New Delhi: The Central authorities has designed a scheme for rewarding states that push natural farming in a measure to chop ballooning subsidies for chemical fertilizers.
As per the plan, if promotion of natural farming by a state results in a decline in the usage of chemical fertilizers, then half the subsidy saved on that account might be transferred to the state, stated Professor Ramesh Chand, member, NITI Aayog. The federal coverage suppose tank labored with Central authorities departments on the modalities of the scheme.
Chand stated the scheme is designed to test extreme and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers as a part of the federal government’s efforts to make farming extra sustainable. Sturdy agriculture progress, value stability of farm produce, and sustainability are priorities for NITI Aayog within the farm sector.
“If there may be any saving in fertilizer subsidy in any state, in comparison with the typical of final three years, regardless of the quantity is, half of that might be given to the state authorities involved,” Chand stated.
There might be some situations hooked up to how a few of the funds should be utilised by the state however the remaining can be utilized as per the state’s personal alternative.
The fertilizer subsidy burden has shot up sharply within the present monetary 12 months on account of the provision disruptions and value escalation in international markets following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Though the federal government had initially estimated solely about ₹one trillion for making plant vitamins obtainable to farmers at inexpensive costs in FY23, it later sought further spending permission from Parliament. The revised fertilizer subsidy estimate for this fiscal is round ₹2.25 trillion, as per finances paperwork.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had introduced within the finances for FY24 {that a} new scheme–PM programme for restoration, consciousness, nourishment and meleoration of mom earth (PM Pranam) might be rolled out to incentivize states to advertise different fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilizers. Particulars weren’t introduced within the finances.
The NITI Aayog member additionally stated that the Centre is working with states to monetize agriculture waste by procuring it from farmers and turning it into vitality. This might additionally assist enhance farmers’ revenue, Chand added.
As part of the Biodegradable Waste Administration part underneath Swachh Bharat Mission (SMB-G), the Centre had launched GOBARdhan scheme in April 2018 to generate vitality and revenue along with cleanliness by processing manure and entire agricultural waste supplies akin to straw, manure and crop residues in rural areas.
The scheme is being applied underneath the SBM-G Section II, primarily specializing in growing farmers’ revenue and turning biowaste into compressed biogas.
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