Bio-fertilisers can improve crop yields by 10-25pc: ICAR

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilisers specific to different crops and soil types under the Network project on ‘Soil Biodiversity Bio-fertilisers’. Besides, ICAR has developed enriched compost like phosphor-nitro or phosphor-sulpho for use as organic fertilisers. 

ICAR, under the Network project on ‘Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilisers’, has confirmed that Bio-fertilisers can improve crop yields by 10-25% and supplement costly chemical fertilizers (N-P) by nearly 20-25% in most of the cases when used along with chemical fertilisers.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar informed the Lok Sabha that the Government is promoting use of organic fertilisers under organic farming through the scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER) since 2015-16.

Under these schemes, farmers are primarily encouraged to carry out organic cultivation using organic fertilisers along with other organic inputs. End to end support to farmers i.e. from production to marketing of organic produce is ensured.

Hands-on training to farmers about on-farm production of organic fertilisers and its use are integral part of these schemes. Farmers are provided subsidy of Rs 31,000/ha/3 years under PKVY and Rs 32,500/ha/3 years under MOVCDNER for on-farm organic inputs, including organic fertilisers as well as for procurement of off-farm organic inputs.

Under Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), States are provided assistance to promote Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of Chemical Fertilisers in conjunction with organic fertilisers. Under SHC scheme, various training and demonstration programmes as well as farmer’s melas and workshops are organised.

The Government is preparing to promote Natural Farming on a larger scale in Mission Mode to cover 7.5 lakh hectare area along Ganga basin and other rain-fed areas by developing 15,000 clusters by transforming 1 crore farmers into natural farming in which 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centers (BRC) will be set-up for continuous supply of local livestock based natural farming inputs like Beejamrut, Jeevamrut, Neemastra etc. This programme will reduce consumption of chemical fertilisers.

In order to ensure the availability of good quality of bio-fertilisers, organic fertilisers and Bio-stimulants, the Government of India regulates its quality under the Fertiliser Control Order (1985).

The Government has notified 32 quality testing laboratories and initiated steps to accredit its laboratories to strengthen quality control activities. It has also developed a web portal (https://frs.dbtfert.nic.in/) for online registration of all kind of fertiliser to make registration more easy and simplified.

For encouraging production and use of organic fertilisers, the Government has approved Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs. 15,000/ tonnes for Fermented Organic Manure (FOM).

To incentivise farmers to reduce the overall consumption of fertilisers for improving soil health and fertility and sustainable productivity, the Government has announced “PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM)” which will be launched to incentivise States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilisers and balanced use of chemical fertilisers. Under this programme, 50% of subsidy savings will be passed on as a grant to the State that saves the money.

Under Mission Life programme, the Government is taking up various environment initiatives to encourage natural and organic farming using organic and bio-fertilisers to reduce carbon foot print, reduced emission of Green House Gas (GHG) through reduction of chemical fertiliser and pesticides. The ICAR also imparts trainings, organises front-line demonstrations, awareness programs etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.

The National Center of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF) and its Regional Center of Organic and Natural Farming located at Ghaziabad, Nagpur, Bangalore, Imphal and Bhubaneswar are organising various HRD trainings namely One Day Farmers’ Training, Two Days' Training for Extension Officers/Staff, Two Days' Training on PGS, 30-Day Certificate course, One-Day Jaivik evam Prakratik Kisan Sammelan for 500 participants, One-Day Stakeholder consultations/conferences on Natural Farming for 100 participants, Orientation Program on Natural Farming and awareness programmes across the country to disseminate information on organic and natural farming as well as on-farm production and use of various kinds of organic and bio-fertilisers.

NCONF and RCONF also organise online awareness campaign and training programmes on organic and natural farming and production and use of organic and bio-fertilisers, the minister informed Parliament during its on-going session.