Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana has directed all Agricultural Development Officers to ensure the proper distribution of chemical fertilisers for the upcoming Kharif season so that farmers across the state do not face any shortage.
The minister stated that 60 percent of the fertiliser stock will be supplied to Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) through HAFED. He warned that strict action would be taken against officials found negligent in implementing the distribution system. He also issued a strong warning against hoarding and black marketing of fertilisers, stating that those involved would face stringent legal action.
Rana was addressing agricultural officers from all districts through a video conference in Chandigarh, where discussions focused on fertiliser distribution for Kharif crops, the “Khet Bachao” campaign and the promotion of natural farming.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Vijayendra Kumar, Director General Raj Narayan Kaushik and several senior officials were also present during the meeting.
During the review, the minister assessed district-wise availability of urea, DAP and other chemical fertilisers. He instructed officers to closely monitor private fertiliser dealers operating in their respective areas and ensure that fertilisers are not misused or diverted.
Expressing concern over unusually high fertiliser consumption in some districts, Rana sought explanations from the concerned officials. To ensure convenience for farmers, he directed authorities to maintain timely fertiliser supplies at village-level PACS centres so that farmers can access fertilisers near their homes without difficulty.
To curb black marketing, the minister emphasized that fertiliser distribution should be carried out strictly on the basis of land records registered on the “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” portal. This, he said, would prevent non-farmers from taking undue advantage of the system.
He also instructed officials to ensure that private dealers do not force farmers to purchase unnecessary products along with fertilisers. Agricultural Development Officers have been directed to conduct regular inspections and surprise checks to prevent such practices.
Apart from fertiliser distribution, the minister reviewed the progress of the “Khet Bachao” and “Natural Farming” campaigns being implemented in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
Rana urged officials to actively engage with farmers and create awareness about the benefits of using organic manure prepared from indigenous cow dung and natural formulations such as Jeevamrit. Referring to farmer awareness camps being organized across the state, he instructed officials to achieve all assigned targets under these campaigns by June 30.
The Agriculture Minister further advised officials to continuously encourage farmers to adopt natural farming practices and reduce excessive dependence on chemical fertilisers. He said that promoting natural farming would not only improve the quality of food grains but also help protect public health by reducing the risks associated with excessive chemical use in agriculture.
