Research and Development in Organic Fertilizers in India
Indian
Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has developed technologies for rapid
composting of within farm renewable resources which is potential source of
organic fertilizers. Enriched compost like phosphor - nitro or phosphor -
sulpho compost has also been developed for use as organic fertilizers in
agriculture. Bio-fertilizers have also been developed under All India Network
Project on Soil Biodiversity Bio-fertilizers for different crops.
ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of
bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and soil types under the Network
project on ‘Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers’. Under this project, ICAR has
developed improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilizers specific to
different crops and soil types, Liquid Bio-fertilizer technology with higher
shelf life, bio-fertilizer consortia formulation with two or more
bio-fertilizer strains, microbial enriched bio-compost and Zinc & Potassium
Solubilizing Bio-fertilizers. The ICAR also imparts training to educate farmers
on use of bio-fertilizers.
ICAR under the Network project on ‘Soil
Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers’ has confirmed that Bio-fertilizers 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.
Government
is promoting use of organic fertilizers under organic farming through the
scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value
Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER) since 2015-16. Under these
schemes, farmers are primarily encouraged for organic cultivation using organic
fertilizers along-with other organic inputs and end to end support to farmers
i.e. from production to marketing of organic produce is ensured. Hands-on
training to farmers about on-farm production of organic fertilizers and its use
are integral part of these schemes. Farmers are provided subsidy of Rs 31000/
ha / 3 years under PKVY and 32500/ ha/ 3 years under MOVCDNER for on-farm
organic inputs including organic fertilizers as well as for procurement of
off-farm organic inputs.
Under
Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), States
are provided assistance to promote Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through
judicious use of Chemical Fertilizers in conjunction with organic fertilizers.
Under SHC scheme, various training and demonstration programmes as well as
farmer’s melas and workshops are organized.
Government
is preparing to promote Natural Farming on a larger scale in Mission Mode to
cover 7.5 lakh hectare area along Ganga basin and other rain-fed areas by
developing 15000 clusters by transforming 1 crore farmers into natural farming
in which 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centers (BRC) will be set-up for continuous
supply of local livestock based natural farming inputs like Beejamrut,
Jeevamrut, Neemastra etc. This programme will reduce consumption of chemical
fertilizers.
In order to ensure the avaibility of good quality of
bio-fertilizers, organic fertilizers and Bio- stimulants, the Government of
India regulates its quality under the Fertilizer Control Order (1985).
Government has notified 32 quality testing laboratories and initiated steps to
accredit its laboratories to strengthen quality control activities. Government
has also developed a web portal (https://frs.dbtfert.nic.in/ )
for online registration of all kind of fertilizer to make registration more
easy and simplified.
For encouraging production and use of organic
fertilizers, Government has approved Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs.
15,000/ tonnes for Fermented Organic Manure (FOM).
To incentivize the farmers to reduce the overall
consumption of fertilizers for improving soil health and fertility and
sustainable productivity, Government has announced “PM Programme for
Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth
(PM-PRANAM)” which will be launched to incentivize States and Union
Territories to promote alternative fertilizers and balanced use of chemical
fertilizers. Under this programme, 50% of subsidy savings will be passed on as
a grant to the state that saves the money.
Under Mission Life programme, Government is taking up
various environment Initiatives to encourage natural and organic farming using
organic and bio-fertilizers to reduce carbon foot print, reduced emission of
Green House Gas (GHG) through reduction of chemical fertilizer and pesticides.
The ICAR also imparts trainings, organizes front-line
demonstrations, awareness programs etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.
National
Center of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF) and its Regional Center of
Organic and Natural Farming located at Ghaziabad, Nagpur, Bangalore, Imphal and
Bhubaneswar are organizing various HRD trainings namely One Day Farmers’
Training, Two Days Training for Extension Officers/Staff, Two Days Training on
PGS, 30 Days Certificate course, One day Jaivik evam Prakratik Kisan Sammelan
for 500 participants, One Day Stakeholder consultations/ conferences on Natural
Farming for 100 participitants, Orientation Program on Natural Farming and
awareness programmes across the country to disseminate information on organic
and natural farming as well as on- farm production and use of various kinds of
organic and bio-fertilizers. NCONF and RCONF also organize online awareness
campaign and training programmes on organic and natural farming and production and
use of organic and bio-fertilizers.
This information was given by the Union Minister of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok
Sabha today.