Lok Sabha Question No. 183 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Initiative to promote Nutrient Management
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Robert Bruce C

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 183* TO BE ANSWERED ON: 12.12.2025

## Initiative to promote Nutrient Management

## *183:    Shri Robert Bruce C:

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

- (a) the  measures being taken to address nutrient  imbalance,  soil  degradation  and groundwater nitrate contamination in intensively cultivated agricultural regions of the country;
- (b) the initiatives being taken to promote balanced nutrient management, biofertilisers and micronutrient-enriched formulations under various fertiliser sector schemes; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expand soil testing infrastructure and farmer advisory  services  nationwide  to  ensure  crop-specific  fertiliser  application  and sustainable soil health management, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *183 FOR 12.12.2025 REGARDING 'Initiative to promote Nutrient Management' TABLED BY SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:

(a) Understanding the critical importance of soil health in ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity and environmental stability, the Government has undertaken various initiatives to address  nutrient  imbalance,  soil  degradation  and  groundwater  nitrate  contamination  in intensively cultivated agricultural regions of the country as follows:-

- i. ICAR  recommends  soil  test  based  balanced  and  integrated  nutrient  management (INM)  through  conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and  organic  sources  (manure, biofertilizers, green manuring, in-situ crop residue recycling etc.) of plant nutrients with 4R approach i.e., right quantity, right time, right mode and right type of fertilizer for judicious and balanced use of fertilizers and to reduce the pollution.  The ICAR also imparts  trainings to different stakeholders,  organizes  front-line  demonstrations, awareness programs etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.
- ii. ICAR recommends soil test based INM, split application and placement of nitrogenous fertilizers, use of slow releasing N-fertilizers, nitrification inhibitors and use of coated urea (neem, tar, Sulphur), water-saving irrigation methods and conservation agriculture practices to reduce nutrient runoff and to minimize ground water nitrate contamination.    Besides,  adoption  of  precision  agriculture  tools-nutrient  decisionsupport systems, Leaf Colour Charts (LCC), and drone-based nutrient application is promoted to minimize fertilizer losses and prevent nitrate leaching.
- iii. ICAR recommends an integrated natural resource management approach to control land degradation with focus on soil and water conservation, regulated input use, and ecological restoration. Bio-engineering measures such as contour bunding, vegetative barriers,  mulching,  check-dams  and  gully  plugs  help  arrest  soil  erosion,  while  the watershed  approach  promotes  in-situ  moisture  conservation,  regulated  runoff  and landscape-level resource planning. Gypsum application, use of halophytic microbes, subsurface  drainage  technologies  for  salinity  management.    ICAR  emphasizes controlled and demand-based irrigation, micro-irrigation and avoidance of excessive watering to prevent salinity, waterlogging and nutrient leaching. Practices like cover cropping,  agroforestry  and  shelterbelts  protect  soil  from  wind  erosion  and  improve biomass recycling.

- iv. Awareness and promotional programmes :-
2.  Programs  being  organized  through  National  Institutes  like  NCONF  &  Central Fertilizer Quality Control & Training Institute (CFCQTI) along with Indian Council of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs)  and  Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to educate farmers on sustainable soil and natural recource management.
3.  The Government also promotes chemical free farming practices like organic and natural farming under programs such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), MOVCDNER and Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), NMNF respectively to improve soil organic matter.
4.  Besides agricultural practices which focus on techniques like zero tillage, mulching, and crop rotation are promoted to enhance soil health and prevent erosion.
5. (b)  Government has taken several initiatives to promote balanced nutrient management, biofertilisers, and micro-nutrient-enriched formulations through various schemes and policies.

## A. Promotion of Balanced Nutrient Management:-

- i. Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme: This program issues Soil Health Cards to farmers every two years, providing information on 12 key soil parameters (N, P, K, S, Zn, B, Fe, Mn,  Cu,  pH,  EC,  OC).  The  cards  include  crop-specific  recommendations  on  the appropriate dosage of nutrients and micronutrients, promoting soil test-based balanced application and discouraging the overuse of specific chemicals like nitrogen.
- ii. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM): The government actively promotes INM, to farmers  using  both  inorganic  and  organic  nutrient  sources  according  to  the  "3Rs" approach.
- iii. Quality Control of Biofertilizers and Organic Fertilizers as per FCO 1985: -  The Government  encourages  the  use  of  quality  biofertilizers  and  organic  fertilizers  to enhance soil fertility and reduce soil degradation caused by imbalanced & excessive chemical use.
- iv. Neem-Coated Urea (NCU) slows down nitrogen release, making it more available to plants and reduces leaching into groundwater.

## B. Promotion of Biofertilisers and Organic Inputs

- i. Organic  farming  is  being  promoted  through Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States since 2015-16. Both schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing.

