Parliament Question: Excessive use of Chemical Fertilizers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 307 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02ND DECEMBER, 2025 EXCESSIVE USE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

307. SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has been reported in certain parts of Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts of Odisha, leading to deterioration of soil fertility and water quality in the Hirakud command area;

(b) if so, whether the Ministry has conducted or sponsored any study or survey to assess the extent of soil nutrient imbalance, nitrate pollution, or groundwater contamination in these districts, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any awareness or capacity-building programmes have been launched to educate farmers on judicious fertilizer use, balanced nutrient management and soil testing in above districts, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government is implementing any specific schemes for the promotion of organic and natural farming practices in Western Odisha specifically in above districts to reduce chemical dependency; and

(e) the details of steps taken under Soil Health Card Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) to address the problem of excess fertilizer use in Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): State Government of Odisha has informed that no such reports have been received so farregarding excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in certain areas of Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts that could lead to soil fertility deterioration and water quality in the Hirakud command area.

As per the soil sample analysis report for the year 2024-25, the Nutrient Index of

both the districts are as follows :- District Available Nitrogen Available P O Available K O Remarks 2 5 2 Bargarh 1.16 (L) 2.43 (M) 2.38 (M) L: Low, Jharsuguda 1.11 (L) 2.37 (M) 2.56 (M) M: Medium,Fertility status of the soil of both districts isreported aslow in nitrogen, medium in phosphorus and potash. Hence, there is no excess nutrient available in soil of the area.

Regular soil testing is done to assess the soil health in all blocks of the two districts. Under Soil Health & Fertility Scheme, 5576 Soil Health Cards (SHCs) have been generated in Bargarh and 1952 SHCs have been generated in Jharsuguda during 2025-26. Similarly, last year, during 2024-25, 28,824 SHCs were generated in Bargarh and 4373 SHCs were generated in Jharsuguda.

(c): Yes Sir, several initiatives have been undertaken through state governments to educate farmers on judicious use of fertilizer, balanced nutrition management, Integrated Pest Management etc. Training programmes at block level are conducted every year to educate farmers on use of soil health card, balance and judicious use of fertilizers, Integrated Nutrient Management etc. During 2024-25, 1350 such awareness training programmes were conducted in all 314 blocks of Odisha on soil health. Also under “Dhartimata Bachao Abiyan”, Committees have been constituted at district, block and Gram Panchayat levels to create awareness among the farmers. Under Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, 1800 campaigns were conducted in all 30 districts of Odisha and 11,61,568 farmers educated on soil health card and balance use of fertilizers, and safe use of pesticides. Training of farmers and dealers are conducted for precautionary use methods and reduction of exposure of pesticide residues.

(d) & (e): The State Govt. of Odisha has reported that the state is implementing various schemes for the promotion of organic and natural farming practices and to reduce chemical dependency in western Odisha including Bargarh and Jharsuguda Districts. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is implemented to promote chemical-free, eco-friendly farming by encouraging the use of natural inputs, and traditional practices, so that dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides are minimized. Under Balabhadra Jaibika Chasa Mission (BJCM) organic and natural farming are promoted to support farmers through training, input subsidies, certification, and market linkages to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides *******