Lok Sabha Question No. 398 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Promotion of Compost
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.398

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH   APRIL, 2016

## PROMOTION OF COMPOST

## 398. SHRI NANA PATOLE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the adverse effects of excessive use of urea fertilizers on crops and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the fertility of soil is also declining as a result of constant use of urea, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to promote production and use of compost in place of urea by providing subsidy thereon and if so,the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the said promotion of production and use of compost is likely to reduce the use of urea and mitigate the burden of urea subsidy on the Government exchequer and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIYA)

- (a) & (b): 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 including urea coupled with low addition of organic matter over  years  may  result  in    multinutrient  deficiencies  and  decline  in  soil  health.    The  limiting nutrients  do  not  allow  the  full  expression  of  other  nutrients,  thereby  reducing  the  fertilizer responses and crop productivity.
- (c): The Government is promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through soil test based balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with  bio-fertilizers and locally available organic manures like Farm Yard Manure (FYM), compost, vermi compost and green manure to maintain soil health and its productivity.

In  consonance  with  above  policy,  Government  promotes  on  farm  production  of  organic compost and also the compost production units set up in private sector.

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 Department of Fertilizers has approved a policy on promotion of City Compost 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.

In  order  to  promote  use  of  organic  manures  in  the  country,  the  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research has developed technologies to prepare various types of organic manures that have been tested on different soils using various crops and found useful in improving soil health  and  crop  productivity.  All  these  technologies  are  being  popularized  among  farmers through Front Line  Demonstrations, farmers trainings, publishing extension materials in local languages.

In  case of chemical fertilizers, Government is promoting balanced and regulated use of fertilizers.  Advisories  are  issued  to  apply  soil  test  based  recommended  doses  for  crop production. Soil Health Card Scheme provides cards to farmers with all relevant information on fertility and balanced use.

(d):        The  ICAR  under  its  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  (AICRP)  on  Long  Term Fertilizer  Experiments  (LTFE)  has  demonstrated  that  the  response  to  the  chemical  fertilizers could be raised significantly with balanced application of fertilizer nutrients along with organic manures.    Therefore,  Government  has  issued  advisories  for  balanced  use  of  fertilizers  in conjunction with organic manures to maintain soil health   and its productivity.

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