Biofertilizers
Biofertilizers are defined as biologically active products or microbial inoculants of bacteria, algae and fungi (separately or in combination),which may help biological nitrogen fixation for the benefit of plants. Biofertilizers also include organic fertilizer (manure, etc.), which are converted into an available form due to the interaction of microorganisms or due to their association with plants.

The need for the use of Biofertilizers has arisen, primarily for two reasons. First, because increase in the use of Biofertilizers leads to increased crop productivity, and second because increased usage of chemical fertilizer leads to damage in soil texture and raises other environmental problems.

Realizing he importance of biofertilizers in supplementing the use of chemical fertilizers, the Government of India had launched the ‘National Project on Development and Use of Biofertilizers’ during the Sixth Five Year plan. Under this project, one national centre and six regional centresand 40 BGA production centres have been established. These centres will produce 800 tonnes of Rhizobia and 60 tonnes of BGA annually. Biofertilizers are also being marketed by private industries.

Location of National /Regional Biofertilizer Production and Development Centres(After DGTD, 1989)