Lok Sabha Question No. 2689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-02
Subject: Fertility of Soil
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA, RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE, OM BIRLA, RAGHAV LAKHANPAL, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA, NISHIKANT  DUBEY, RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA, PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2689

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  AUGUST, 2016

## FERTILITY OF SOIL

2689.     SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

SHRI RAOSAHEB DANVE PATIL:

SHRI OM BIRLA:

SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY:

SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

## Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that large tracts of fertile land have adversely been affected  in  the  country  due  to  depletion,  exhaustion,  soil  erosions  and  excessive  use  of chemical fertilizers and if so, the details thereof and the steps/ programmes under taken by the Government for treatment and restoration of actual/original soil fertility;
- (b) whether the productivity of crops and the average yield in the country is lowest in the world and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the organic manures are essential for keeping the soil health good in the country and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to use the full potential of organic manure/ urban compost to maintain the quality of soil health;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any measures to promote tissue culture to improve quality of soil and enhance agricultural production in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the tissue culture labs. set up/proposed to be set up in the country;
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps to provide training to persons engaged in tissue culture lab./test to improve their skills under various agricultural research institutes across the country and if so, the details thereof and the achievements made in this regard; and
- (f) whether there has been a reduction in excessive use of urea in various States including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government to monitor the use of chemical fertilizers in the field?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a)  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) studies show that there is no harmful effect of chemical fertilizers with recommended doses and judicious use. However, imbalanced use of chemical  fertilizers  coupled  with  low  addition  of  organic  matter  over  years  may  cause  multinutrient deficiencies.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  conducted  scientific  soil  survey  for assessing  the  extent  and  nature  of  land  degradation  across  the  country.  As  per  the  latest estimates  (NAAS,  2010)  based  on  harmonized  database,  around  120.4  million  ha  of  total geographical area of the country is affected by various kinds of land degradation comprising of water  erosion  (82.6  million  ha),  wind  erosion  (12.0  million  ha),  chemical  degradation  (24.8 million ha) and physical degradation (1.0 million ha). Out of total degraded area, 104.2 million ha is arable land.

The  Government  is  recommending  soil  test  based  balanced  and  integrated  nutrient management  through  conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and  organic  sources  (manure,  biofertilizers  etc.)  of  plant  nutrients  and  location  specific  soil  &  water  conservation  measures  for preventing deterioration of soil health and fertility.

'Soil  Health  Card'  (SHC)  scheme  has  been  launched  in  February  2015  to  assist  State Governments to  evaluate  fertility  in  all  14  crore  farm  holdings  and  issue  soil  health  cards  to farmers regularly in a cycle of 2 years.    Soil health cards provide information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

Soil Health Management (SHM) scheme is being implemented to enhance balanced use of fertilizers through setting up / strengthening of Soil Testing Laboratories, demonstration and training on balanced use of fertilizers.

- (b):      The average yield of principal crops in various countries is given at Annexure-I.
- (c):          Organic  manures/compost  not  only  provide  nutrients  maintaining  soil  fertility  but  also improve soil physical & biological health.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed technology to prepare various  types  of  organic  manures  such  as  phospho-compost,  Vermi-compost,  bio-enriched compost, municipal solid waste compost, etc. from various organic wastes.

Under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, Government is encouraging establishment of fruit / vegetable market / agro waste compost production unit capacity of 3000 ton  per  annum.  Under  Capital  Investment  Subsidy  Scheme  through  National  Bank  for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), financial assistance is provided @ 33 percent for  farmers/  individual  private  agencies  including  youth  with  financial  outlay  limited  to  Rs.  63 lakh whichever is less.

The  Government  has  approved  a  policy  on  promotion  of  City  Compost.    A  notification conveying  the  approval  has  been  issued  on  10.02.2016  in  which  market  development assistance  in  the  form  of  fixed  amount  of  Rs.  1500/tone  will  be  provided  for  scaling  up production and consumption of city compost.  The processing and use of city waste as compost fully compliments the 'SWACHH BHARAT ABHIYAN' campaign.

