Lok Sabha Question No. 2309 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Organic Fertilizer from Household Wastage
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Arun Govil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2309

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## ORGANIC FERTILIZER FROM HOUSEHOLD WASTAGE

2309. SHRI ARUN GOVIL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) whether thousands of tonnes of organic fertilizer can be produced from the peels of fruits and vegetables getting wasted in the houses every day; and

(b) whether the Government is formulating any scheme in this regard so as to provide employment  avenues  to  the  people  and  benefit  the  farmers  by  introducing  start-up  in agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a): Yes.  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  informed  that  organic fertilizer  can  be  produced  from  household  wastes  and  has  developed  technology  to prepare  various  types  of  organic  fertilizer/  manure  such  as  phosphocompost,  mastis vermicompost,  bio-enriched  compost,  compost  from  these  waste.  Household  waste  can also be mixed with farm wastes, animal manures, agro-processing wastes to have more balanced  nutrients.  ICAR  also  imparts  training,  organizes  front-line  demonstrations, awareness  programs  etc.  to  educate  farmers,  youth  urban  stackholders  on  all  these aspects.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) have informed that under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) assistance has been provided to States/UTs for scientific processing of all fractions of waste including the peels of fruits and vegetables generated in  urban  areas  through  waste  processing  facilities  such  as  Materials  Recovery  Facility, Transfer  stations,  composting  plants,  Bio-methanations  plants  etc.  Government  of  India supports  the  efforts  of  the  States/UTs  through  the  SBM-U  by  offering  policy  guidance, financial assistance, and technical support.

In  urban  areas  of  the  country  for  scientific  processing  of  Municipal  Solid  Waste (MSW) generated in the urban areas in the country through 100% segregation (dry & wet waste), door to door collection etc. the wet waste so collected from homes containing the peels  of  fruits  and  vegetables  is  processed  through  compositing  plant  and  bio  methanation plant. However, organic fertilizer produced from compost plant has not been quantified.

(b): Yes.  Start-ups  are  being  supported  under  'Innovation  and  Agri-Entrepreneurship Development'  programme  under  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  from  2018-19 onwards with an objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing an incubation ecosystem in the country. Start-ups are being under taken in various field of agriculture and allied sectors like Precision  agriculture  including  applications  of  sensor,  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI),  drone, Farm Mechanization, Post-Harvest, Food Technology & Value addition, Supply Chain and Agriculture logistics & agriculture inputs, Waste to Wealth & Green Energy in Agriculture & Organic  Farming,  Allied  Sector  (Animal  Husbandry,  Dairy,  Fisheries,  etc.),  Secondary agriculture, etc. Five Knowledge Partners (KPs) and twenty-four RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (RABIs)  have  been  appointed  across  the  country  for  implementation,  assistance  and incubation of startups under the above said programme. Under  the  programme,  trainings,  technical  and  financial  assistance  is  provided  to startups  to  launch  their  products,  services,  business  platforms,  etc  into  the  market  and facilitate  them  to  scale  up  their  products  and  operations  to  attain  business  viability. Financial support is provided to entrepreneurs of Rs. 5.00 lakh at the idea/pre seed stage and Rs. 25 lakh at the seed stage as grant-in-aid under the programme. Over 5000 AgriStartups have been trained and out of which 1708 startup have been financed to the tune of Rs. 122.50 crore as grants-in-aid.

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