MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a): The average consumption of fertilizers in the country in terms of plant nutrients is about
95 kg. per hectare. It is, therefore, lower than the consumption in the countries like China,
Japan, U.K., France, Germany, USA and Bangladesh.
(b): In the intensively cultivated areas, the removal of plant nutrients from the soils is higher
than other areas. In such areas/States, consumption of plant nutrients is also much higher than
National average consumption of 95 kg. The consumption of NPK in Punjab is about 185 kg.
per hectare, in Andhra Pradesh 158 kg/ha., in Tamil Nadu 163 kg. and UP 125 kg. per ha.
(c)to(e): With a view to propagating the concept of Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System,
Government encourages the use of organic manures such as rural and urban compost,
vermicompost, biogas slurry and biofertilisers along with chemical fertilizers. This concept is
being popularized by the extension agencies in the State Governments and the Centre through
training and education of the farmers. To augment the supply of non-chemical form of plant
nutrients, Government has been implementing a scheme on Development & use of Biofertilisers
where biofertiliser production units were set up in different States. Under the scheme of
Balanced & Integrated Use of Fertilisers, support was given during Eighth and Ninth plan to set
up the compost plants in the urban areas so as to convert the biodegradable wastes into
manure for use in agriculture. To give a boost to production and promotion of organic source of
plant nutrients, during Tenth plan, the Government has proposed a new scheme entitled
`National Project on Organic Farming` which will facilitate the production and promotion of
organic source of plant nutrients which could be used as a supplemental source of nutrients.
