Budget 2023-24: Govt. to Launch PM-Pranam Scheme to Promote Alternative Fertilisers

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget address on Wednesday said that the government would introduce a new program called PM PRANAM to "incentivize" states and union territories to promote alternative fertilizers and a balanced use of chemical fertilizers.

The PM Program for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM PRANAM) would be introduced, according to Sitharaman, to encourage states and union territories to promote alternative fertilizers and moderate usage of chemical fertilizers.

PM-Pranam aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture and shift to bio-fertilizers.

Gobardhan Scheme

The government wants to establish 500 new "waste to wealth plants" as part of the Gobardhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) Scheme, a scheme for the safe management of organic waste and livestock.

200 of these plants would be compressed biogas (CBG) plants, including 300 community-based plants that will be established with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore and 75 in metropolitan areas.

About 582 biogas facilities have already been developed by the government nationwide, and another 176 are now being built. Currently, the Commercial CBG Plant has a 3,11,086 kg installed capacity.

Additionally, all businesses that promote natural and biogas will be subject to a 5 percent CBG mandate. The proper financial assistance will be given for the distribution of bio-manure and the collecting of bio-mass.