Executive Summary:
This document responds to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding soil contamination from chemical fertilizers. It addresses concerns about the impact on public health and outlines government initiatives to promote balanced fertilizer use, biofertilizers, and organic alternatives. The response details various schemes and programs aimed at educating farmers and promoting responsible fertilizer usage.
Key Points / Main Content:
Fertilizer Impact:
* Balanced and judicious fertilizer application does not harm soil fertility.
* The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recommends integrated nutrient management, combining inorganic and organic sources.
* Practices like split application, slow-releasing fertilizers (e.g., neem-coated urea), and leguminous crops are advocated.
Promotion of Alternatives:
* The Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 includes alternative fertilizers like Organic Fertilizers, Biofertilizers, Deoiled cake, Organic Carbon Enhancer and Nano fertilizer.
* Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) promotes organic farming in most states/UTs (excluding North Eastern states) with assistance of Rs. 31,500 per hectare in 3 years, including Rs. 15,000 via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for organic inputs.
* Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) supports organic farming in North Eastern states with Rs. 46,500 per hectare in 3 years, including Rs. 32,500 for organic inputs (Rs. 15,000 via DBT).
* Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme provides Rs. 1500/Metric Tonne to Compressed Bio Gas plants/Fertilizer Marketing Companies for promoting soil carbon enhancers and organic fertilizers produced under the GOBARdhan initiative. Rs. 54 crore MDA has been released for period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Farmer Education and Awareness:
* The Soil Health Fertility Scheme issues Soil Health Cards (SHCs) to farmers, providing information on soil fertility and fertilizer recommendations.
* Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) issue advisories based on SHCs.
* Extensive farmer training programs, demonstrations, and campaigns are conducted on soil health card recommendations. 93,781 farmer trainings, 6.80 lakh demonstrations, 7425 farmers melas/campaigns have been organized.
* The School Soil Health Programme is implemented in 1020 schools, involving 1.32 lakh students in soil sampling, testing, and educating farmers.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Benefit from subsidies, training, and information on optimal fertilizer use and organic farming practices.
* Action Required: Utilize Soil Health Cards, adopt recommended fertilizer practices, and participate in training programs.
Fertilizer Industry:
* Impact: Encouraged to produce and market biofertilizers, organic fertilizers, and soil carbon enhancers.
* Action Required: Align production with government schemes and promote balanced fertilizer usage.
Rural Youth/Students:
* Impact: Increased awareness about soil health and sustainable agricultural practices through school programs.
* Action Required: Participate in soil sampling and testing activities, and educate their communities on judicious fertilizer use.
Agricultural Extension Workers (ATMA, KVK):
* Impact: Play a key role in disseminating knowledge and providing guidance to farmers.
* Action Required: Provide advisories based on SHCs and conduct farmer training programs.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH: Member of Parliament who raised the question about soil contamination by chemical fertilizers.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, who provided the answer to the question.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR: An autonomous organisation responsible for agricultural research and education in India, recommending balanced nutrient management.
The Fertiliser Control Order, 1985: A regulatory order by the Government of India to ensure the quality and supply of fertilizers, including alternative fertilizers.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana PKVY: A scheme by the Government of India to promote organic farming in all StatesUTs except North Eastern States.
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region MOVCDNER: A scheme by the Government of India to promote organic farming in the North Eastern States.
Soil Health Card SHC: A scheme to provide farmers with information on the fertility status of their soils and recommend fertilizer dosages.
Agricultural Technology Management Agency ATMA: An agency involved in knowledge dissemination to farmers about Soil Health Card recommendations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2727
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05th August, 2025
SOIL CONTAMINATION BY CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
2727. SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether studies have shown that excessive use of chemical fertilizers contaminates
soil and drinking water, affecting public health in rural lndia, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether nitrate pollution from urea and other fertilizers is linked to rising cases of
cancer and neurological disorders among the rural youth, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to promote bio-fertilizers, organic alternatives and
responsible fertilizer usage;
(d) whether the Government has launched farmer training programs or school campaigns
to reduce dependency on synthetic inputs; and
(e) whether the Government is coordinating with the Health Ministry to address this
chemical-induced health risk?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): There are no harmful effects of fertilizers on soil fertility, if applied in a balanced
and judicious manner. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), based on the
results of All India Coordinated Research Project on “Long Term Fertilizer Experiments”
over five decades, is recommending balanced and integrated nutrient management
through combined use of both inorganic and organic sources (manure, biofertilizers, green
manuring, in-situ crop residue recycling etc.) of plant nutrients. In addition, split application
of fertilizer, use of slow releasing fertilizers including neem-coated urea and growing
leguminous crops is also advocated.
(c): The Government of India has notified alternative fertilizers namely, Organic Fertilizers,
Bio-fertilizers, De-oiled cake, Organic Carbon Enhancer and Nano fertilizer in The
Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 to ensure supply and quality of such fertilizers.Organic farming is promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in
all the States/UTs except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain
Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States. Under
PKVY assistance of Rs. 31,500 per hectare in 3 years is provided for promotion of organic
farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is provided to farmers through Direct
Benefit Transfer for on- farm /off –farm organic inputs including organic compost. Under
MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500 per hectare in 3 years is provided for creation of
Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs etc. Out of this,
assistance @ Rs. 32500 per hectare is provided to farmers for off -farm /on –farm organic
inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers.
Government is implementing Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme under
which assistance @ Rs. 1500/Metric Tonne is provided to Compressed Bio Gas
plants/Fertilizer Marketing Companies for promotion of soil carbon enhancers, viz.,
Fermented Organic Manure (FOM)/Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM) and
organic fertilizer, viz., Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) produced at plants under
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) initiative. As on
23.07.2025, Rs. 54 crore MDA has been released for period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
(d) & (e): The Government of India is implementing Soil Health & Fertility Scheme. Under
the Scheme, the Soil Health Cards (SHCs) are issued to farmers for providing information
on fertility status of soils and recommends dosages of fertilizers, micro-nutrients, and
macro-nutrients. Further, SHC recommends the dosage of fertilisers to be applied and the
type of crop to be sown. Advisories are issued to farmers through Agricultural Technology
Management Agency (ATMA) and KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK) based on the SHCs
generated. 93,781 farmer’strainings, 6.80 lakh demonstrations, 7425 farmer’s
melas/campaigns on soil health cardrecommendations have been organized across the
country. Agri-extension worker like Agricultural Technology Management Agency
(ATMA), Krishi Vigyan Kendras are also involved in knowledge dissemination to farmers
about SHC recommendation. Further, under this scheme, the component of School soil
health programme is also implemented in 1020 schools to inculcate importance of soil in
young mind of students to ensure behavioral change. Under the programme, 1.32 lakh
students are enrolled to undertake soil sampling, testing, generation of SHCs and
educating farmers about judicious use of fertilizers as per SHC recommendations.
Since, balanced use of fertilizers does not impact health; focus is on promotion of
judicious use of fertilizers.
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