<span style="color: #222222;">Government has initiated a number of steps to encourage the use of bio-fertilizers in place of chemical fertilizers by providing subsidy for its production. <br />''<br />''In reply to supplementary questions in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala said the Centre has provided 720 crore rupees as subsidy for the production of bio-fertilizers. He said bio-fertilizers can improve crop yields by 10 to 25 per cent. <br />''<br />''The Minister said bio-fertilizer production in the country has increased to one lakh 21 thousand metric tonnes in 2017-18 compared to 88 thousand metric tonnes in 2015-16.</span><br />