Agricultural Produce marketing Committees (APMCs), Public Sector/Private Sector Companies, individual entrepreneurs and Bio-fertilizer/Bio-pesticide Production Units through Public Sector, Co-operative/Private Sector Companies, NGOs and individual entrepreneurs.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed technologies to prepare various types of organic manures such as Phospho-compost, Vermi-compost, Municipal Solid Waste Compost etc. from various organic wastes.
During the 11th Five Year Plan, the funds Rs.101.00 crore was allocated by the Government for National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) to encourage organic farming including organic manure.
Under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme of NPOF, subsidy amounting to Rs.11.53 crore was released through NABARD during 11th plan period.
ICAR is implementing a Network Project on Organic Farming to develop package of practices of different crops and cropping systems under Organic farming in different agro-ecological regions of the country with an allocation of Rs.5.34 crore.
Organic farming package of practices for 14 crops namely basmati rice, rainfed wheat, maize, redgram, chickpea, soyabean, groundnut, mustard, isabgol, black pepper, ginger, tomato, cabbage and cauliflower have been developed.
Soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic source of plant nutrient is recommended by ICAR to maintain quality of soils.
National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility (NPMSH&F) was launched during 2008-09 with a total outlay of Rs.429.85 crore during 11th Plan to promote soil test based balanced and judicious use of fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity.
NPMSH&F provides assistance for setting up of new static/mobile soil testing laboratories (STLs), strengthening of existing STLs, trainings of STL staff/extension officers/farmers, field demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizers, promoting use of organic manure, soil amendments and micro nutrients.
During 11th Plan 294 STLs were set up/strengthened, 118 new mobile STLs were set up, 1,221 trainings and 1344 demonstrations were organized, 99,000 ha were covered under organic manure, 34,000 ha under soil amendment and 1,08,800 ha under micro nutrients.
Under Horticulture Mission for North-East & Himalayan States (HMNEH) financial assistance is provided for various horticulture activities.
Setting up of vermicompost units is one of the components under the scheme for which financial assistance upto Rs.30000 per unit for permanent structure and Rs.10000 per unit for HDPE vermin bed is provided on pro-rata basis.
Under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), subsidy is provided for adoption of organic farming @ of 50% of the maximum permissible cost of Rs.20,000/ha for a maximum area of 4 ha per beneficiary in three installments.
The programme is linked with organic certification. Subsidy under organic certification is project based, which is Rs. 5.00 lakh for a cluster of 50 ha. For setting up of vermin compost units, assistance is provided upto Rs.30000 per unit.
A sum of Rs.206.87 crore was released to the State Horticulture Missions during 11th Plan for taking up organic farming activities. The coverage of area achieved under organic farming is 128074 ha against target of 67710 ha and 142140 vermi compost units have been set up against target of 115951 units.
This information was given today by Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr. Charan Das Mahant in a written reply to Lok Sabha questions.
