Lok Sabha Question No. 2503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Financial Assistance to Organic Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Roat

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2503

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH   AUGUST, 2024

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ORGANIC FARMERS

2503. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the scheme proposed to be formulated by the Government to replace the usage  of  Urea,  Diesel  Exhaust  Fluid  (DEF)  and  other  fertilisers  with  Organic  manure  in  the country; and

(b) the various steps being taken by the Government towards providing financial assistance and imparting training to the farmers to promote organic farming along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a): The Government of India is encouraging the Balanced use of fertilizer in conjunction with the Organic and Biofertiliser on soil test based recommendation. Government is implementing the scheme titled  'PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM)' to incentivize States and Union Territories to promote the use of  alternative  fertilizers  such  as  organic and bio-fertilizers for improving soil health  and fertility and sustainable productivity, Under the programme, state Governments will be incentivized to the  tune  of  50%  of  fertilizer  subsidy  saved  for  promotion  of  organic  and  natural  farming  and organic fertilizers.

Government has  also  announced  Market  Development  Assistance  @  Rs  1,500/MT  for Fermented Organic Manure, Liquid Fermented Organic Manure use of organic fertilizers.

Government  is  promoting  organic  farming  on  priority  in  the  country  since  2015-16  for improving  soil  health  and  water  retention  through  the  schemes  of  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas Yojana  in  all  the  States  other-than  North  Eastern  States  and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain Development for North Eastern Region. Both the schemes stresses on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification & marketing and  post-harvest  management  training  and  Capacity  Building  and  also  focus  on  sustainable agriculture.

(b): Under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme, a total assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha for  a  period  of  three  years  is  provided  for  promotion  of  organic  farming  to  cover  different components  like  Training  &  Capacity  Building,  Data  Management,  Participatory  Guarantee System- India Certification, value addition, marketing and publicity. Out of this, the assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha for a period of three years is provided to farmers through Direct Bank Transfer for on- farm /off -farm organic inputs.

Whereas under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region, a total  assistance  of  Rs.  46,500/ha  for  3  years  is  provided  for  creation  of  Farmers  Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs, quality seeds/ planting material and training, hand holding and certification.  Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32500/ ha for 3 years is provided to farmers for off -farm /on -farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Bank Transfer to the farmers and Rs. 17,500 for the planting material to be given to the farmers by State Lead Agency  (State Lead Agency) in kind.

National Center of Organic and Natural Farming 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 Participatory Guarantee System- India, 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 programmes on organic and natural farming and production and use of organic and bio-fertilizers.

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

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