Lok Sabha Question No. 170 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: Balanced Utilisation of Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK   SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO . 170* TO BE ANSWERED ON

: 06.12.2024

## Balanced Utilisation of Fertilizers

## *170.    DR. SHRIKANT  EKNATH SHINDE:

## SHRI  RAVINDRA  DATTARAM  WAIKAR:

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

- (a) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to promote balanced utilization of the fertilizers among the farmers since 2019;
- (b) the  details  of  funds  allocated  for  the  subsidies  on  fertilizers  to  farmers  in  the country since Financial Year 2023-24 and 2024-25, state- wise;
- (c) the total number of beneficiaries from the aforementioned subsidies; and
- (d) Whether the Government is considering to build a platform to streamline/channelize the sale of fertilizers in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

(SHR JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) to (d):   A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 170* FOR 06.12.2024 REGARDING- ' BALANCED UTILISATION OF FERTILIZERS'.

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(a):      Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  promotes  the  sustainable  and balanced  use  of  fertilizers,  by  recommending  soil  test  based  integrated  nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources.  ICAR develops  both  processes  as  well  as  products  in  order  to  promote  the  use  of biofertilizers/bio-enriched organic manures.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), on June 28, 2023, approved the  'PM  Programme  for  Restoration,  Awareness  Generation,  Nourishment,  and Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PM-PRANAM).' This initiative aims to support the mass movement initiated  by  States  and  Union  Territories  (UTs)  to  preserve  the  health  of Mother  Earth  through  the  promotion  of  sustainable  and  balanced  fertilizer  use, adoption of alternative fertilizers, promotion of organic farming, and implementation of resource conservation technologies.

Cabinet  Committee  on  Economic  Affairs  (CCEA)  in  its  meeting  held  on  28 th June, 2023 has approved the Market Development Assistance (MDA) @Rs.1500/MT to  promote organic fertilizers,  with total  outlay of Rs. 1451.84 Crore (FY  2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes a corpus of Rs. 360 Crore for research gap funding, etc.

(b): The Government provides subsidy to ensure adequate availability of fertilizers at  affordable  prices  to  the  farmers.  100%  subsidy  on  various  fertilizer  grades  is released on actual sales to the beneficiaries based on Aadhar authentication through PoS devices. The subsidy provided for fertilizers in the  years 2023-24 and 2024-25 (as on 30.11.2024) are Rs.1,95,420.51 and Rs.1,19,628.49 respectively.

(c):      During  financial  years  2023-24  and  2024-25,  6,38,92,286  and  4,91,56,960 farmers respectively, have been benefitted by the fertilizer subsidy schemes of D/o. Fertilizers.

(d): The following  steps  are  taken  by  the  Government  every  season  for  ensuring timely and adequate supply of fertilizers in the country:

- i. Before the commencement of each cropping season, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with all the State Governments, assesses the state-wise & month-wise requirement of fertilizers.
- ii. On  the  basis  of  requirement  projected,  Department  of  Fertilizers  allocates sufficient/  adequate  quantities  of  fertilizers  to  States  by  issuing  monthly  supply plan  and  continuously  monitors  the  availability along  with  the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- iii. The  movement  of  all  major  subsidized  fertilizers  is  monitored  throughout  the country by  an  on-line  web  based  monitoring  system called integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS).

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