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The chemical and fertiliser minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the excessive use of chemical fertilisers affects soil fertility and also has side effects on human and animal health. He also stressed on the need to promote alternative fertilisers like nano liquid urea and nano liquid Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), organic farming and natural farming. He said there are no negative impact of nano-fertilisers and farmers will not adopt if it does not help in boosting production. 

The minister stated the side effects of over consumption of chemical fertilisers are visible now. He noted that soil health has been impacted and the growth in production and productivity has stagnated. Citing a medical study in few districts where usage of chemical fertilsers are high, he said it was found that there are negative impacts on health of human as well as animals. 

The minister highlighted that the government has recently approved a new scheme PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) to incentivise states to promote alternative fertilisers and reduce the use of chemical fertilisers. It has also decided to introduce sulphur-coated urea (Urea Gold) in the country for the first time to address sulphur deficiency in the soil. That apart, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an outlay of Rs 1,451 crore subsidy to promote organic manure.