Lok Sabha Question No. 71 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-21
Subject: Use of Chemical Fertilizers in Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE
Asked by: KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE, BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL), KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

O.I.H

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COOPERATION

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 71**

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST JULY, 2015

**USE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS IN AGRICULTURE**

71. 	SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIK GAWALI PATIL:

SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

SHRI ELUMALAI V.:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE 	      कृषि मंत्री

be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether a large chunk of cultivable land has been adversely affected due to excessive and non-judicious use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the country;

(b)	 if so, the details thereof;

(c) 	whether the Government proposes to encourage and incentivise the farmers to use bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides to grow crops in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) 	the measures taken/being taken by the Government to promote the judicious use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for maintaining fertility and quality of soil in the country?

### 1 ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

कृषि मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री     (SHRI MOHANBHAI  KUNDARIA)

(a) & (b):	 There is no such report of adverse effect on soil productivity from non-judicious use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers.  However, indiscriminate and non judicious use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers may cause deterioration in soil.

(c) & (d):	 Government is promoting use of biofertilizers and biopesticides through various programmes under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Project on Organic Farming under ICAR.  Government is providing financial assistance @ 25% of total financial outlay, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 40 lakh  to individuals/ private  agencies for bio-fertilizer production  units.  50% assistance is provided to State Govt./Govt. agencies up to a maximum of Rs. 80 lakh per unit as Capital Investment Subsidy for setting up of bio-fertilizer units.   National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF), Ghaziabad, is conducting various extension and publicity activities like exhibitions, radio talks, TV programmes and distribution of literature to educate farmers on bio-fertilizers.

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Under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), financial assistance for training to farmers including field demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizers is provided @ Rs. 10,000 per training. Financial assistance for frontline field demonstrations is also provided @ Rs. 20,000/ per demonstration.

Soil Health Card Scheme has been launched recently  to assist State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country. Soil health cards will provide information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation  on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.  Soil nutrient status will be assessed in all the 14 crore farm holdings regularly in a cycle of 3 years so that nutrient deficiencies are identified and amendments applied.

The  Government of India has launched a Scheme “Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India”  since 1991-92 where farmers are educated for adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as cardinal principle and main plank of plant protection strategy in overall crop production programme.  Under the ambit of IPM programme, the Government of India has established 31 Central IPM Centres which conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) for educating farmers about biological control measures and other activities like mass production and release of bio control agents against different crop pests and weeds and augmentation and conservation of the bio-control agents and also encourage use of bio-pesticides and use chemical pesticides as last resort judiciously.

ICAR is recommending Integrated Pest Management (through a combination of agronomic, chemical and biological methods) and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) envisaging conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources of nutrients.  Besides, split application and placement of fertilizers, use of slow releasing N fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors, inclusion of legumes in cropping system, adoption of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) and fertigation are also being advocated.  The ICAR also imparts training, organizes Field Demonstrations etc to educate farmers on these aspects.

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