(a) whether it is a fact that the farmers of the country are not aware of the proper use of fertilizers due to which they have to suffer financial losses;
(b) if so, whether the Government has taken any measures to create awareness among the farmers in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has provided information regarding proper use of fertilizers through mobile app; and
(d) if so, whether the farmers have taken interest therein and got benefit of the same?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): Government is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both organic and inorganic sources to prevent deterioration of soil health and fertility. Soil Health Card Scheme is being implemented to assist all State Governments to evaluate fertility in all farm holdings across the country and issue soil health cards to farmers regularly in a cycle of 2 years. Soil health cards provide information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.
Under Soil Health Management Scheme farmers are educated on balanced use of fertilizers through various components namely training of farmers, field demonstrations and frontline field demonstrations. Indian Council of Agricultural Research also imparts training organizes frontline demonstration to educate and aware farmers on soil health and Network Project on Biofertilizers for creating awareness among the farmers about uses of balanced fertilizations in crops and croppying systems and various aspects of Integrated Nutrient Management.
(c) & (d): Interface has been provided in UMANG mobile app developed by Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology for downloading Soil Health Card which has fertilizers recommendations for farmers. It is reported that 550 farmers have viewed the Soil Health Card recommendations on UMANG from 28th May 2017 to 20th June 2017.
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