PM-PRANAM Scheme

• 29 Jun 2023

On 28th June, 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) scheme.

The key points of the scheme are:

• Objective: The objective of the PM-PRANAM Scheme is to promote the use of nutrient-based biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture, save soil, encourage balanced and sustainable fertilizer use, and support farmers' income.
• Incentives: The scheme involves the participation of state governments. The central government will incentivize states that adopt alternative fertilizers by providing them with a subsidy saved from reducing the use of chemical fertilizers.
• Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) Hike for Sugarcane: The CCEA has approved a hike in the FRP of sugarcane.
• The decision aims to protect the interests of sugarcane farmers, reduce arrears, and ensure sufficient funds for sugar mills to pay farmers.
• Nano Urea and Market Development Assistance: The use of nano urea has increased in the country, and there are plans to commission eight nano urea plants with a production capacity of 44 crore bottles (equivalent to 195 lakh tonnes of conventional urea) by 2025-26.
• This initiative aims to address crop residue management, stubble burning, and provide an additional source of income for farmers while maintaining a clean and safe environment.
• In the previous sugar season (2022-23), sugar mills purchased approximately 3,353 lakh tons of sugarcane worth 1,11,366 crore. Some of this sugarcane is used for ethanol production.
• Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Program: The Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Program has contributed to saving foreign exchange, strengthening energy security, and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuel, aligning with the goal of achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the petroleum sector.