Awareness Programme for “Right use of Fertilizers”

22^nd October, 2019, New Delhi

“The main source of livelihood of rural people in India is still agriculture-centric”, said Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Shri Gowda was addressing during the Awareness Programme for “Right use of Fertilizers” held at the National Agricultural Science Centre Complex today.

   

The Minister stated that more than half of the country's population is dependent on the agriculture and almost every third farmer is a marginal or small-scale farmer. He also accentuated on the country’s grain productivity that is agriculture-centric too. Shri Gowda emphasized on the wise and proper conservation of soil as it is important for achieving the goal of food, nutrition, environmental and livelihood security.

He urged for prompt conservation & management of soil so that the good quality of soil can be transferred to the next generation. The Minister mentioned about the various Urea and Nutrient based subsidies that are being offered by the Government of India on the phosphatic and potassic fertilizers. He also stated that with an aim to overcome the deficiency of micronutrients like zinc and boron, an additional subsidy is being given on the fertilizers coated with zinc and boron.

The Minister expressed his concerns on the deteriorating soil health that, in turn, leads to decrease in the agricultural productivity. Shri Gowda urged the various Government Departments along with the ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities for contributing wisely to increase and maintain the agricultural productivity.

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare regarded the event as one of the historic events where three important Departments of the Ministry have jointly initiated the efforts to make the farmers aware about the right use of fertilizers in the farming practices. The Minister accentuated the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision and keen aim to empower the farmers of the country.

He stated that the agriculture holds an important place in the GDP of the country. So, the farmers should contribute wisely and whole-heartedly in order to enhance the agriculture’s contribution from the current 14% to make it at least 50% in the GDP. Shri Tomar urged the farmers to keep their livestock in good health as it would, in turn, help to enhance their income as well. Mentioning about the distribution of around 8 Crores Soil Health Cards to the various farmers of the country, the Minister urged them to make the wise use of fertilizers in their farms and agricultural lands. This would help to enhance the soil’s productivity and yield good quality of crops.

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare applauded the initiative to provide a platform for the farmers to get aware about the right use of fertilizers in their agricultural lands. The Minister urged to dub the various agriculture-centric documentaries and films in the local and regional languages as well. This initiative would help the farmers more effectively.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) briefed about the main aim of the initiative. Dr. Mohapatra stated that the unfair use of fertilizers have led to serious hazards on the soil’s health. So, the wise use of the fertilizers in the agricultural lands will help to have good quality of soil. This, in turn, will lead to around 50% increase in the crops production. The Director General also urged the farmers to get benefited by the various ICAR developed technologies. This would help them to enhance their income in a proper way.

Shri Chhabilendra Roul, Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, Government of India stated that the Awareness Programme is being organized for the farmers all over the country. He emphasized that such types of programmes aims at making the farmers aware about the wise use of various fertilizers in their agricultural lands. This would not only help to enhance the soil’s health, but, also to yield good and healthy qualities of crops as well. He urged the farmers to get benefited by such types of programmes that are being organized by the Government of India.

Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare briefed about the main purpose of the event that is one of the most important initiatives of the Government of India. The initiative aims to provide the farmers with the wise knowledge on the better use of fertilizers in their agricultural lands. He stated about the Government’s aim to organize such types of programmes at each Block of the village. This would lead to enhance the soil and crop’s health. This, in turn, would help to achieve the target of doubling the farmers’ income.

More than 1,000 farmers registered their participation in the programme.

The programme was Live Streamed through the various platforms like DD Kisan Channel, ICAR Website and Facebook Pages for the benefit of the farming community across the country.

Besides this, more than 700 Krishi Vigyan Kendras also organized the Awareness Programme simultaneously for the progressive farmers at each KVK.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, New Delhi)