To promote the use of bio pesticides in agriculture, Central Insecticide Board & Registration Committee has formulated simplified guidelines for registration of bio pesticides as compared to chemical pesticides. During provisional registration granted under Section 9 (3B) of The Insecticides Act, 1968, the applicant is allowed to commercialize the bio-pesticides, unlike chemical pesticides.

Government of India through organic farming schemes of ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana (PKVY), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) and Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) aims for sustainable agriculture production with eco-friendly process in tune with nature, promoting organic inputs and chemical free agriculture produce for improving the health condition of the people.

Under, ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana (PKVY), assistance of Rs. 50,000 per hectare for 3 years is provided, out of which Rs. 31,000 (62%) is given to the farmers directly through DBT, for inputs (bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, vermicompost, botanical extracts, etc.) production/ procurement, post-harvest management etc.

Under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), the farmers are given assistance of Rs. 25000 per hectare for 3 years for both on-farm & off-farm organic inputs, and seeds/ planting material.

Under, Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme, Government of India promotes production of bio-fertilizers by providing 100% assistance to State Government / Government Agencies upto a maximum limit of Rs.160.00 lakh/ unit for setting up of state of art liquid/ carrier-based Bio-fertilizer units of 200 Tonnes Per Annum capacity. Similarly, for individuals/ private agencies assistance upto 25% of cost limited to Rs.40 lakh/unit as capital investment is provided through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Amount spent under, ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana during last three years (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19) and current year (2019-20) is Rs. 152.82 crore, Rs. 203.46 crore, Rs. 329.46 crore and Rs. 226.42 crore respectively.

Amount spent under, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region during last three years (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19) and current year (2019-20) is Rs. 47.63 crore, Rs. 66.22 crore, Rs. 174.78 crore and Rs. 78.83 crore respectively.

Under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme, no amount has been disbursed to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development during 2016-17 and 2017-18; however, during 2018-19, an amount of Rs.276.168 lakh was disbursed.

Use of bio-pesticides is promoted by educating farmers through Farmer Field schools and Human Resource Development programmes (2 & 5 days) under Integrated Pest Management approach. The bio-pesticides (Trichoderma, Metazhizium, Beauveria etc.) are also multiplied in the Central and State Government laboratories and distributed to farmers. During the last 5 years (2015-16 to 2019-20), 3472 Farmer Field Schools and 647 Human Resource Development programs were conducted under Integrated Pest Management and 1,04,160 farmers and 25,880 pesticide dealers and State Extension officials have been trained.

This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, in Rajya Sabha today.

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APS/PK/BA