(d) & (e): Under Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture component of the Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials, financial assistance @ Rs.2.50 crores is being provided for establishment  of new Tissue Culture Unit and @ Rs. 20 lakh for rehabilitation /strengthening of old  Tissue  Culture  labs  to  the  ICAR  Centers,  ATMA,  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs), Directorates of Agriculture of States, State Seed Corporations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), NSC, Central Universities, Department of Biotechnology identified institutions, and other reputed Institutions of the State contributing to agriculture related scientific applications.

Under  this  scheme  Government  has established/  strengthened 35  tissue culture labs  in the country for production of elite planting material of sugarcane, banana, forest trees, flowers, and medicinal plants.

Besides,  there  is  a  provision  of  financial  assistance  for  capacity  building,  training  of manpower and awareness campaign for up gradation of post release monitoring of GM crops including creating awareness about the Tissue Culture is also provided under the scheme.

Under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), assistance is provided for setting up of new TC lab & strengthening of existing TC lab units. For setting up of new TC lab  assistance  is  provided  @  100%  for  maximum  cost  of  Rs  250  lakh/unit  for  public  sector whereas 40% assistance of maximum cost of Rs. 250 lakhs is provided in case of public sector. In case of strengthening of TC unit assistance is provided @ 100% for maximum cost of Rs. 20 Lakh/unit  for  public  sector  whereas  50%  assistance  of  maximum  cost  of  Rs.  20  lakhs  is provided in case of public sector.

Besides,  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  support  is  given  to  States  for setting up tissue culture labs and supply of tissue culture plants of sugarcane @ Rs 3.50 per plant.

(f): The State-wise information on per hectare consumption of Urea Fertilizer during 2012-13 to  2014-15  is  given  at  Annexure-II.  At  national  level  the  consumption  of  Urea  is  constant  at around 155 kg per hectare. However, Government of Punjab has reported 0.05% reduction in use of Urea over last year.

In  order  to  reduce  the  excessive  use  of urea, Government is promoting adoption of soil test  based  site  specific  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  envisaging  conjunctive  use  of  both inorganic and organic source (like, bio-fertilizers and locally available organic manures like Farm Yard Manure, compost, Vermi-Compost & Green manure) of plant nutrients to ensure judicious use of fertilizers preventing deterioration of soil health.

In addition, split application and placement of urea, use of slow releasing N-fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors, growing leguminous crops and use of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also advocated.

Neem coated urea,  which is a slow N release fertilizer and enhance N use efficiency  has been made mandatory from May 2015,   for all the indigenous producers of urea to produce 100% of their total production of subsidized urea as neem coated urea.

