Lok Sabha Question No. 3812 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-09
Subject: Declining Productivity of Arable Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SUBHASH PATEL, ANTO  ANTONY, K. GOPAL, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL, CHINTAMANI MALVIYA, KANWAR SINGH TANWAR, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3812

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH   AUGUST, 2016

## DECLINING PRODUCTIVITY OF ARABLE LAND

3812.     SHRI SUBHASH PATEL:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

DR. K. GOPAL:

SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

SHRI D.K. SURESH:

SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

PROF. CHINTAMANI MALVIYA:

SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

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

- (a) whether the productivity of arable land in the country has  declined on account of over cultivation  and  prolonged  use  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  and  if  so,  the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with the efforts made by the Government to address the said situation;
- (b) whether millions of hectares of arable land in the country has become barren due to nonjudicious land management and if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  earthworm  which  plays  a  vital  role  in  preserving  the  nutrients  of  the  soil naturally  and  is  called  farmer's  friend  is  on  the  brink  of  extinction  due  to  excessive  use  of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and other toxic chemicals in the agricultural fields and if so, the details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect earthworms for sustainable development of farming sector; and
- (d) the measures taken/being taken by the Government for the promotion of organic manure and integrated nutrient management of soil to sustain productivity of arable land and prevent its transformation into unfertile/barren land in the country?

## ANSWER

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

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  S.S. AHLUWALIA)

( a): The productivity of the food grains in the country during the last three years has been fluctuating  depending  on  weather  and  rainfall  conditions,  soil  moisture,  temperature,  etc. However, details of the productivity of  Food grains during the last three years in the country are

given in the Annexure. For the  current year ,i.e 2016-17 as per the First Advance Estimates of production (covering only Kharif crops) are normally released in September and, therefore, it is too early to have a firm assessment of production of food grains.

In order to increase production and productivity of agricultural crops in the country, the Government of India is implementing through State Governments, several Crop Development Schemes/Programmes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana  (RKVY),  Bringing  Green  Revolution  to  Eastern  India  (BGREI),  National  Mission  on Oilseeds  and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP),  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme etc.

Further, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is having research programmes in different crops in 24 commodity/theme based research institutes.  These institutes undertake basic  and  strategic  research  programmes  related  to  crop  improvement,  crop  production  and protection technologies in different crops.  The technical information so developed is used by 31 crop  related  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Projects  (AICRPs)  to  develop  location  specific varieties  and  technologies  for  different  agro-ecological  needs  to  enhance  production  and productivity.  Improved varieties/hybrids of major crops such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, pulses etc. have been released to ensure supply of quality seed to farmers.

These varieties and hybrids are being promoted through Front Line Demonstrations and other promotion programmes/schemes through State Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras  (KVKs).  Besides,  integrated  nutrient,  water  and  weed  management  strategies  have been developed by Crop Institutes of ICAR to meet location-specific requirements to achieve higher productivity.

(b): Despite  shift  of  area  to  non  agricultural  uses,  there  is  no  significant  decline  in  the agricultural land in the country. As such, there is no evidence to show conversion of agricultural land into barren land.

(c) & (d): There is no systematic study that has been carried out to evaluate the impact of excess use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and other toxic chemicals in the agricultural fields on the population of earthworms.  However, researches show that earthworm plays vital role in preserving  soil  fertility  as  well  as  the  physical  and  biological  health  of  the  soil.  The  ICAR recommends soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (Vermi compost, manure, biofertilizers etc.) of plant nutrients  to  ensure  judicious  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  preventing  deterioration  of  soil  health including earthworm activity. The ICAR has developed improved technology for preparation of quality  vermicompost    from  various  organic  wastes.  The  ICAR  imparts  training  to  educate farmers on these aspects.

Organic manures/compost are eco-friendly and not only provide nutrients maintaining soil fertility  but  also  improve  soil  physical  &  biological  health.  In  order  to  promote  use  organic manures in  the  country,  the  council  has  developed  technologies  to  prepare  various  types  of organic  manures such as phosphocompost, vermincompost, bio-enriched compost, municipal solid  waste  compost,  etc.  from  various  organic  wastes.  These  organic  manures  have  been tested on different soils using various crops and found useful in improving soil health and crop productivity.

Besides, the ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers specific to  different  crops  and  soil  types  under  Network  project  on Soil  Biodiversity-Biofertilizers. Liquid   Biofertilizer   technology    with   higher  shelf-life has also been developed. Besides, the

Council has  developed  technology  to   prepare  bio-enriched  compost  using  various  organic wastes fortified with biofertilizers. Biofertilizers can improve crop yields by 10-25% and supplement  costly  chemical  fertilizers(N,P)  by  nearly  20-25% in  most  of  the  cases  when used along with chemical fertilizers. When biofertilizers are applied along with compost @ 5t/ha or vermicompost @ 2t/ha, fertilizer saving is almost 50%.

All  these technologies are part of integrated nutrient management practices and being popularized among the farmers through Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs), farmers trainings, publishing extension materials in local languages.

Further,  the  Government  is  implementing  Soil  Health  Management  (SHM)  and  Soil Health Card (SHC) Schemes for promotion of integrated nutrient management of soil to sustain the  productivity  of  arable  land  and  prevent  its  transformation  into  unfertile/  barren  land  in  the country.

## Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  of  Lok  Sabha Unstarred Question No.3812 due for reply on 09.08.2016

## State-wise Productivity of Foodgrains during 2013-14 to 2015-16

| States           | Productivity (Kg/hectare)   | Productivity (Kg/hectare)   | Productivity (Kg/hectare)   |
|------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| States           | 2013-14                     | 2014-15                     | 2015-16*                    |
| Andhra Pradesh   | 2552                        | 2648                        | 2555                        |
| Assam            | 1916                        | 2021                        | 1995                        |
| Bihar            | 2018                        | 1964                        | 2135                        |
| Chhattisgarh     | 1523                        | 1474                        | 1395                        |
| Gujarat          | 2097                        | 2016                        | 1973                        |
| Haryana          | 3855                        | 3427                        | 3665                        |
| Himachal Pradesh | 1962                        | 1896                        | 1990                        |
| Jammu & Kashmir  | 1915                        | 1275                        | 1490                        |
| Jharkhand        | 1891                        | 1871                        | 1544                        |
| Karnataka        | 1620                        | 1689                        | 1393                        |
| Kerala           | 2528                        | 2823                        | 2819                        |
| Madhya Pradesh   | 1603                        | 1856                        | 1935                        |
| Maharashtra      | 1207                        | 988                         | 797                         |
| Odisha           | 1625                        | 1738                        | 1226                        |
| Punjab           | 4500                        | 4054                        | 4273                        |
| Rajasthan        | 1334                        | 1529                        | 1393                        |
| Tamil Nadu       | 2554                        | 2720                        | 3090                        |
| Telangana        | 2798                        | 2723                        | 2300                        |
| Uttar Pradesh    | 2484                        | 1972                        | 2278                        |
| Uttarakhand      | 1995                        | 1811                        | 1967                        |
| West Bengal      | 2721                        | 2698                        | 2783                        |
| Others           | 2121                        | 2130                        | 2181                        |
| All India        | 2120                        | 2028                        | 2056                        |

********