilizers  and  balanced  use  of  chemical fertilizers. Under this programme, 50% of subsidy savings  will be passed on as a  grant to the state promotion of organic and natural farming and organic fertilizers.

To  promote  the  use  of  organic  fertilizers,  Government  has  announced  Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs 1500/tonnes for Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), Liquid Organic Manure (LOM) and Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM).

(c) to (f): In  order  to  promote  use  of  bio-fertilizers,  ICAR  has  developed  improved  and efficient  strains  of  bio-fertilizers  specific  to  different  crops  and  soil  types  under  Network project  on  Soil  Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers.    The  study  conducted  by  Indian  Council  of Agriculture Research under Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers has confirmed that yield of crop increases by the use of bio-fertilizers and pesticides.

The ICAR imparts training to educate farmers on use of bio-fertilizers. Moreover, ICAR -  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  also  conduct  training  for  farmers  on  Integrated  Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to promote balanced use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Government  is  also  implementing  the  'Sub-Mission  on  Plant  Protection  and  Plant Quarantine' through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers located in 28 States and  2  UTs    with  a  mandate  to  popularize  adoption  of  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM) through  training  and  demonstration  in  crops,  inter-alia  promotion  of  biological  control approaches in crop protection technology with major emphasis on judicious use of chemical pesticide as a last resort, safety in use of pesticides, alternate tools for pest management viz; cultural, physical, mechanical methods of pest control as well as use of bio-pesticides and bio-control agents.

To reduce use of chemicals in agriculture, Government is promoting organic farming using various bio-fertilizers under PKVY and MOVCDNER scheme. Under Soil Health Card (SHC)  schemes  Government  is  also  promoting  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with bio-fertilizers.

Under Soil  Health  Management  (SHM),  assistance  up-to  Rs  160  lakh  /unit  (200MT capacity) is provided to State Governments for establishment of bio-fertilizer production unit on 60:40 sharing between GoI and State Government.

To  minimize  use  of  pesticides  and  to  augment  use  of  bio-fertilizers  Government  is providing assistance under PKVY, MOVCDNER and various other schemes in the country which are given at Annexure I.

## Steps  taken  by  government  to  augment  use  of  bio/  fertilizers  through  various schemes.

-  Paramparagat Krishi Vikash Yojana (PKVY): Under PKVY Government is providing assistance  of  RS  50,000  /ha  /  3  years  out  of  which  Rs  31,000  is  provided  directly through  DBT  for  procurement/  on-farm  production  of  organic  inputs  including  biofertilizers.
-  Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): Under MOVCDNER, farmers are provided Rs 32500/ha for 3 years for on-farm production/ procurement of organic inputs including bio-fertilizers.
-  Soil  Health  Management  (SHM) :  Government  is  providing  Rs  160  lakh  /unit  for establishment of bio-fertilizer production unit (200MT capacity) to State Government which is shared on 60:40 ratios between GoI and State Government. 25 bio-fertilizer production units have been established under SHM.
-  National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP): Financial assistance@ 50% subsidy  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  300/-  per  ha  is  being  provided  for  different  components including  bio-fertilizers,  supply  of  Rhizobium  culture/Phosphate  Solubilising  Bacteria (PSB)/ Zinc Solubilising Bacteria(ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.
-  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM): Under  NFSM,  financial  assistance  is provided for promotion of Bio-Fertilizer (Rhizobium/ PSB) @50% of the cost limited to Rs.300 per ha.

Based on ICAR recommendation Government is promoting soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (manure, bio-fertilizers etc.) of plant nutrients to improve soil health and fertility.

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