Lok Sabha Question No. 846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Availability of  Chemical Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Smt. Manju Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.846 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 07.02.2025

## Availability 0f Chemical Fertilizers

## 846:  SMT.  MANJU SHARMA:

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

- (a) the quantity of chemical fertilizers made available in Rajasthan during the last three years along with the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  research  or  collected  any data/information to ascertain the damage caused to agricultural crops/land due to increasing use of chemical fertilizers in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any steps to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers to save the environment; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a): The  availability  of  fertilizers  in  the  State  of  Rajasthan  during  the  last  three financial year is indicated in the table below:-

## <Figures in LMT>

| FINANCIAL YEAR 2023-24   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2023-24   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2023-24   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2023-24   |
|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| PRODUCT                  | REQUIREMENT              | AVAILABILITY             | SALES                    |
| UREA                     | 24.28                    | 29.23                    | 25.39                    |
| DAP                      | 8.95                     | 9.80                     | 9.37                     |
| MOP                      | 0.23                     | 0.20                     | 0.15                     |
| NPKS                     | 1.11                     | 1.40                     | 1.08                     |

## <Figures in LMT >

| FINANCIAL YEAR 2022-23   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2022-23   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2022-23   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2022-23   |
|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| PRODUCT                  | REQUIREMENT              | AVAILABILITY             | SALES                    |
| UREA                     | 21.50                    | 27.91                    | 25.17                    |
| DAP                      | 7.40                     | 9.70                     | 8.47                     |
| MOP                      | 0.30                     | 0.18                     | 0.14                     |
| NPKS                     | 0.95                     | 0.85                     | 0.72                     |

## <Figures in LMT>

| FINANCIAL YEAR 2021-22   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2021-22   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2021-22   | FINANCIAL YEAR 2021-22   |
|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| PRODUCT                  | REQUIREMENT              | AVAILABILITY             | SALES                    |
| UREA                     | 21.00                    | 25.43                    | 22.59                    |
| DAP                      | 7.70                     | 6.59                     | 6.10                     |
| MOP                      | 0.30                     | 0.31                     | 0.24                     |
| NPKS                     | 0.63                     | 1.23                     | 1.20                     |

Note: Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales

(b)  &  (c):    Yes,  Sir.  Investigations  carried  out  under  All  India  Coordinated  Research Project on 'Long Term Fertilizer Experiments' by ICAR over five decades at fixed sites have indicated that continuous use of nitrogenous fertilizer alone had deleterious effects on  soil  health  and  crop  productivity  showing  deficiencies  of  other  major  and  micro nutrients.  Even  with  recommended  doses  of  NPK  and  more,  deficiency  of  micro  and secondary nutrients has become a yield limiting factor over the years. There is also a possibility of nitrate contamination in groundwater above the permissible limit of 10 mg NO3-N/L due to excessive/over-use of nitrogenous fertilizers, particularly in light textured soils that has consequences on human/animal health if used for drinking purposes.

The ICAR suggests soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through  conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and  organic  sources  (manure,  biofertilizers etc.)  of  plant  nutrients  with  4R  approach  i.e.,  right  quantity,  right  time,  right  mode  and right  type  of  fertilizer  to  reduce  the  consumption  of  chemical  fertilizers.  In  addition, growing leguminous crops and use of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also advocated. The ICAR imparts training to educate farmers on all these aspects as and when required.

(d) & (e):  The Government of India is advocating the concept of balanced and judicious use of fertilizers on Soil Health Card based recommendation. Under National Project on Soil Health & Fertility Scheme, the Soil Health Cards (SHCs) are used to improve soil health and to ensure judicious use of fertilizer including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures & bio-fertilizers. SHCs provide information on nutrient status of their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

Government  has  been  promoting  organic  farming in the country through Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  in  all  the  States/UTs  other-than  North Eastern  States,  and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) exclusively for North Eastern region.

Under  PKVY,  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, PGS 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 DBT for on- farm /off -farm organic inputs.

Under MOVCDNER scheme, assistance of Rs. 46,500/ha for 3 years is provided for  creation  of  FPO,  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.  Rs. 15,000 as DBT to the farmers for off -farm /on -farm organic inputs and Rs. 17,500 for the planting material.

Further,  The  scheme  on  Natural  Farming,  i.e.,  National  Mission  on  Natural Farming (NMNF), as approved by the Union Cabinet on 25th November 2024 focuses on the adoption of natural farming through package of practices such as use on-farm produced  natural  inputs  such  as  Beejamrit,  Jeevamrit,  Dashparni,  Neemastra,  etc., multi-cropping systems, biomass mulching, etc. thereby reducing the dependence from externally purchased chemical inputs and reduce the input cost for cultivation. For easy availability  of  natural  farming  inputs  for  the  farmers,  10,000  need-based  Bio-input Resource Centres are envisaged to be set up under the Mission.

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