Government officials, civil society representatives, Academicians and farmer representatives from North eastern States today urged the Central Government to create an umbrella policy to subsidize and support ecological fertilization in Agriculture, encompassing all aspects of the same. The consensus demand came out of the Northeast conference deliberations organized by Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN) and Greenpeace India as part of the nationwide “Living Soils” campaign.

On behalf of Smt Pramila Rani Brahma, Minister for Agriculture, Assam, Nilufer Hazarika Secretary-Agriculture inaugurated the conference by reading out a message from the Hon’ble Minister. In the message, the Minister said, “Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers has an adverse impact on the life of the soil. Further it leads to its deterioration. Organic biomass in large quantities’ is required to support life in soil and to maintain its structure and texture. Hence generation and application of biomass is critical to ensure soil health. Bringing all the schemes and policies that support ecological fertilization under one umbrella and raising the support for all components of ecological fertilization will not only help to save the soil but also will contribute to the livelihood security of the farmers”.

“A proper research backed scientific approach to promote ecological fertilization supplemented by policy support and incentives by the Central Government and respective State Governments will go a long way in preserving soil health which is crucial in achieving food security without compromise on health and environment. Putting in place an umbrella policy encompassing all aspects of ecological fertilization and soil health will enable us achieve this important objective.”, said Dr Mukul Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya in an official message which was read out at the conference.

“Sikkim has adopted a policy to go completely organic by 2015 and we have already phased out the usage of chemical fertilizers. Improved package of practices are being developed. A support system for ecological fertilization will help the farmers of Sikkim in a big way and will help to ensure food security in the state”, said SK Sinha, Principal Director of Agriculture, Government of Sikkim, in an official message read out at the conference.

Dr Purkaysta, Joint Director-Agriculture who represented the Arunachal Pradesh Government at the conference said, “More than 81% of Arunachal Pradesh is organic by default. A support system for ecological fertilization will contribute to the food security of the state.”

The conference and the demand assumes significance in the context of Central Government acknowledging the problems associated with intensive chemical fertilization and initiating a reform in its fertilizer subsidy policy. But the new Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) continue to support only chemical fertilizers. The Central Government also acknowledged the importance of organic matter in the soil and keep on reiterating in the parliament and outside that there are sufficient central schemes to incentivise ecological/organic fertilization. However, a social audit in Darrang district of Assam revealed that there is hardly any support for ecological fertilization in mainstream agriculture. 99% of the surveyed farmers didn’t receive any kind of support for ecological fertilization. An analysis of the published Government data on Central Government schemes in Assam also reveals the fact that the area and the number of farmers covered under the organic fertilization programmes are very minimal.

Dr Amiya Sharma, Executive Director, RGVN, who presided over the inaugural session said,” We cannot continue to tax the environment for satisfying our greed. Protection of soil is important for maintaining life on this earth.”

“Chemical fertilizers degrade our soil, pollute our drinking water and contribute to climate change. So it’s high time we bring in policies to shift from chemical to ecological fertilization. For facilitating this change the first step is to implement an umbrella support system for ecological fertilization,” said Gopikrishna SR, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India.

Civil society delegations from all the north eastern states except Mizoram participated in the conference.

The conference also discussed the prospects and challenges of ecological fertilization in a session chaired by Dr Bhangshi Kalita, Sr Agricultural Development Officer (Organic farming), Assam. The conference signed a charter of demands to the Central Government, the summary of which is as follows:

1. The indiscriminate usage of chemical fertilizers needs to be checked at the earliest through proper policy measures at the Central and State Government level.

2.  Central Government should create an umbrella policy to support all components of ecological fertilization which includes:

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o Generation of biomass, for bulk addition of organic matter in the soil for maintaining proper soil health: This includes promotion of livestock as integral part of the farm, providing infrastructure facilities to farmers for proper collection and usage of livestock manure. Insitu generation of biomass through sole cropping/intercropping/bund cropping of green manure crops, planting of Green manure trees etc.
o Promotion of nutrient intensive ecological fertilizers (such as composts)
o Promotion of  bio fertilizers
o Recycling of farm and house hold waste.
o Crop rotations to enrich soil (eg: to include pulses and leguminous crops)
o Eco bonus for maintaining soil health

3. Documentation, Research and promotion of indigenous traditional knowledge to maintain soil health.

4. Promotion of eco-friendly soil amelioration techniques.

5. Convergence of policies in the rural sector: Ecological fertilizer production can open up employment opportunities in rural areas and hence can find synergy with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarentee Scheme.

Notes to Editor

1. Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We envision an equitable and sustainable world. To maintain independence, Greenpeace does not accept any donation from any government or corporate. Website: www.greenpeaceindia.org

2. “Living Soils”, a nationwide campaign launched by Greenpeace India aims to critically review the soil health management support systems of Central Government through a participatory approach using social audit as a tool. The Living Soils campaign was launched on 3 August 2010 in Guwahati. More information at: http://www.greenpeace.org/india/assets/binaries/concept-note-living-soils

3. Subsidising Food Crisis – A Greenpeace India report on impact of chemical fertilizer subsidies on environment (soil and climate) can be accessed at: http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/subsidising-food-crisis

4. Production of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is a very energy intensive process, and requires large amounts of fossil fuel energy, and hence emits Green House Gases. Application of Nitrogen fertilizers in the fields releases N2O. The concern over N2O emissions arises from its long atmospheric life (166 ± 16 years) and its higher global warming potential (296 times that of CO2).

5. Chemical fertilisers in our water – A recent study by Greenpeace India in the Malwa region of Punjab which has shown that drinking water was heavily contaminated with nitrates. 20 percent of all sampled wells had nitrate levels above the safety limit of 50 mg per litre as established by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The report can be accessed at: http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/chemical-fertilisers-in-our-wa-2
Vision, video, photos, report information

Gopikrishna SR, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India. Mob: +91 9900897341, email: [email protected] Dr Amiya Sharma, Executive Director, RGVN, Mob: +91 9435118871 Prarthana Banikya, Greenpeace India, Mob: +91 7399105251