Question : INTEGRATED NUTRIENTS MANAGEMENT



(a) whether the Government has taken any steps for Integrated Nutrients Management in the country; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and the achievements made in this regard during the last three years?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a): The Government is promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) envisaging conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources of nutrients to sustain good soil health and higher crop productivity in the country.

(b): A new scheme, namely, National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility (NPMSHF) has been introduced during 2008-09 to promote soil test based balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilizer in conjunction with organic manure and bio-fertilizer. The components of NPMSHF scheme include setting up of 500 new static soil testing laboratories, strengthening the existing 315 soil testing laboratories, setting up 250 mobile soil testing laboratories, promoting organic manures, soil amendments and distribution of micro nutrients, setting up 20 new fertilizer quality control laboratories and strengthening the existing 63 fertilizer quality control laboratories during the 11th Five Year Plan. The achievements during 2008-09 and 2009-10 are annexed.