ABSTRACT
374In India, chemical fertilizers which are based on fossil fuel are mainly imported. Moreover, subsidies on fertilizers impact on GDP of the country. Dependence on chemicals results in loss in soil health. Microorganisms have emerged as the potential alternative for the productivity, reliability, and sustainability of the global food chain. Biofertilzers (carrier based) are para- mount over the chemical fertilizers having remarkable effect on the global agriculture productivity last 2 decades. A few limitations of the carrier based biofertilizers are rectified by developing liquid biofertilizers which are having great promise for the cost-effective sustainable agriculture (Vyas et al., 2008). Biofertilizers are produced and sold by private sector, NGOs, State and Central Government units, state agricultural universities (SAUs), and others for the last 3 decades but still their usage is not up to the mark. Quality control guidelines for biofertilizers were included in the Fertilizer Control Order issued by Government of India which if, followed during production and sell of biofertilizers, will ensure supply of good quality biofertilizers to farmers, thereby generating faith in biofertilizers—an alternative to chem- ical fertilizers. To meet the rising demands for food commodities, efforts are being made by the state and central governments for sufficient agricultural production by popularizing biofertilizers and making them available to the farming community.
