Question : Use of Chemical Fertilizers and Insecticides

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 193 DUE FOR REPLY ON 31ST JULY, 2018.

(a) & (b): Yes, the phrase ''Zero Budget'' means without using any credit, and without spending any money on purchased inputs. ''Natural farming'' means farming with Nature and without chemicals. The main aim of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is elimination of chemical pesticides and promotion of good agronomic practices and also to sustain agriculture production with eco-friendly process in tune with nature and to produce chemical free agricultural produce. Soil fertility & soil organic matter is restored by pursuing ZBNF. Less water is required under ZBNF. ZBNF is a climate friendly agriculture system.
Realizing the potential and benefits of organic farming particularly in areas like hilly, tribal and also in rainfed areas where utilization of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is relatively lower, the Govt. of India is promoting organic farming in the country through the dedicated schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
In the revised guidelines of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) scheme during the year 2018, various organic farming models like Natural Farming, Rishi Farming, Vedic Farming, Cow Farming, Homa Farming, Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) etc. have been included. Under the new guidelines, flexibility is given to states to adopt any model of Organic Farming including ZBNF depending on farmer’s choice.

ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) under Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) and All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) on Integrated
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Farming Systems has initiated an experiment on “Evaluation of zero budget farming practices in basmati rice-wheat system” at Modipuram (Uttar Pradesh), Ludhiana (Punjab), Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and Kurukshetra (Haryana) from Rabi 2017 to study the zero budget farming practices on productivity, economics and soil health including soil organic carbon and soil fertility.

(c): Yes, some States are practicing ZBNF under Central Assistance to State, viz. Scheme: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) & Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), such as:
1. Karnataka - ZBNF movement in Karnataka was born out of collaboration between Mr Subhash Palekar, who put together the ZBNF practices, and the state farmers association- Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS).
2. Himachal Pradesh - Himachal Pradesh is also planning to take up ZBNF in their State.
3. Andhra Pradesh - In Andhra Pradesh, districts like Anantapur, Prakasam, Kadapa, Kurnool and Chittoor have traditionally been drought-prone. For such districts, ZBNF has come as the right solution. ZBNF was initially launched in September 2015 under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The programme is under in implementation in 131 clusters covering 704 villages under RKVY and 1300 clusters covering 268 villages under PKVY. It will be expanded to 4000 new clusters for 2018-19 under PKVY scheme. So far, 163034 farmers are practicing ZBNF.

The total area covered in Andhra Pradesh under the PKVY & RKVY Schemes for promotion of ZBNF is given at Annexure-I.

(d) & (e); No, such information about farmers being skeptical due to huge decline in yield has been brought to the notice of Government. The Government
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is creating awareness and educating the farmers about Organic Farming practices including ZBNF in the areas where clusters are formed under the Scheme PKVY for promotion of Natural Farming.

In the state of Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sadhikara Samstha organized training programme at Kakinada, Tirupati and Amaravati with assistance from RKVY & PKVY schemes. Throughout the state 3500 farmers have been trained as farmer trainers to train farmers in ZBNF practices. Regular trainings are being organized by Farmers Field Schools by Master Trainers enrolled under ZBNF.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.



STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 195 DUE FOR REPLY ON 31ST JULY, 2018.

(a) to (c): The Registration Committee, constituted under Section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers pesticides after considering its efficacy and safety to human beings, animals and environment. Pesticides used as per the approved label claims and leaflets are unlikely to cause any harm. In addition, technical reviews are carried out from time to time to assess the safety of pesticides for their continued use. Based on which, the Ministry inter alia, has banned 28 pesticides and 4 pesticides formulation for manufacture, import and use in the country and restricted the use of 13 pesticides. The details are at Annexure I. Further, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) had constituted an expert committee under the Chairmanship of Anupam Verma in July 2013, to review 66 pesticides. The recommendation of the Committee is at Annexure II. Considering the recommendation of Expert Committee as accorded by the Registration Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare had invited objections and suggestions from the public/stakeholders on banning/phasing out of 18 pesticides. The details are at Annexure III. In response to which, the Ministry has received various objections and suggestions. Keeping in view of which, a committee has been constituted to review the received objections and suggestions.

There is no harmful effect of chemical fertilizers with recommended doses and its judicious use on the soil. The Ministry is propagating, inter alia, soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources to improve soil health and quality.

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(d): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has established 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) across the Country. These CIPMCs, inter alia, conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, and safe and judicious use of chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets. In the last three years, a total of 2045 FFSs have been organized, sensitizing 61350 farmers.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has established National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) as an autonomous body. The National Institute of Plant Health Management is mandated to promote environmentally sustainable Plant Health Management practices in diverse and changing agro-climatic conditions, Bio security & Incursion Management through capacity building programmes for farmers and State Agriculture/Extension functionaries.

Furthermore, the State Governments through various forums such as Zonal Conferences and National Conference are requested to exhort their extension functionaries to educate and impart training to farmers on efficacious and sustainable pest management strategies and approaches.

The Ministry has initiated Soil Health Card Scheme in 2015. These Soil Heath Cards provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients for improving soil health and its fertility. In addition, under Soil Health Management Scheme, financial assistance is provided to the States for setting up of mechanized fruit/vegetable market waste/agro-waste compost production unit and also for state of art liquid/carrier based bio fertilizer production units.