Use of chemical fertilizers does not help farmers to increase their production, reveals the public hearing held in Sambalpur

Farmers demand subsides for ecological fertilizers from government. 
A report by Jai Krishna of Greenpeace ( Bangalore)

Sambalpur, 31 August 2010: Farmers from the various blocks of Sambalpur the 4^th largest fertiliser consuming district of Odisha turned out in hundreds for the Jan sunani (Public Hearing) on the central government policies of chemical fertilisers and their impacts on soil fertility yesterday. The public hearing is a part of the social audit conducted by the living soils campaign of Greenpeace and Paschim Odisha Krishak Sanghatan Samanvay Samiti.

Prior to the public hearing a results of the survey of about 200 farmers from Maneswar block was shared as a part of the social audit process that started in the district a month back.

The various schemes, concerning soil health and soil fertility management policies of the Central Government, including the newly launched Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS)¹ for chemical fertilisers and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)^.which aims at overall agriculture and farmer livelihood development were assessed in the survey which covered around 22 villages in the Maneswar block.

Results of the survey: The results show a dangerous trend of decreasing yields and increasing fertiliser use during kharif in comparison with the last ten years both in the rain fed as well as irrigated districts. The average use of chemical fertilisers has jumped from 124 kg/ acre to 189kg per acre in irrigated regions and 101 Kg/ acre to 146 kg/acre in rain fed regions.  Coupled with this fact is another revealing trend of decreasing water holding capacity and more than 20 % of farmers reporting the absence of any living organisms in soil for the last 15 years. Expectedly, a majority of the farmers confirm that chemical fertilisers are the reason behind the soil degradation.

On the side of using ecological fertilisers, it was revealed that 100% of the farmers use compost or manures, and irrigated regions farmers used more than the rain fed farmers. 70% of farmers stated that they would prefer ecological fertilsers, if the government subsidises them.

The farmers also had a preference for either a panchayat based production system or to be produced in their own farms over the retailing of subsidised ecological fertilisers ².

The public hearing witnessed more than 400 farmers of which about 30 farmers from various regions of the districts spoke on various issues regarding, fertiliser use and its impacts, issues regarding soil fertility and made several demands to the government about ecological fertilisers. civil society organisations and the Deputy Director of Agriculture of Sambalpur district also testified before the panel about the issues facing soil fertility in the district.

Kushdhwaj Chowdhary a farmer from Kuchinda block said, “From 1990- 2000, I have seen the use of chemical fertiliser does not increase production and I don’t profit. Therefore I changed to organic fertiliser for the last five years. Organic fertilisers give me more production. But the government gives subsidy for chemical fertilisers.  I request the government to shift 75% of the subsidy for chemical fertiliser to support organic fertilisers.”

The Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mr. Ashok Mohanty, during the sessions said. “The Prime Minister of the Country has supported the need for organic farming. Continous use of chemical fertilisers will decrease the soil fertility. Organic fertilisers are on the other hand a good choice.” “The government has introduced the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana also for maintaining the soil fertility of the farm lands. A total of 2.2 lakhs has been received on vermi composting, green manuring in the district” he added.

Lingaraj, convenor, Paschim Odisha Krishak Sanghatan Samanvay Samiti, said, “The small and marginal farmers of Odisha need a change in the chemical fertiliser policy in which 50% of the subsidies should be given for ecological fertilisers via direct financial support. There is also need to initiate consensus among farmers and create a movement for ushering ecological farming. If this is not addressed, then farmers of Odisha will soon face the fate of farmers in Haryana and Punjab, with soils that can’t support farming.”

Decision of the panel: The panel composed of Prof. Radha Mohan, Former information commissioner, State Information Commission of Odisha, Mr. Natbar Sadangi, renowned organic farmer and Mr.Jacob Nellithanam, Richharia Campaign, Chattisgarh after hearing about the various arguments made the following decisions:

• Farmers in general pointed out that use of chemical inputs, both fertilisers and pesticides has harmed the environment, killed soil microbes and other animals and birds. It has adversely affected human health.

·         Farmers are forced to use chemical fertilisers due to lack of availability of ecological manure and reduced livestock numbers.

• Farmers unanimously spoke on evils of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Many of the farmers are found to have adopted organic farming and have produced comparative production of rice and other crops.
• The initial gains on productivity because of chemical fertiliser have vanished and productivity is now decreasing alarmingly.
• There are vanishing pastures, declining cattle population and yet a lack of incentive from the government for organic farming.

Recommendations:

• It at least half of the subsidy and effort devoted to promoting chemical agriculture is shifted to promote organic farming, farmers will be benefitted and soil fertility will be protected. The present subsidy regime benefitting the industry.

·         Direct production of subsidy for dryland- rain fed farmers who can do diversified crop production of pulses, oil seeds and millets. This is also an answer to protect soil fertility while not using chemical fertilisers as pulses fix nitrogen to the soil. This is because they were never benefitted by subsides for chemical fertilisers, irrigation, electricity, diesel or machinery.

·         There is a need to support live stock in farming practices. Bullock drive plough and associated dairy production is a must to adopt organic farming. Government should also promote sale of organic grains.

“It is shocking to know that in a state like Odisha, where the average use of fertilsers much lower than national figures, there could exist pockets of fertile land which are being severely degraded by the use of chemical fertilisers. At the same, time it’s a clear mandate from the farmers of both rain fed as well as irrigated regions who, contrary to the conjured notions on the low demand of ecological fertilisers, state that they will use ecological fertilisers if the government subsidises them. We request that the government of Odisha takes note of this directive of the farmers and demands the central government to provide ecological subsidies for farmers” stated jai Krishna, Campaigner, sustainable agriculture campaigner, Greenpeace.

Contact information:
Paschim Odisha Krishak Sanghatan Samanvay Samiti Ashok Pradhan: 94370 54175           Lingaraj:             94370 56029  Saroj Mohanty:  97771 54159	Greenpeace Jai Krishna.R, 0- 98455 91992; jaikrishna.r@greenpeace.org  Sunil Parbhakar,0- 95568 31496 sunil.parbhakar@greenpeace.org

 Notes:

1.     Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) The newly introduced subsidy system for chemical fertilisers, made effective from 1 April 2010. As per the Government it was devised to address the issue of soil degradation due to indiscriminate fertiliser use. However it proved to be old wine in new bottle as it continues to support chemical fertilisers only with no support for organic fertilization.

2.     Ecological fertilization includes a wide array of eco-friendly practices that nourishes soil and facilitates the natural cycles within the soil ecosystem. Fertilization using Farm Yard manure, Green leaf manure, biofertilisers, compost etc forms part of this model. In addition to this there are several practices developed by farmers through years of observation and on farm experimentation.