The Government of India is promoting balanced and sustainable fertilizer use through the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM), while simultaneously expanding organic farming, natural farming and precision nutrient management to improve soil health, reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and promote environmentally sustainable agriculture.

Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 28 June 2023 for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26, PM-PRANAM supports the mass movement initiated by States and Union Territories for balanced fertilizer use, adoption of alternative fertilizers, promotion of organic farming and implementation of resource conservation technologies. The scheme covers all States and Union Territories and provides incentives for reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers, namely Urea, DAP, NPK and MOP, in comparison with the average consumption of the previous three financial years. The incentive is equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved, of which 95% is earmarked for the concerned State/UT and 5% is retained by the Government of India. Out of the State share, 65% is to be utilized for capital expenditure projects, preferably under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, while the remaining 30% is available for other activities, including Information, Education and Communication (IEC) initiatives.

During 2025-26, 5 States/UTs namely Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Goa, Manipur and Mizoram recorded a cumulative reduction of 0.18 Lakh Metric Tons in the consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPKs and MOP) compared with the average consumption of the previous three financial years. The Government has informed that incentives under the scheme have not yet been disbursed.

The Government has taken several steps to train farmers in precision farming techniques for the efficient and balanced use of nutrients and to promote the large-scale production of certified organic compost through various schemes of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The details are as follows:

Organic Farming (PKVY & MOVCDNER)

Organic farming is being promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in the States/UTs and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States since 2015-16. Both schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing. Primary focus of the schemes is to form organic clusters, with preference to small and marginal farmers, to create a supply chain. Both the schemes are implemented through States /UT Governments. Under PKVY, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha is provided over 3 years for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on- farm /off –farm organic inputs. Under MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500/ha is provided over 3 years for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs etc. Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32,500/ ha is provided to farmers for off -farm /on –farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers.

Under PKVY Scheme, since its inception (as on 30.06.2026), 18.93 lakh hectares area has been covered benefitting 33.63 lakh farmers and a total of ₹2811.36 crore (central share) has been released. Under MOVCDNER Scheme since its inception (as on 30.06.2026), 2.36 lakh hectares brought under organic farming benefitting 2.74 lakh farmers and a total of ₹1548.62 crore (central share) has been released.

National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

The Government is also implementing the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), launched on 25 November 2024, to promote chemical-free farming integrated with livestock, diversified cropping systems and traditional Indian agricultural knowledge. The Mission has a total financial outlay of ₹2,481 crore, comprising a Central share of ₹1,584 crore and a State share of ₹897 crore, up to the 15th Finance Commission period (March 2026). Farmers adopting natural farming are eligible for an Output Based Incentive of ₹4,000 per acre per year for 2 years, limited to one acre per farmer.

`During FY 2025-26, 18,893 clusters covering 10.32 lakh hectares and involving 20.93 lakh farmers were formed under the Mission. To support field-level implementation, 33,257 Krishi Sakhis/Community Resource Persons (CRPs) have been trained and 7,601 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) established. In addition, 33.89 lakh farmers have been have been made aware about natural farming, 18.13 lakh soil samples have been collected and ₹599.68 crore has been utilized against a budget allocation of ₹725 crore during the financial year 2025-26. More than 22.47 lakh farmers have been registered under the Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS), of which over 14.43 lakh farmers have been certified.

To promote precision nutrient management, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed drip fertigation schedules for 50 crops covering 14 agro-ecological regions, which are being disseminated through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), frontline demonstrations, field demonstrations and farmer training programmes. ICAR has also standardized and promoted the use of Farm Yard Manure (FYM), phosphocompost, vermicompost, bio-enriched compost, municipal solid waste compost and enriched fermented organic manures through demonstrations, public awareness campaigns, training programmes and media outreach.

This information was provided by Smt. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Neeraj Kumar Bhatt/Shatrughna Prasad

cmc.fertilizers[at]gmail[dot]com

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