(a) the current requirement of chemical fertilizers in the country and the steps taken by the Government to promote organic fertilizers;
(b)the current import requirement of fertilizers in the country;
(c) the names of the countries from which fertilizers are imported; and
(d)the steps taken by the Government to sensitise farmers against the side effects of use of chemical fertilizers?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a): In the current year 2017-18, the projected requirement of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, MOP & NPK) is 529.35 LMT.
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is promoting the balanced use of fertilizer in conjunction with bio fertilizer and organic fertilizer. In the Fertilizer control Order, 1985, DAC&FW incorporates city compost, vermi compost, phosphate rich organic manure, organic manure, bio enrich compost, bonemeal and steamed bone meal.
In order to encourage the use of organic fertilizer, Government of India is providing assistance for setting up of mechanized fruit/ vegetable/agro waste production under the National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture Scheme (NMSAS). The Government of India is also providing assistance under the PKVY Scheme to the farmers for procurement and application of phosphate rich organic manure. The assistance will be provided to the farmers for procurement of earth worms, preparation of pit and other raw materials required for construction of vermi composting unit.
Further, the Government of India approved a policy on promotion of city compost which has been duly notified by the Department of Fertilizers on 10.02.2016 wherein Market Development Assistance (MDA) of Rs. 1500/MT has been provided for scaling up production and consumption of city compost.
(b): The estimated indigenous production of fertilizers in country during the current year is 369 LMT against the projected requirement of 529.35 LMT. The gap between the requirement and indigenous production is met through imports. Further, entire requirement of MOP is met through imports.
(c): Fertilizers have been imported from various countries namely Australia, Algeria, Belarus, Bahrain, China, Canada, CIS, Estonia, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Morocco, Oman, Russia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, USA and Uzbekistan during the last three years and current year.
(d): The Government of India is promoting the balanced and judicious use of fertiliser on soil test based recommendation. The GOI is implementing the Soil Health Card Scheme which besides providing the soil fertility status, also recommend the quantity of fertiliser required for a particular crop.
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