## Annexure-I

## Area, Production and Yield of Principal Crops in various Countries during 2013

Area-  '000' Hectares Production - '000' Tonnes Yield - Kg/Hectare

| Country      | Area   | Production   | Yield   | Production (%)   |
|--------------|--------|--------------|---------|------------------|
| (1)          | (2)    | (3)          | (4)     | (5)              |
| 1. Paddy     |        |              |         |                  |
| World        | 165163 | 740903       | 4486    | 100.00           |
| China        | 30582  | 205207       | 6710    | 27.70            |
| India        | 43940  | 159200       | 3623    | 21.49            |
| Indonesia    | 13835  | 71280        | 5152    | 9.62             |
| Bangladesh   | 11770  | 51500        | 4376    | 6.95             |
| Viet Nam     | 7903   | 44039        | 5573    | 5.94             |
| Thailand     | 12373  | 36063        | 2915    | 4.87             |
| Myanmar      | 7500   | 28767        | 3836    | 3.88             |
| Philippines  | 4746   | 18439        | 3885    | 2.49             |
| Brazil       | 2353   | 11783        | 5007    | 1.59             |
| Japan        | 1599   | 10758        | 6728    | 1.45             |
| 2. Wheat     |        |              |         |                  |
| World        | 219047 | 715909       | 3268    | 100.00           |
| China        | 24119  | 121931       | 5055    | 17.03            |
| India        | 29650  | 93510        | 3154    | 13.06            |
| USA          | 18274  | 57967        | 3172    | 8.10             |
| France       | 5323   | 38614        | 7254    | 5.39             |
| Canada       | 10442  | 37530        | 3594    | 5.24             |
| Germany      | 3128   | 25019        | 7998    | 3.49             |
| Pakistan     | 8687   | 24211        | 2787    | 3.38             |
| Oceania      | 13029  | 23303        | 1789    | 3.26             |
| Australia    | 12979  | 22856        | 1761    | 3.19             |
| Ukraine      | 6566   | 22793        | 3471    | 3.18             |
| 3. Maize     |        |              |         |                  |
| World        | 185121 | 1018112      | 5500    | 100.00           |
| USA          | 35478  | 353699       | 9970    | 34.74            |
| China        | 36339  | 218624       | 6016    | 21.47            |
| Brazil       | 15280  | 80273        | 5254    | 7.88             |
| Argentina    | 4864   | 32119        | 6604    | 3.15             |
| Ukraine      | 4827   | 30950        | 6412    | 3.04             |
| India        | 9500   | 23290        | 2452    | 2.29             |
| Mexico       | 7096   | 22664        | 3194    | 2.23             |
| Indonesia    | 3822   | 18512        | 4844    | 1.82             |
| France       | 1850   | 15053        | 8137    | 1.48             |
| Canada       | 1480   | 14194        | 9591    | 1.39             |
| 4. Sugarcane |        |              |         |                  |
| World        | 26943  | 1911180      | 70935   | 100.00           |
| Brazil       | 10195  | 768090       | 75339   | 40.19            |

| India                       | 5060   | 341200   | 67431   | 17.85   |
|-----------------------------|--------|----------|---------|---------|
| China                       | 1825   | 128851   | 70588   | 6.74    |
| Thailand                    | 1322   | 100096   | 75738   | 5.24    |
| Pakistan                    | 1129   | 63750    | 56476   | 3.34    |
| Mexico                      | 783    | 61182    | 78158   | 3.20    |
| Colombia                    | 406    | 34876    | 85958   | 1.82    |
| Indonesia                   | 450    | 33700    | 74889   | 1.76    |
| Philippines                 | 435    | 31874    | 73205   | 1.67    |
| Oceania                     | 381    | 29085    | 76263   | 1.52    |
| 5. Groundnut (in shell)     |        |          |         |         |
| World                       | 25418  | 45654    | 1796    | 100.00  |
| China                       | 4652   | 17019    | 3659    | 37.28   |
| India                       | 5250   | 9472     | 1804    | 20.75   |
| Nigeria                     | 2360   | 3000     | 1271    | 6.57    |
| USA                         | 421    | 1893     | 4496    | 4.15    |
| Sudan (former)              | 2162   | 1767     | 817     | 3.87    |
| Myanmar                     | 890    | 1375     | 1545    | 3.01    |
| Indonesia                   | 519    | 1340     | 2582    | 2.94    |
| Argentina                   | 404    | 1026     | 2539    | 2.25    |
| United Republic of Tanzania | 740    | 785      | 1061    | 1.72    |
| Senegal                     | 770    | 710      | 922     | 1.55    |
| 6. Tobacco Unmanufactured   |        |          |         |         |
| World                       | 4238   | 740903   | 174817  | 100.00  |
| China                       | 1528   | 230114   | 150637  | 31.06   |
| Brazil                      | 405    | 138760   | 342405  | 18.73   |
| India                       | 490    | 113479   | 231590  | 15.32   |
| USA                         | 136    | 24588    | 180700  | 3.32    |
| Indonesia                   | 270    | 18439    | 68244   | 2.49    |
| Zimbabwe                    | 115    | 9390     | 81652   | 1.27    |
| Malawi                      | 120    | 8613     | 71673   | 1.16    |
| Argentina                   | 59     | 8613     | 145398  | 1.16    |
| Pakistan                    | 50     | 7039     | 140779  | 0.95    |
| Turkey                      | 136    | 6798     | 49901   | 0.92    |

Source:  FAOSTAT (as on 29.07.2015)

