Question : TESTING OF SOIL FERTILIZERS AND SEEDS



(a) whether the Government propose to conduct soil testing and quality testing of fertilizers and seeds and also to check supply of spurious inputs;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHRIPAD Y. NAIK)

(a) to (c): Soil testing facility is being provided to farmers in the country through 514 soil testing laboratories functioning in different states/UTs. These laboratories have capacity to analyse 6.4 million soil samples per annum. In addition to this, strengthening of 273 existing soil testing labs and establishment of 16 more soil testing laboratories, which is in process will raise the total capacity to 8 million soil samples per annum.

In order to check the supply of spurious inputs, 66 fertilizer testing laboratories are functioning in various parts of the country with a capacity to analyse 1.2 lakhs fertilizer samples per annum and; 101 seed testing laboratories have been set up for certification and quality check of seeds. Similarly, 47 State pesticides laboratories with a capacity to analyse 55600 samples per annum help in checking the quality of insecticides/pesticides.