Government is promoting non chemical farming under the names of organic and natural farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Bharitya Prakratik Krishi Padhati along the river Ganga .
The PKVY scheme is implemented in all the States across the country. Under this scheme, farmers are provided financial assistance of Rs 31000/ ha / 3 years for organic inputs such as seeds, bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, organic manure, compost/ vermi-compost, botanical extracts etc. In addition, support is also provided for group/ Farmers Producers Organization (FPO) formation, training, certification, value addition and marketing of their organic produce. Under Namami Gange Programme total Rs 120.49 crore fund (Rs 67.36 cr from RKVY & Rs 34.20 cr from PKVY) has been released for 6181 clusters and 123620 ha area covered.
As such, there is no harmful effect of chemical fertilizers on soil health with balanced and judicious use. However, investigations carried out under All India Coordinated Research Project on ‘Long Term Fertilizer Experiments’ over five decades at fixed sites have indicated that continuous/over use of nitrogenous fertilizer alone had deleterious effect on soil health and crop productivity showing deficiencies of other major and micro nutrients. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (manure, bio-fertilizers etc.) of plant nutrients for judicious use of chemical fertilizers to improve soil health. In addition, growing leguminous crops and use of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also advocated. ICAR imparts training, organizes Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) to educate farmers on all these aspects.
Government is promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) which includes soil test based balanced and integrated use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with organic sources of nutrients like Farm Yard Manure (FYM), city compost, vermi-compost and bio-fertilizers that leads to saving in use of chemical fertilizers.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha today.