Lok Sabha Question No. 699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Research and Development in Organic Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Subhash Chandra Baheria

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 699

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 Th  JULY, 2023

## RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

699. SHRI SUBHASH CHANDRA BAHERIA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to promote Research and Development in the field of organic fertilizers; and

- (b) the details of the various schemes being run for promoting organic fertilizers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a): Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  Research  (ICAR)  has  developed  technologies  for  rapid composting  of  within  farm  renewable  resources  which  is  potential  source  of  organic  fertilizers. Enriched compost like phospho- nitro or phosphor-sulpho compost has also been developed for use as organic fertilizers in agriculture. Bio-fertilizers have also been developed under All India Network Project on Soil Biodiversity Bio-fertilizers for different crops.

ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and  soil  types  under  the  Network  project  on  'Soil  Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers'.  Under  this  project, ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and soil  types,  Liquid  Bio-fertilizer  technology  with  higher  shelf  life,  bio-fertilizer  consortia  formulation with  two  or  more  bio-fertilizer  strains,  microbial  enriched  bio-compost  and  Zinc  &  Potassium Solubilizing  Bio-fertilizers.  The  ICAR  also  imparts  training  to  educate  farmers  on  use  of  biofertilizers.

ICAR under the Network project on 'Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers' has confirmed that Biofertilizers  can improve crop yields by 10-25% and supplement costly chemical fertilizers (N, P) by nearly 20-25% in most of the cases when used along with chemical fertilizers.

- (b): Government  is  promoting  use  of  organic  fertilizers  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  fertilizers  along-with  other  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  Rs  31000/  ha  /  3  years  under PKVY  and  32500/  ha/  3  years  under  MOVCDNER  for  on-farm  organic  inputs  including  organic fertilizers as well as for procurement of off-farm organic inputs.

Under Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), States are provided  assistance  to  promote  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM)  through  judicious  use  of Chemical Fertilizers in conjunction with organic fertilizers. Under SHC scheme, various training and demonstration programmes as well as farmer's melas and workshops are organized.

Government is preparing to promote Natural Farming on a larger scale in Mission Mode to cover  7.5  lakh  hectare  area  along  Ganga  basin  and  other  rain-fed  areas  by  developing  15000 clusters by transforming 1 crore farmers into natural farming in which 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centers (BRC) will be set-up for continuous supply of local livestock based natural farming inputs like  Beejamrut, Jeevamrut, Neemastra etc. This programme  will reduce consumption of chemical fertilizers.

In order to ensure the avaibility of good quality of bio-fertilizers, organic fertilizers and Biostimulants, the Government of India regulates its quality under the Fertilizer Control Order (1985). Government  has  notified  32  quality testing laboratories and  initiated steps to accredit its laboratories to strengthen quality control activities. Government has also developed a web portal (https://frs.dbtfert.nic.in/ ) for online registration of all kind of fertilizer to make registration more easy and simplified.

For encouraging production and use of organic fertilizers, Government has approved Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs. 15,000/ tonnes for Fermented Organic Manure (FOM).

To incentivize the farmers to reduce the overall consumption of fertilizers for improving soil health and fertility  and sustainable productivity, Government has announced 'PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM)' which will be  launched  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 that saves the money.

Under Mission Life programme, Government is taking up various environment Initiatives to encourage natural and organic farming using organic and bio-fertilizers to reduce carbon foot print, reduced  emission  of  Green  House  Gas  (GHG)  through  reduction  of  chemical  fertilizer  and pesticides.

The ICAR also imparts trainings, organizes front-line demonstrations, awareness progrmas etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.

National  Center  of  Organic  and  Natural  Farming  (NCONF)  and  its  Regional  Center  of Organic and Natural Farming located at Ghaziabad, Nagpur, Bangalore, Imphal and Bhubaneswar are organizing various HRD trainings namely One Day Farmers' Training, Two Days Training for Extension Officers/Staff, Two Days Training on PGS, 30 Days Certificate course, One day Jaivik evam  Prakratik  Kisan  Sammelan  for  500  participants,  One  Day  Stakeholder  consultations/ conferences on Natural Farming for 100 participitants, Orientation Program on Natural Farming and awareness  programmes  across  the  country  to  disseminate  information  on  organic  and  natural farming  as  well  as  on-  farm  production  and  use  of  various  kinds  of  organic  and  bio-fertilizers. NCONF  and  RCONF  also  organize  online  awareness  campaign  and  training  prpgrammes  on organic and natural farming and production and use of organic and bio-fertilizers.

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