Primary focus of the schemes is to form organic clusters, with preference to small and marginal farmers, to create a supply chain. Both the schemes are implemented through States /UT Governments. Under PKVY, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha in 3 years is provided for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is  provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on-farm /off -farm organic inputs.  Under  MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs.  46,500/ha  in  3  years  is  provided  for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs etc. Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32,500/ ha is provided to farmers for off-farm/on-farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers.

Since  its  inception,  the  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  has converted 16.90 lakh hectares of land to organic farming, benefiting 28.35 lakh farmers. From 2015-16 up to 31 October 2025, a total of ₹2535.74 crore (central share) has been released under the scheme. Similarly, since its inception, the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) has brought 2.36 lakh hectares of land under organic farming, benefiting 2.70 lakh farmers. From 201516 up to 31 October 2025, a total of ₹1480.48 crore (central share) has been released under the scheme.

- ii. GOBAR-dhan  Initiative: This  initiative promotes  the  use  of  organic  fertilisers (Fermented Organic Manures, Liquid FOM, and Phosphate Rich Organic Manures) produced from bio-gas/Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants to help manage agricultural waste and provide affordable organic nutrients.
- iii. PM-PRANAM  (PM  Programme  for  Restoration,  Awareness,  Nourishment  and Amelioration of Mother Earth) Scheme: PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation,  Nourishment,  and  Amelioration  of  Mother-Earth  (PM-PRANAM)  is  an initiative  which  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.  All States/UTs  are  covered  under  the  PM-PRANAM  scheme.  Under  the  PM-PRANAM scheme,  there  is  a  provision  to  provide  incentives  to  States/UTs  for  reduction  of consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) in a given financial year, compared to the average consumption over the previous three years, equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved.

## iv. Promotional efforts by ICAR :-

-  ICAR promotes use of organic fertilizers namely FYM, compost, vermicompost, green manure, oil / concentrated cakes, biofertilizers, biogas wastes etc. are

usually used in agriculture through demonstrations, public campaign, training and media.

-  In order to promote biofertilizer use, the Council has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers specific to different crops and soil types in liquid and  powdered  form.    Biofertilizers  for  Phosphorus  solubilization,  Nitrogen fixation,  Potassium and Zinc solubilization  and faster composting of organic wastes suitable for different crops across the country are being developed and commercialized.

## C.   Promotion of Micronutrient-enriched formulations :-

-  Under  Nutrient  Based  Subsidy  (NBS)  Scheme  for  Phosphatic  and  Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, an additional subsidy of Rs. 500/MT and Rs. 300/MT is being provided for fortification of any notified P&K fertilizers with Zinc & Boron micronutrient respectively.
-  ICAR  and  in  collaboration  with  State  Agriculture  Universities  (SAUs)  are developing micronutrient formulations, micronutrient enriched compost and biofertilizer  technologies,  along  with  field-level  demonstrations  through  KVKs  to improve farmer adoption.

(c) The  government  promotes  judicious  use  of  fertilizer  through  Soil  Health  &  Fertility scheme.  The  scheme  is  being  implemented  since  2014-15  to  provide  Soil  Health  Cards (SHCs) for all farm holdings, to promote balanced and integrated nutrient management for improving productivity and soil fertility.

- i. Soil samples are processed as per standard procedures and analyzed for parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity, Organic Carbon, available Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, and micronutrients (Zinc, Copper, Iron, Manganese & Boron).
- ii. The diagnostic soil health assessment of farmer fields is taken up periodically so as to issue SHCs at least once in 3 years.
- iii. Since 2014-15, 25.61 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated/ distributed as on date across the country.
- iv. Total 8302 Soil Testing Labs (1082 Static Soil Testing Labs, 163 Mobile Soil Testing Labs, 6376 Mini Soil Testing Labs and 681 Village Level Soil Testing Labs) have been established across the country.
- v. In addition to state soil labs above, 1020 school mini soil labs are also established in the country under school soil health programme.
- vi. Under the scheme, Rs. 1970 Crore fund has been released so far since inception.

- vii. 93781 farmer's trainings, 6.80 lakh demonstrations, 7425 farmer's melas/ campaigns on soil health card recommendations have been organized across the country.

ICAR has informed that they have developed Mirtha Parikshak and the Pusa STCR Meter for rapid, field-level testing of key soil parameters, and these technologies have been commercialized to make soil analysis more accessible to farmers. ICAR has also created a soil  spectral  library  to  enable  fast,  contactless  and  sensor-based  assessment  of  soil properties.  In  addition,  ICAR  is  developing  soil-test-based  fertilizer  recommendations  for major crops across different agro-climatic zones, ensuring precise and crop-specific nutrient application. These interventions, along with the expansion of soil testing laboratories, mobile testing facilities and digital advisory systems under the Soil Health Card programme, aim to provide  farmers  with  timely,  accurate  guidance  for  sustainable  soil  health  management nationwide.

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