PM PRANAM SCHEME
ABOUT:
- The PM PRANAM stands for PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management.
- The government plans to introduce this scheme to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers in India by incentivising states.
- The government proposed the PM PRANAM scheme during the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign on 7 September 2022.
Objectives of PM PRANAM Scheme:
- The scheme aims to reduce the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers.
- It aims to discourage chemical fertiliser usage and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
Features of PM PRANAM Scheme:
- The scheme will be financed by the “savings of existing fertiliser subsidy” under the schemes run by the Department of Fertilisers scheme and will not have a separate budget.
- 50% subsidy savings will be given as a grant to the state that saves money.
- States can use 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 incentivise panchayats, farmer producer organisations, 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 in a particular year to its average consumption of urea during the last three years.
- The data on a Fertiliser Ministry dashboard, IFMS (Integrated fertilisers Management System), would be used to collect the state’s urea consumption data.
Benefits of PM PRANAM Scheme:
- The scheme explicitly aims to promote the reduced use of chemical fertilisers.
- It would promote using other nutrients and fertilisers, including natural nutrients.
- Reduced use of chemical fertilisers may improve soil quality in the long run.
- It will enhance the yield and productivity of Indian agriculture.
- Excessive exposure to chemical fertilisers affects human health through cancers and diseases caused due to DNA damage.
- It would promote a safe work environment.
- Environmental pollution due to chemical fertilisers can pollute water bodies, leading to algal bloom and affecting aquatic life.
- This scheme would prevent environmental damage.
Syllabus: Prelims
