PM PRANAM Scheme | Objectives, Features and Benefits

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PM PRANAM Scheme: The PM PRANAM Scheme represents the PM Programme for the Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth. Its primary goal is to decrease the reliance on chemical fertilizers while encouraging the judicious use of chemicals. The authorities aim to foster environmentally friendly growth and limit the harmful effects on the ecosystem by promoting substitute options for fertilizers.

Objectives of the PM PRANAM Scheme

• The PM PRANAM Scheme aims to decrease the subsidy burden on chemical fertilizers.
• Without intervention, the subsidy burden is predicted to increase to Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-2023, which is a 39% rise from the previous year’s Rs 1.62 lakh crore.
• The scheme will be funded through the “savings of existing fertilizer subsidy” under initiatives administered by the Department of Fertilisers.
• The scheme will not have a dedicated budget.

Need for PM PRANAM Scheme

• The demand for fertilisers, including urea, MOP, DAP, and NPKS, has increased by 21% from 528.86 LMT to 640.27 LMT between 2017-18 and 2021-22, as per government statistics.
• The increased demand for fertilisers over the past five years has led to a rise in the overall subsidy expenditure. In 2022-23, the government has allocated Rs. 1.05 lakh crore for fertiliser subsidy. However, the Fertiliser Minister warned that the subsidy could exceed Rs. 2.25 lakh crore during the current year.
• The PM PRANAM scheme aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and decrease the burden on the exchequer. It is also in line with the government’s emphasis on promoting alternative fertilisers or the balanced use of fertilisers over the last few years.

★★ Government Schemes ★★

PM PRANAM – Subsidies

• The scheme intends to grant 50% savings on subsidy to the state that achieves the reduction.
• 70% of the granted amount can be utilized for asset creation linked to technological implementation of alternative fertilizers.
• The proposed scheme will establish alternative fertilizer production units at the village, block and district levels.
• The remaining 30% of the grant will be used to incentivize farmers, farmer producer organizations, panchayats, and self-help groups involved in promoting awareness and reducing fertilizer usage.
• The government will compare the current year’s urea consumption of a state with its average consumption of urea over the last three years.

PM PRANAM Scheme Benefits

• The scheme’s explicit goal is to promote the reduced use of chemical fertilizers.
• It aims to encourage the use of other nutrients and fertilizers, including natural nutrients.
• By reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, the scheme may improve soil quality in the long run and enhance the yield and productivity of Indian agriculture.
• The scheme aims to promote a safe work environment by reducing excessive exposure to chemical fertilizers, which can cause cancers and diseases due to DNA damage.
• Additionally, the scheme aims to prevent environmental damage caused by chemical fertilizers, which can pollute water bodies, leading to algal blooms and affecting aquatic life.

PM PRANAM Scheme Features

• The scheme will be financed by utilizing the “savings of existing fertiliser subsidy” under the schemes run by the Department of Fertilisers and will not have a separate budget.
• The scheme offers a grant of 50% subsidy savings to the state that saves money.
• States can utilize 70% of the grant given under the scheme for asset creation related to alternate fertiliser production and technological adoption of alternate fertiliser units at the block, village and district levels.
• States can use the remaining 30% of the grant money to incentivize panchayats, farmer producer organizations, farmers, and self-help groups involved in awareness generation and reducing fertiliser use.
• The government would compare a state’s reduction or increase in urea consumption during a particular year with its average consumption of urea over the last three years.
• The Fertiliser Ministry’s dashboard, IFMS (Integrated fertilisers Management System), would be used to collect the state’s urea consumption data.

According to sources, the proposed PM PRANAM scheme has the potential to significantly impact the agricultural industry by promoting natural farming, reducing subsidies, increasing yield, and incentivizing states. Inter-ministerial discussions on the scheme have already begun, and the Ministry will finalize the draft after considering the opinions of relevant departments. However, the government has not yet announced a launch date for the PM PRANAM scheme.

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