The Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria listed various measures including financial assistance undertaken by the government at promoting bio-fertlizer in the upper house of parliament last week.
Each farmer member will be assisted for procuring and application of liquid bio pesticides for suppression of disease in crop plants, Kundaiya told the House.
Government is promoting bio-fertilizers through National Mission of Sustainable Development (NMSA), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) and Indian Council of Agricultural Sciences (ICAR).
Patterns of assistance in setting up of state of the art liquid, carrier based Biofertilizer and Biopesticide units included 100% Assistance to State Govt and other Govt Agencies up to a maximum limit of Rs.160.00 lakh /unit and 25% of cost limited to Rs.40 lakh/unit for individuals and private agencies through NABARD as capital investment of 200 TPA production capacity, the Minister underlined.
The govt is also helping in setting up Bio-fertilizer and Organic fertilizer testing Quality Control Laboratory (BOQCL) or Strengthening of existing Laboratory under FCO.
There is a provision of assistance up to maximum limit of Rs. 85 lakh for new laboratories and up to a maximum limit of Rs. 45 lakh for the strengthening of the existing infrastructure to state Government Laboratories under Agriculture or Horticulture Department.
For promotion of Organic Inputs on farmer’s field (Manure, Vermi-compost, Bio-Fertilizers Liquid / solid, Waste compost, Herbal extracts etc.) the central govt is offering 50 % of cost subject to a limit of Rs. 5000/- per ha and Rs. 10,000 per beneficiary. It aims to cover 1 million ha area.