

Global agricultural subsidies directly linked to deforestation, World Bank warns
₹1.71 trillion as fertilizer subsidy for FY27. The support goes to plant nutrients such as urea, phosphorous and potash, with the subsidy system designed to partially absorb price spikes faced by farmers arising from international commodity shocks.At the same time, policymakers have begun encouraging alternatives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been promoting fertilizer-free natural farming for several years now. Taking a step in this direction, the government launched National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), in November 2024 as a standalone centrally sponsored scheme.
As of July 2025, more than 1 million farmers have enrolled under the mission.Industry and policy measures are also gradually shifting toward efficiency. Fertilizer producers are also now getting into more efficient micro-nutrients business, which seeks to reduce the quantity of fertilizer used.
The Centre has also intensified efforts to reduce excessive chemical fertilizer use and promote sustainable agriculture through a series of targeted schemes.Under PM-PRANAM (2023), states are encouraged to cut chemical fertilizer consumption. Initiatives like the Soil Health Card Scheme, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) and the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) regime seek to ensure balanced nutrient application, reduce urea dependency and support organic and natural farming practices.Policy changes are also being explored in how subsidies are delivered.
On 28 February, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that the government is working towards making fertilizer subsidy transparent by transferring it directly into farmers’ accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). With subsidies in their
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