The government is stepping up efforts to promote balanced fertilizer use, sustainable agriculture and improved soil health through the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM). Alongside PM-PRANAM, the government is expanding organic farming, natural farming and precision nutrient management initiatives. Together, these programmes aim to reduce excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers, improve soil fertility and encourage more sustainable agricultural practices across India.
PM-PRANAM Encourages States to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer Use
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the PM-PRANAM scheme on June 28, 2023, for implementation from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The scheme encourages States and Union Territories (UTs) to reduce their consumption of chemical fertilizers, including urea, Di-mmonium Phosphate (DAP), NPK fertilizers and Muriate of Potash (MOP). At the same time, PM-PRANAM promotes balanced nutrient application, alternative fertilizers, organic farming and resource-conservation technologies.
Financial Incentives Linked to Fertilizer Savings
PM-PRANAM uses financial incentives to encourage States and UTs to reduce chemical fertilizer consumption. States and UTs that reduce fertilizer consumption compared with their average consumption during the previous three financial years become eligible for an incentive equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved. Of this amount, 95% is allocated to the concerned State or UT, while the remaining 5% is retained by the Government of India.
The State or UT can use its share as follows:
65% for capital expenditure projects, preferably under Centrally Sponsored Schemes
30% for activities such as Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns
This performance-linked approach aims to encourage States to adopt more efficient and balanced fertilizer-use practices.
Five States and UTs Reduce Fertilizer Consumption
According to the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, five States and UTs recorded a cumulative reduction of 0.18 lakh metric tonnes in chemical fertilizer consumption during 2025-26 compared with their average consumption during the preceding three financial years. The five regions were Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Goa, Manipur and Mizoram. However, incentives under PM-PRANAM have not yet been disbursed.
Organic Farming Receives Policy Support
The government is complementing PM-PRANAM with initiatives that encourage organic farming and balanced nutrient management. Organic farming is being promoted through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) across States and UTs and the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) in the northeastern states. Introduced in 2015-16, both programmes provide end-to-end support covering organic production, processing, certification and marketing. They also encourage farmers to form organic farming clusters, particularly benefiting small and marginal farmers.
PKVY Covers Nearly 19 Lakh Hectares
Under PKVY, farmers receive financial assistance of ₹31,500 per hectare over three years. This includes ₹15,000 per hectare through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for purchasing organic inputs. As of June 30, 2026, PKVY had covered 18.93 lakh hectares and benefited approximately 33.63 lakh farmers. The Centre has released ₹2,811.36 crore as its share under the programme.
MOVCDNER Expands Organic Farming in Northeast India
The MOVCDNER scheme provides assistance of ₹46,500 per hectare over three years for establishing Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and supporting organic cultivation. Farmers receive ₹32,500 per hectare for organic inputs, including ₹15,000 through DBT. Since its inception, the programme has brought 2.36 lakh hectares under organic farming and benefited approximately 2.74 lakh farmers. The Centre has released ₹1,548.62 crore under the scheme.
Natural Farming Gains Momentum Under NMNF
The government has also launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) to promote chemical-free farming practices. Launched on November 25, 2024, the mission integrates natural farming with livestock, diversified cropping systems and traditional Indian agricultural practices. The NMNF has a total financial outlay of ₹2,481 crore, comprising a Central share of ₹1,584 crore and a State share of ₹897 crore. Under the mission, farmers adopting natural farming practices can receive an Output Based Incentive of ₹4,000 per acre per year for two years, subject to a maximum of one acre per farmer.
NMNF Reaches More Than 20 Lakh Farmers
During 2025-26, the NMNF facilitated the formation of 18,893 clusters, covering 10.32 lakh hectares and involving approximately 20.93 lakh farmers. To strengthen implementation at the grassroots level, the government trained 33,257 Krishi Sakhis and Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and established 7,601 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) across the country. Furthermore, natural farming awareness programmes reached 33.89 lakh farmers during the financial year. The government also collected 18.13 lakh soil samples, while spending ₹599.68 crore out of the allocated ₹725 crore. More than 22.47 lakh farmers have registered under the Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS), with over 14.43 lakh farmers already certified.
Precision Nutrient Management Improves Fertilizer Efficiency
Alongside organic and natural farming, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is promoting precision nutrient management to improve fertilizer-use efficiency. ICAR has developed drip fertigation schedules for 50 crops across 14 agro-ecological regions. These recommendations are being disseminated through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), frontline demonstrations, field demonstrations and farmer training programmes. By matching nutrient application with crop and regional requirements, these practices can help farmers optimise fertilizer use while maintaining or improving crop productivity.
Organic Nutrient Sources Gain Wider Adoption
ICAR is also promoting several organic nutrient sources as part of efforts to improve soil health and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.
These include:
Farm Yard Manure (FYM)
Phosphocompost
Vermicompost
Bio-enriched compost
Municipal solid waste compost
Enriched fermented organic manures
ICAR is promoting these alternatives through field demonstrations, awareness campaigns, training programmes and media outreach.
Integrated Approach Targets Sustainable Agriculture
The combined implementation of PM-PRANAM, organic farming schemes, the National Mission on Natural Farming and precision nutrient management initiatives is creating a broader framework for sustainable agriculture in India. These programmes aim to reduce excessive chemical fertilizer use, improve soil health, promote environmentally sustainable farming practices and enhance long-term agricultural productivity. As reported by ddindia.co.in, as India focuses increasingly on resource-efficient agriculture, the integration of balanced fertilizer use, organic inputs, natural farming and precision nutrient management could help build a more resilient and sustainable farming system while supporting farmers’ productivity and incomes.
