The PM PRANAM Scheme also known as the PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana will be a new program that the Union government intends to launch. Recently, a number of schemes intended to advance sustainable agriculture and guarantee the well-being of farmers have been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which is presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The planned scheme aims to lower the cost of subsidies for chemical fertilizers, which is expected to increase to Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022–2023, up 39% from the Rs 1.62 lakh crore for the previous year.
PM PRANAM Scheme
The PM-PRANAM program, which encourages states to employ non-chemical alternatives to conventional fertilizers, was approved by the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday. Additionally, the CCEA opted to extend the present urea subsidy for three more years, beginning in FY23, at a cost of Rs 3.68 trillion.
| Scheme Name | PM-PRANAM |
| Objective | Promoting sustainable farming and reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers |
| Expected Savings | Rs 2.25 Lakh Crore in 2022-2023 |
| Grant Allocation | 50% of subsidy savings passed on to states |
| Helpline Number | 1800-3000-3322 |
The urea subsidy expenditure prediction, according to fertilizer minister Mansukh Mandaviya, is only an estimate and not a ceiling; the Centre would still provide more funds as needed. The PM-PRANAM scheme and the use of sulfur-coated urea (Urea Gold) to treat soil inadequacies are two of these projects. The Cabinet has also set aside a sizeable subsidy for organic manure.
Why has PM PRANAM been launched?
The expected cost of the subsidy for chemical fertilizers in 2022–23 is Rs 2.25 lakh crore.
The financial capacity of the government is insufficient to support such a subsidy load.
This program is also consistent with the government’s recent efforts to encourage the balanced use of fertilizers or alternative fertilizers.
Utilizing Subsidy Savings
The state that saves the money will get a grant equal to 50% of the subsidy savings.
Up to 70% of the plan’s funding may be used to construct village, block, and district assets related to alternate fertilizer technological adoption and production. TFarmers, panchayats, farmer producer organizations, and self-help groups may all get rewards from the remaining 30% of the grant money if they work to decrease their fertilizer use and spread information on bilateral, community-based fertilizer management. regional, and international groupings and agreements that either involve India or have an impact on India’s interests.
PM-PRANAM Encouraging Balanced Fertilizer Use
Cabinet members have given their stamp of approval to PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth). This program attempts to encourage nations to promote non-chemical fertilizers and lessen their dependence on them. Participating states in PM-PRANAM will get subsidies as compensation for cutting down on the use of chemical fertilizers.
For instance, the subsidy savings would be Rs 3,000 crore if a state reduced its usage of traditional fertilizers by a certain quantity, say 3 lakh tonnes. The state would get 50% (Rs. 1,500 crores) of the subsidy savings from the federal government in order to encourage the use of alternative fertilizers and fund other development initiatives.
Introduction of Sulphur-Coated Urea (Urea Gold)
The government has authorized the use of sulfur-coated urea, often known as Urea Gold, to treat sulfur shortages in the soil. This is the first time this kind of urea has been used in the nation. The efficacy of sulfur-coated urea in absorbing nitrogen is higher than that of other varieties, at 78% (to 30% for regular urea). The government wants to deploy Urea Gold to improve soil health, lower farmers’ input costs, and increase output and productivity.