The government has a set a target to reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizer by at least 50 per cent in the next five years by encouraging farmers to use organic manure.

Replying to R. Reddappa Reddy (Congress) during question hour in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana said the Centre was extending Rs.10,000 crore subsidy on chemical fertilizer whose price was increasing steadily.