What is the Indian Government doing to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers?

Date:08-08-2023

For reducing the use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture, the Government of India (GoI) is promoting the balanced and judicious use of fertilizers based on soil test-based recommendations in conjunction with organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers. Further, under organic schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Namami Gange, Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), etc., farmers are provided assistance for use of organic and bio-fertilizers. Further, National Centre for Organic Farming (NCOF) is involved in awareness generation & training activities for the promotion of organic farming.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting held on 28th June 2023 has approved the ″PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PM-PRANAM)″. The initiative aims to support the mass movement started by States/UTs to save the health of Mother Earth by promoting sustainable and balanced use of fertilizers, adopting alternate fertilizers, promoting organic farming, and implementing resource conservation technologies. Under the said scheme, 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved by a State/UT in a particular financial year by way of reduction in consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) compared to the previous 3 years’ average consumption, will be passed on to that State/UT as Grant.

Further, CCEA in its meeting held on 28th June 2023 has approved the Market Development Assistance (MDA) at Rs. 1500/MT to promote organic fertilizers, i.e. manure produced at plants under the GOBARdhan initiative covering different Biogas/CBG support schemes/programs of stakeholder Ministries/Departments such as Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme of MoPNG, ‘Waste to Energy’ program of MNRE, Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) of DDWS, etc. with a total outlay of Rs. 1451.84 Crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes a corpus of Rs. 360 crores for research gap funding, etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Bhagwanth Khuba in a written reply in Lok Sabha.