(a) whether the Government intend to undertake concrete steps to promote use of Bio-fertilizer,
Bio-manure, Micro-nutrients, as supplement to chemical fertilizers;
(b) if so, the reasons for closing down operation of eight bio-fertilizer units under Fertilizer
Promotion and Agricultural Research Division on Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation (HFC);
(c) whether the Government propose to take over the above units and Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs) under HFC; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a): The government promotes the soil test based judicious use of chemical fertilizers in
conjunction with biofertilizers and organic manures as integrated nutrient management for
maintaining soil health and productivity.
(b): The Government has decided on 5.9.02 to close down the entire Hindustan Fertilizer Corpn.
Ltd. (HFC) including its fertilizer Promotion and Agricultural Research Division (FP&ARD) as the
same was not found to be techno-economically viable.
(c)&(d): There is no proposal to take over any of the biofertilizer units by the Ministry of
Agriculture. However regarding Krishi Vigyan Kendras under HFC, the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research is setting up a Committee to decide about the appropriate organisation to
whom these can be transferred.