Parliament Question: Agricultural nutrient management and adoption

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 338 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 03.02.2026 Agricultural nutrient management and adoption 338 Smt. Sumitra Balmik:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

(a) the response of States to the PM-PRANAM scheme (Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management) which incentivizes the reduction of chemical fertilizer usage;

(b) the data regarding the adoption of Nano-Urea and Nano-DAP by farmers and its impact on reducing the logistical carbon footprint of fertilizer transport; and

(c) whether there is a roadmap to repurpose closed fertilizer units into hubs for Green Ammonia production? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), on June 28, 2023, approved the “PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PM-PRANAM). The initiative aims to support the mass movement initiated by States and Union Territories (UTs) to preserve the health of Mother Earth through the promotion of sustainable and balanced fertilizer use, adoption of alternative fertilizers, promotion of organic farming, and implementation of resource conservation technologies.

All States/UTs are covered under the PM-PRANAM scheme. Under the PM- PRANAM scheme, there is a provision to provide incentives to States/UTs for reduction of consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) in a given financial year, compared to the average consumption over the previous three years, equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved. Of the total grant, 95% will be allocated to the State, while the remaining 5% will be utilized by the Government of India towards disaster-adjusted incentives. For grant calculations, any increase in a State’s cropping area is first accounted for by proportionately adjusting fertilizer consumption. Thereafter, the actual reduction in chemical fertilizer usage during the year is computed to arrive at the final incentive amount.

Additionally, any increase in fertilizer consumption in adjoining districts of neighboring States is deducted from the savings. Out of the 95% grant provided to the States, 65% is for capital expenditure (capex) projects, preferably as contributions to Centrally Sponsored-2- Schemes, and 30% is untied for other activities, including Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiatives.

(b) Since its launch in February 2021, a cumulative total of 11.85 crore bottles (500 ml equivalent) of Nano Urea and 3.53 crore bottles (500 ml equivalent) of Nano DAP have been sold nationwide as of 31.12.2025. As per the study conducted by NPC, Nano Urea must be used only as a foliar application, while the basal dose must continue to be supplied through Conventional Urea, which remains essential even when Nano Urea is used.

Combined application, Conventional Urea as basal and Nano Urea as foliar, has shown

1.65% to 14.82% increase in crop yield, depending on the crop, based on farmer feedback.

(c) At present, no formal roadmap or policy framework exists for repurposing closed fertilizer units into hubs for Green Ammonia production. *****