## Policy Summary: Promoting Balanced Fertilizer Use and Sustainable Agriculture in India
This policy outlines the Government of India's multi-pronged approach to reduce urea consumption and promote balanced and judicious fertilizer use across the country. The core strategies involve incentivizing states to reduce chemical fertilizer consumption, promoting alternative fertilizers and organic farming practices, and enhancing soil health awareness among farmers.
**Key Initiatives and Programs:**
* **Promotion of Alternative Fertilizers:** The government has included Organic Fertilisers, Biofertilisers, Deoiled cake, Organic Carbon Enhancer, and Nano fertiliser under The Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 to encourage nutrient management.
* **Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):** Promotes organic farming with assistance of Rs. 31,500 per hectare over 3 years (Rs. 15,000 via Direct Benefit Transfer for organic inputs) in all States/UTs except the North Eastern states.
* **Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER):** Similar to PKVY, but specifically for the North Eastern states, providing Rs. 46,500 per hectare over 3 years, including Rs. 32,500 for organic inputs (Rs. 15,000 via Direct Benefit Transfer).
* **Soil Health and Fertility Scheme (SHFS):** Launched in 2014 to promote Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures/biofertilizers. Under the scheme, 25.13 Cr. soil health cards have been issued to farmers, and significant training and awareness programs have been conducted, including 93781 farmer's trainings, 6.80 lakh demonstrations, 7425 farmer's melascampaigns on soil health card recommendations.
* **PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM PRANAM):** Approved in June 2023, this initiative supports state-level movements to preserve soil health through sustainable fertilizer use, alternative fertilizers, organic farming, and resource conservation technologies.
* **Incentives for States/UTs:** Under PM PRANAM, states/UTs receive incentives for reducing consumption of Urea, DAP, NPK, and MOP, equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved compared to the average consumption over the previous three years.
The policy aims to achieve sustainable agriculture by reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers, improving soil health, and increasing farmer awareness of balanced nutrient management practices.
**Source:** PIB Delhi, August 5, 2025. Information provided by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Smt. Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
The Fertiliser Control Order, 1985: A regulatory order related to fertilizers, in which alternative fertilizers are notified.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana PKVY: A scheme promoting organic farming, except in the North Eastern States.
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region MOVCDNER: A scheme for promoting organic farming specifically in the North Eastern States.
PMPRANAM: PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth, aims to support the mass movement initiated by States and Union Territories to preserve the health of Mother Earth.
Soil Health and Fertility Scheme: A scheme introduced in 2014 to assist states in promoting Integrated Nutrient Management.
Soil Health Card: Provides information to farmers on soil nutrient status and recommendations for nutrient application.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Parliament of India, where information related to fertilizer policies was presented.
Smt Anupriya Patel: The Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers who provided information regarding the policies in Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Reducing urea usage
The Government of India encourages the concept of
balanced and judicious use of fertilizer
The Government of India has notified alternative
fertilizers namely, Organic Fertilisers, Bio-fertilisers,
De-oiled cake, Organic Carbon Enhancer and Nano
fertiliser in The Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 to
encourage nutrient management
Organic farming is promoted through Paramparagat
Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs
except North Eastern States and Mission Organic
Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
(MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States
PM-PRANAM scheme has 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
Posted On: 05 AUG 2025 5:02PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India is encouraging the concept of balanced and judicious use of fertilizer. Soil Health
and Fertility Scheme introduced in the year 2014 with objective to assist states in promoting Integrated
Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micronutrients in conjunction with organic manures & bio-fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity.
Soil Samples are processed following standard procedures and analyzed for various parameters viz, pH,
electrical conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon, available Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sulphur and
micronutrients (Zinc, Copper, Iron, Manganese & Boron). Soil Health Card provides information to farmers
on soil nutrient status of their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for
improving soil health and its fertility. Under the scheme, 25.13 Cr. soil health cards have been issued to
farmers. 93781 farmer's trainings, 6.80 lakh demonstrations, 7425 farmer's melas/campaigns on soil health
card recommendations have been organized across the country.
The Government of India has notified alternative fertilizers namely, Organic Fertilisers, Bio-fertilisers, De-
oiled cake, Organic Carbon Enhancer and Nano fertiliser in The Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 to encourage
nutrient management.
Organic farming is promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs except
North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
(MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States. Under PKVY assistance of Rs. 31,500 per hectare in 3 years is
provided 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 including organic compost. Under
MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500 per hectare in 3 years is provided for creation of Farmers Producer
Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs etc. Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32500 per hectare 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.
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.
This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Smt Anupriya Patel
in Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question today.
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MV/GS
(Release ID: 2152596)