USE OF ORGANIC MANURE
The Centre is promoting
soil test-based judicious use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction
with organic manures and bio-fertilizers to cope up with the situation
arising out of injudicious and imbalanced use of fertilizers and
limited use of organic manures. The Indian soils are generally
poor in organic matter with organic carbon being less than 0.5%.
There are instances of falling organic carbon content and decline
in some major and micro nutrients in soil in certain parts of
the country, especially the rice-wheat belt of the Indo-Gangetic
plains.
A national programme
has been finalised for encouraging farmers to take up organic
farming. The crops to be taken up under the programme include
fruits and vegetables. Under the programme, organic farming accreditation
agencies have been identified. The Department of Agriculture and
Cooperation is also promoting enhanced use of green manure, vermi-compost,
farm yard manure and Neem-based integrated pest management control
measures in the organic farming system.
The average consumption
of fertilizers in the country was 91.49 kg. per hectare and that
of pesticides 0.57 kg. per hectare during 2001-02. To minimize
the use of chemical pesticides, the Government is promoting Integrated
Pest Management which is an eco-friendly approach.
