New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a package of innovative schemes for farmers with a total outlay of Rs 3,70,128.7 crore.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told media persons that the bouquet of schemes focused on the economic betterment of farmers by promoting sustainable agriculture.
He said that the cabinet has approved the continuation of the Urea Subsidy Scheme, under which a commitment of Rs 3,68,676.7 crore has been made for urea subsidy for three years i.e. from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
The continuation of the urea subsidy scheme will ensure continuous availability of urea to farmers at a flat price of Rs 242 for a 45 kg bag, excluding taxes and neem coating charges.
Meanwhile, out of the total outlay of Rs 3,70,128.7 crore of the package, Rs 1,451 crore has been approved for the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme to exemplify the waste-to-wealth model.
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told reporters that under the MDA, stubble and organic manure from cow dung plants would be used to enrich the soil and keep the environment safe and clean.
The MDA scheme envisages support for marketing of organic fertilizers, branded as PM Program for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nurturing and Improvement of Mother Earth or PM PRANAM.
Such organic fertilizers will be branded as Bharat Brand FOM, LFOM and PROM.
It will also help in keeping the environment clean and safe as well as provide an additional source of income for the farmers.
Mandaviya said, farmers will get organic fertilizers at a cheaper cost.
Another initiative of the package is that Sulfur Coated Urea (Urea Gold) has been introduced for the first time in the country.
Official sources said it is more economical and efficient than the neem-coated urea used at present.
It will fulfill the deficiency of sulfur in the soil in the country. This will also save the input cost of the farmers and increase the income of the farmers along with increase in production and productivity.