Lok Sabha Question No. 696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Strategies for Organic Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 696

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 Th  JULY, 2023

## STRATEGIES FOR ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

## 696. SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  strategies  in  place  to  address  the  structural  and economic hurdles that hinder the adoption of organic fertilizers, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  any  initiatives  to  increase  awareness  and demand for certified organic products to encourage farmers to opt for organic farming;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) whether some  measures  have  been  taken to improve storage and distribution infrastructure for  organic fertilizers  in  rural  areas  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a): To  promote  adoption  of  organic  fertilizers,  Government  is  promoting  organic  farming using organic fertilizers through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). PKVY is being  implemented  in  all  the  States  other-than  North  Eastern  States,  across  the  country whereas MOVCDNER scheme is being implemented exclusively in the NE States. Under PKVY and MOVCDNER scheme, farmers are directly provided financial assistance of Rs. 31000/ha for 3 years and Rs 32500/ ha for 3 years through DBT for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs including organic fertilizers.

Use  of  organic  fertilizers  has  been  made  integral  part  of  package  of  practices  of  all crops. 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 manures and bio-fertilizers. Under SHC scheme various training demonstration programme as well as farmer's melas and workshops are organized.

In  order  to  ensure  the  avaibility  of  good  quality  of  organic-fertilizers,  the  Government regulates its quality under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), (1985). Government has notified 32 quality testing laboratory and initiated steps to accredite 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.

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 (PMPRANAM)'  to  incentivize  States  and  Union  Territories  to  promote  the  use  of  alternative fertilizers such as organic and bio-fertilizers. 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.

Under  Mission  Life  programme  Government  is  taking  up  various  environment  friendly Initiative to encourage natural and organic farming using organic and bio-fertilizer for reduced emission  of  Green  House  Gas  (GHG)  through  reduction  of  use  of  chemical  fertilizer  and pesticides.

(b) & (c): For increasing awareness and demand for certified organic products, Government has  taken  several  initiatives  under  PKVY  and  MOVCDNER  schemes  through  training, handholding  and  publicity  and  awareness  programme  and  support  postharvest  handling  and marketing including branding.

Under PKVY, assistance is provided @ Rs 7500/ha for 3 years for training and capacity building  where-as  under  MOVCDNER  scheme  assistance  is  provided  @  Rs  10000/ha  for  3 years.  For  marketing,  branding,  value  addition,  publicity  etc.  assistance  is  provided  @  Rs. 8800/ha for 3 years whereas, need based assistance is provided for marketing branding and publicity programme under MOVCDNER scheme.

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 programmes on organic and natural farming and production and use of organic and bio-fertilizers.

The ICAR also imparts trainings, organizes front-line demonstrations, awareness progrmas etc. to educate farmers on organic farming.

(d): Government is not directly supporting storage and distribution of organic fertilizers but 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).

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