'Ensure no shortage of fertilisers in Haryana for Kharif season' | State Agriculture Minister

Haryana's Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Wednesday directed officers to ensure that there is no shortage of fertilisers in the state during the upcoming Kharif season. All arrangements regarding adequate stocks and distribution should be completed well before the commencement of the season so that farmers do not have to stand in long queues or face any inconvenience, he said. A high-level review meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Agriculture Minister at his office here. Senior officers of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department, HAFED (state's apex cooperative federation), and representatives of major fertiliser manufacturing and marketing companies participated in the meeting, an official statement said. During the meeting, the minister reviewed the current stock position in detail. He also sought important suggestions from officers and company representatives regarding the anticipated demand, availability, transportation and supply chain management for the forthcoming Kharif season. Rana directed that, considering the successful and transparent experience of last year, fertilisers should again be distributed through the 'Meri Fasal-Mera Byora' portal. Fertilisers should be provided to farmers according to the crop and acreage details uploaded by them on the portal so that genuine farmers receive soil nutrients without any hindrance, he noted. To prevent exploitation of farmers, Rana directed the officers to maintain strict vigilance in the field. He warned that hoarding and black marketing of fertilisers would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Officers should regularly inspect the stocks of fertiliser dealers, and if any shopkeeper or dealer is found involved in such activities, immediate and stringent legal action must be taken against them. During the meeting, while sharing his personal and long-standing farming experience, the minister advised officers to promote a modern approach to agriculture. He said that if farmers adopt sprinkler irrigation systems and use fertilisers through irrigation water directly to the root zone of crops, it would provide dual benefits. Such practices would not only lead to substantial savings of precious water but would also ensure that the right and balanced quantity of fertiliser reaches the plants directly, thereby improving both crop quality and productivity. Representatives of fertiliser manufacturing and marketing companies assured the minister of uninterrupted supply in the state. They also pledged full cooperation in ensuring the timely availability of fertiliser stocks at the district level in accordance with government policies. Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department, Vijayendra Kumar; Director General Rajnarayan Kaushik, HAFED Managing Director Anish Yadav, and other senior departmental and technical officers were present during the meeting.