**Executive Summary**
The document presents the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 307 regarding excessive use of chemical fertilizers in Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts of Odisha, to be answered on December 2nd, 2025. It reports on the state government's awareness, studies conducted, awareness programs launched, and schemes implemented to address the issue, with information provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The report includes details on soil sample analysis and initiatives undertaken to promote balanced fertilizer use and organic farming.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Awareness of Excessive Fertilizer Use:** The State Government of Odisha has not received reports of excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides leading to soil fertility deterioration and water quality issues in the Hirakud command area of Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts.
* **Soil Nutrient Analysis (2024-25):**
* Nutrient Index indicates low available nitrogen (N) and medium available phosphorus (P2O5) and potash (K2O) in both districts.
* Bargarh: Available Nitrogen - 1.16 (L), Available P2O5 - 2.43 (M), Available K2O - 2.38 (M)
* Jharsuguda: Available Nitrogen - 1.11 (L), Available P2O5 - 2.37 (M), Available K2O - 2.56 (M)
* Regular soil testing is conducted to assess soil health.
* Soil Health Cards (SHCs) generated during 2025-26: 5576 in Bargarh and 1952 in Jharsuguda.
* Soil Health Cards (SHCs) generated during 2024-25: 28,824 in Bargarh and 4373 in Jharsuguda.
* **Farmer Education and Awareness Programs:**
* State governments have undertaken initiatives to educate farmers on judicious fertilizer use, balanced nutrition management, and Integrated Pest Management.
* 1350 awareness training programs conducted in 314 blocks of Odisha on soil health during 2024-25.
* Committees formed under "Dhartimata Bachao Abiyan" to create awareness at district, block, and Gram Panchayat levels.
* Under Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, 1800 campaigns educated 11,61,568 farmers on soil health card usage, balanced fertilizer use, and safe pesticide use.
* Training provided to farmers and dealers on precautionary pesticide use and residue exposure reduction.
* **Promotion of Organic/Natural Farming:**
* The State Government of Odisha is implementing various schemes to promote organic and natural farming practices and reduce chemical dependency in Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts.
* National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) promotes chemical-free, eco-friendly farming using natural inputs and traditional practices to minimize reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
* Balabhadra Jaibika Chasa Mission (BJCM) promotes organic and natural farming, supporting farmers via training, subsidies, certification, and market linkages.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Bargarh and Jharsuguda Districts**
* **Impact:** Education on judicious fertilizer use, soil health card usage, and access to organic farming practices. Reduction in chemical fertilizer/pesticide dependency.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs, adopt balanced fertilization practices, explore organic farming options.
**State Government of Odisha**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and reporting on initiatives related to fertilizer use and soil health.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing schemes to promote balanced fertilizer use and organic farming practices, continue monitoring and reporting to the Central Government.
**Central Government (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)**
* **Impact:** Receiving and reviewing reports on the situation in the districts and the actions taken.
* **Action Required:** Review the information and potentially provide further guidance or support to the State Government based on the findings.
Key Entities Referenced
Odisha: The Indian state where excessive fertilizer use is being investigated.
Soil Health Card Scheme: A scheme to provide farmers with soil health cards to inform fertilizer use.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A central government scheme aimed at improving agricultural productivity.
National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): A national mission focused on promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
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
*******