“We welcome the Central Government’s move to
give fertilizer subsidy directly to the farmers, but we are concerned that the
farmers of Sikkim will not be benefited from this scheme as it only covers chemical
fertilizers where as States like Sikkim has adopted an organic policy. We
demand that the subsidy support be extended to organic fertilizers as well, so
that the farmers from this organic state are also benefitted”, said Shri Dawcho Lepcha, Minister for Food Security and
Agriculture Development, Sikkim in a written statement which was read out at
the consultation.
The Union Government is planning to adopt a
nutrient based direct subsidy regime instead of the current product pricing
regime. As per the proposed system,
Govt. will fix subsidy amount for each nutrient. Accordingly the subsidy for a fertilizer
product will depend on the amount of nutrients in the product. In due course,
the subsidy money will be transferred to farmers’ account directly, as and when
he/she purchases chemical fertilizers by swiping special credit cards provided.
So the farmers who adopt chemical free eco-friendly farming practices will not
be benefitted.
Shri SK Gautam, Secretary, Department of Food
Security and Agriculture Development who inaugurated the consultation said, “Greenpeace
has been championing the cause of clean and green environment and I
congratulate them for taking up this crucial subject of fertilizer subsidy
reforms with more inclusive participation of various stakeholders in
Agriculture.” He further added that “the Central Government while reforming the
subsidy policy should adopt a holistic approach encompassing various aspects of
production systems including bio-dynamics, organic farming, natural farming
etc. Organic fertilizers and other soil amendments which are important
constituents in improving soil health should also be brought under the purview
of fertilizer subsidy policy.”
Dr. Ghanshyam Sharma, Programme Manager, The
Mountain Institute who delivered the key note address said, “The traditional
agricultural systems in the mountains are ecologically resilient. But various
kind of support from the Government including subsidy support is needed to
sustain these self sustaining systems.”
Mr. Dhakal, a farmer from Central Pendam,
Sikkim said, “Government should explore various options to support the
production of organic fertilizers. Vermicomposting is one of the potential
approaches,”
“Farmers who adopt eco-friendly agricultural
practices are historically been denied the benefits of the Central Government
subsidy. There is a need to develop a support system to incentivise these
farmers and also to motivate more and more farmers from across the country to adopt
these practices. Crores of rupees spent every year on fertilizer subsidy should
also be made available to farmers who adopt eco-friendly agricultural practices”,
said Gopikrishna SR, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner Greenpeace India.
Earlier, Greenpeace India launched a report
titled, “Subsidising Food crisis”1 which
provide scientific evidences to prove that soils are degraded in intensive
agricultural areas due to excessive use of chemicals, and even balanced
application of chemical nutrients cannot sustain yield under the present
circumstances. The report highlights the
urgent need to shift to eco-friendly agriculture practices to ensure food
security in the country.
International scientific fraternity have also
recognized the need for a paradigm shift in Agricultural practices. The UN
Agriculture Assessment (IAASTD)2,
the most authoritative, detailed and broad assessment of the future of
agriculture ever conducted at international level concluded that business as
usual is not an option and suggested a shift to eco-friendly farming.
“We are organizing similar public consultations
in different parts of the country. The ideas and suggestions gathered would be
compiled and presented to the Central Government. We sincerely hope that Government
will give due recognition to the suggestions from the real stakeholders at the
grass roots and adopt a policy that will restore soil health and ensure food security”,
Gopikrishna added
For further information, contact
Gopikrishna SR, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India,
Mob: +91 9641812996 / +91 9900897341; email: 
Trilochan Pandey, Mob: +91 9899952724, email: 
Notes to Editor
1. Subsidising Food Crisis, a Greenpeace India report launched on 1 July 2009 can be downloaded from: http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/subsidising-food-crisis
2. Link to IAASTD report: http://www.agassessment.org