The Government of India, in the Union Budget 2023–24, launched the PM PRANAM initiative aimed at restoring Mother Earth by promoting bio-fertilisers and organic fertilisers. This programme aims to improve the condition of Indian agriculture and promote awareness about alternative fertilisers to chemical ones. 

Read this article to learn about the PM PRANAM scheme and its benefits.

What Is PM PRANAM ?

On June 28, 2023, the Cabinet approved the PM-PRANAM Yojana for farmers. The Cabinet also approved a package of Rs. 3,68,000 crore for the continuation of the Urea Subsidy Scheme.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the introduction of the PM Pranam Yojana in Budget 2023 to promote alternative fertilisers and balanced use of chemical fertilisers.

In her speech, Sitharaman said, “The 'PM Program for Restoration, Awareness, Nutrition and Improvement of Mother Earth’ (PM Pranam) is being launched to incentivize States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilisers and balanced use of chemical fertilisers.”

The Annual Budget 2023 has numerous schemes for farmers to put them on the path of green farming. FM Sitharaman said in her budget speech: "In the next three years, we will support 1 crore farmers to adopt natural farming. For this purpose, 10,000 bio-input resource centres will be set up and a countrywide network for micro-fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing will be created.

Benefits Of PM-PRANAM 

This scheme is said to have a significant  impact on the Indian agriculture sector. 

• The sector consumed fertiliser products worth 63.94 million tonnes in 2021-22. Total domestic fertiliser production stood at 435.95 lakh tonnes while imports were 182.28 lakh tonnes in 2021-22.  The new scheme will help curb the consumption and import of chemical fertilisers without affecting the results.

• The government provides subsidies to fertiliser manufacturers so that farmers can buy fertilisers at affordable prices. The new scheme will reduce this burden and enable the government to utilise the savings to introduce innovative agricultural technologies and improve the lives of farmers.

• The new programme is a step towards achieving this goal by improving soil quality through natural fertilisers. 

• Chemical fertilisers can enter the food chain through plants or leach harmful compounds into water bodies. The new regulation will significantly reduce these risks by promoting alternative fertilisers.

Steps Taken To Promote PM- PRANAM

Here are steps taken to promote PM-PRANAM yojana:

• DBT system (Direct Benefit Transfer) - It was launched in 2016 to close leaks in fertiliser subsidies.

• 100% of subsidy on various types of fertilisers is paid to fertiliser manufacturers based on actual sales made by retailers to beneficiaries.

• Nano Urea - India’s first liquid nano urea plant is inaugurated in Kalol, Gujarat.

• It has a shelf life of one year and farmers need not worry about it clumping on contact with moisture.

• Urea Gold – It is a new variety of urea coated with sulphur to overcome the sulphur deficiency in the soil.

• Soil Health Map - This was launched in 2014 and provides farmers with information on the nutrient status of their soil. 

Conclusion 

The PM program is a good initiative taken by the Indian government to promote the Indian agricultural sector, but its practical implementation can be a challenge given its size. The government needs to ensure that alternative fertilisers are affordable and easily accessible. If implemented in time and correctly, it can be an excellent example for other countries in sustainable agriculture.

For more information regarding this scheme, click here. To connect with officials, email at fertsec@nic.in.