Lok Sabha Question No. 371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Initiative to Encourage Farmers to Adopt Bio-pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 371

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE FARMERS TO ADOPT BIO-PESTICIDES

371.  SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA: SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

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

- (a)  the  initiatives  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  encourage  farmers  to  adopt  biopesticides  and  to  partner  with  State  Agricultural  Universities  for  research  on  biopesticides;
- (b)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  collaboration  with  various  stakeholders  to address challenges related to  bio-pesticides, such as the prevalence of substandard  or counterfeit products, concerns about shelf life, the expensive and protracted registration process  for  biopesticides  in  the  country  and  the  substantial  initial  capital  investment needed  for  bio-pesticide  production,  if  so,  the  detailed  information  on  each  of  these aspects;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  promoting  other  forms  of  fertilizer  like  biofertilizers  and organic fertilizers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)   the steps taken by the Government for promoting its use among the farmers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (d):  Government of India promotes the use of bio pesticides, bio control agents and botanical formulations as alternative to chemical pesticides, and safe & judicious use of chemical  pesticides  as  a  last  resort,  through  its  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture Departments by undertaking various training programs. Central Insecticide Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) registers pesticides for use in the country only after ensuring the efficacy & safety of the pesticides  and  simplified  guidelines  has  been  formulated  for  the  registration  of  bio pesticides with minimal registration fee as compared to chemical pesticides and also the provisional registrations are being granted along with the permission for commercialization  to  adopt  and  encourage  the  use  of  bio-pesticides.    The  Insecticide Inspectors appointed  u/s  20 of the Insecticides Act,  1968  by  Central  and  State governments,  draw  samples  from  manufacturing  units  and  sale  points  within  their jurisdiction  at  regular  intervals  to  check  the  sale  of  any  substandard  or  counterfeit products.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  institutes  are  developing  bio pesticides  after  rigorous  testing  through  various  State  Agriculture  Universities  (SAUs) under AICRP (All India Coordinated Research Projects) programs. In collaboration with various  SAUs,  numerous  bio  control  laboratories  and  production  units  have  been established  to  facilitate  the  development  and  dissemination  of  biopesticides  across  the country. These facilities are instrumental in producing microbial pesticides and conducting research  to  enhance  biopesticide  efficacy,  and  also  aim  to  reduce  the  initial  capital investment  required  for  biopesticide  production  and  technical  support.  Further,  ICAR institutes are also actively engaged in research on shelf life of bio-pesticides.

The  Government  also  encourages  the  use  of  bio-fertilizers  under  Paramparagat Krishi  Vikash  Yojana  (PKVY) and  Mission  Organic Value  Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) schemes. Under the PKVY scheme, farmers are provided financial  assistance  of  Rs  15000/  ha  for  3  years  through  DBT  for  on-farm  and  off-farm organic inputs including bio-fertilizer.  Under  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), financial assistance @ Rs 32500/ha for 3 years is provided to farmers for off-farm /on-farm organic inputs including bio-fertilizer.

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