Annexure-II

## Per-hectare Consumption of UREA fertilizer Since 2012-13

| S.No.   | State/U.T.       | UREA Per ha Fertiliser consumption in Kgs.*   | UREA Per ha Fertiliser consumption in Kgs.*   | UREA Per ha Fertiliser consumption in Kgs.*   |
|---------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| S.No.   | State/U.T.       | 2012-13                                       | 2013-14                                       | 2014-15                                       |
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh   | 208.63                                        | 223.35                                        | 228.48                                        |
| 2       | Telangana        |                                               | 267.31                                        | 268.65                                        |
| 3       | Karnataka        | 140.49                                        | 139.47                                        | 147.37                                        |
| 4       | Kerala           | 31.95                                         | 33.93                                         | 30.73                                         |
| 5       | Tamil Nadu       | 162.99                                        | 144.43                                        | 159.80                                        |
| 6       | Puducherry       | 491.60                                        | 547.71                                        | 360.73                                        |
| 7       | A&N Islands      | 13.64                                         | 13.01                                         | 14.80                                         |
| 8       | Lakshadweep      |                                               |                                               |                                               |
|         | SZ TOTAL         | 155.35                                        | 166.29                                        | 167.49                                        |
| 9       | Gujarat          | 150.55                                        | 163.97                                        | 176.39                                        |
| 10      | Madhya Pradesh   | 85.25                                         | 96.82                                         | 87.75                                         |
| 11      | Chhattisgarh     | 101.74                                        | 99.15                                         | 102.77                                        |
| 12      | Maharashtra      | 105.38                                        | 112.25                                        | 115.59                                        |
| 13      | Rajasthan        | 76.15                                         | 69.82                                         | 76.82                                         |
| 14      | Goa              | 44.73                                         | 48.50                                         | 36.90                                         |
| 15      | Daman & Diu      | 87.38                                         | 48.54                                         | 66.67                                         |
| 16      | D&N Haveli       |                                               |                                               |                                               |
|         | WZ TOTAL         | 98.28                                         | 102.73                                        | 105.59                                        |
| 17      | Haryana          | 348.22                                        | 338.84                                        | 339.84                                        |
| 18      | Punjab           | 362.99                                        | 344.57                                        | 354.02                                        |
| 19      | Uttar Pradesh    | 225.85                                        | 209.13                                        | 214.16                                        |
| 20      | Uttarakhand      | 231.61                                        | 276.91                                        | 262.55                                        |
| 21      | Himachal Pradesh | 66.21                                         | 65.16                                         | 70.77                                         |
| 22      | J & K            |                                               |                                               |                                               |
| 23      | Delhi            | 36.74                                         | 151.63                                        | 87.24                                         |
| 24      | Chandigarh       |                                               |                                               |                                               |
|         | NZ TOTAL         | 266.36                                        | 251.61                                        | 255.29                                        |
| 25      | Bihar            | 280.99                                        | 253.85                                        | 263.32                                        |
| 26      | Jharkhand        | 71.12                                         | 57.99                                         | 64.27                                         |
| 27      | Odisha           | 89.38                                         | 91.37                                         | 86.87                                         |
| 28      | West Bengal      | 145.43                                        | 129.28                                        | 136.96                                        |
|         | EZ TOTAL         | 164.21                                        | 148.72                                        | 153.99                                        |
| 29      | Assam            | 111.75                                        | 111.71                                        | 130.80                                        |
| 30      | Tripura          | 117.77                                        | 93.31                                         | 36.01                                         |
| 31      | Manipur          | 137.92                                        | 73.33                                         | 91.71                                         |
| 32      | Meghalaya        |                                               | 70.27                                         | 2.50                                          |
| 33      | Nagaland         | 3.64                                          | 4.84                                          | 4.17                                          |
| 34      | Arunachal Pr.    | 4.17                                          | 5.82                                          | 3.58                                          |
| 35      | Mizoram          |                                               |                                               | 52.00                                         |
| 36      | Sikkim           |                                               |                                               |                                               |
|         | NE TOTAL         | 100.32                                        | 94.65                                         | 88.92                                         |
|         | ALL INDIA        | 154.68                                        | 151.89                                        | 155.90                                        |

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