**Summary:**
The PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PMPRANAM) was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on June 28, 2023. This initiative promotes sustainable and balanced fertilizer use, adoption of alternative fertilizers, promotion of organic farming, and implementation of resource conservation technologies across all States and Union Territories (UTs). The program incentivizes States/UTs to reduce chemical fertilizer consumption (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) by providing financial incentives equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved, calculated against the average consumption of the previous three years. The policy acknowledges that the imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers and neglect of organic matter application has led to multinutrient deficiencies and decline in soil health, resulting in reduced crop yields and deterioration of soil fertility. To counter this, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed improved biofertilizer strains and standardized technologies for preparing natural fertilizers (phosphocompost, vermicompost, bioenriched compost, and municipal solid waste compost) to promote sustainable soil fertility management.
Key Entities Referenced
PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth PMPRANAM: A scheme promoting sustainable and balanced use of fertilizers by adopting alternate fertilizers and promoting natural and organic farming.
Shri Kripanath Mallah: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about PMPRANAM scheme.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers: The government ministry responsible for the PMPRANAM scheme and related policies.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs CCEA: The committee that approved the PM PRANAM scheme on June 28, 2023.
States and Union Territories UTs: All States and UTs are covered under the PM PRANAM scheme and incentivized for reducing chemical fertilizer consumption.
Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP: Examples of chemical fertilizers whose consumption reduction is incentivized under the PM PRANAM scheme.
ICAR: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers and standardized technologies for preparing various natural fertilizers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 950 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 25.07.2025
PM-PRANAM Scheme
950: Shri Kripanath Mallah:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment
and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM) promotes the sustainable and
balanced use of fertilisers by adopting alternate fertilisers and promoting natural and
organic farming and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether the use of natural fertilisers helps in boosting crop production without
affecting soil quality, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
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).” This 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, provisions 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.
(b) Natural fertilizers are organic substances derived from plant, animal, or mineral
sources that supply essential nutrients to plants in a natural form. Unlike synthetic
fertilizers, they decompose slowly, releasing nutrients gradually while improving soil
structure and enhancing microbial activity over time. However, the imbalanced use of-2-
chemical fertilizers, along with the continuous neglect of organic matter application, has
led to multi-nutrient deficiencies and a gradual decline in soil health. Studies have shown
that such imbalanced fertilizer use results in reduced crop yields and deterioration of soil
fertility.
To address this, ICAR has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers
tailored to specific crops and soil types. Additionally, it has standardized technologies for
preparing various natural fertilizers (organic manures) such as phosphocompost,
vermicompost, bio-enriched compost, and municipal solid waste compost using different
types of organic wastes, thereby promoting sustainable soil fertility management.
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