Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana directed officials to ensure that there is no shortage of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif crops in the province. He emphasized that adequate stocks and distribution arrangements must be finalized well before the season begins so that farmers do not have to stand in long queues or face any difficulties.
A high-level review meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Agriculture Minister at his office in Chandigarh on Wednesday. The meeting saw active participation from the representatives of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, HAFED, and various major fertilizer manufacturing and marketing companies. During the session, the minister took detailed stock of the current inventory and sought key suggestions from stakeholders regarding estimated demand, arrivals, and supply chain management for the Kharif season.
Shyam Singh Rana instructed officials that, building upon the successful and transparent experience of last year, the distribution of fertilizers should be streamlined through the ‘Meri Fasal-Mera Byora’ portal. Fertilizers should be provided to farmers strictly according to the crop acreage they have uploaded on the portal, ensuring that genuine cultivators face no hurdles in obtaining their supply.
To prevent any exploitation of farmers, the Agriculture Minister ordered strict vigilance in the field. He issued a stern warning that hoarding and black marketing of fertilizers would not be tolerated at any cost. Departmental officers have been directed to conduct regular inspections of dealers’ stocks and initiate immediate, stringent legal action against any shopkeeper or dealer found guilty of malpractice.
Drawing from his personal and long-term agricultural experiences, the minister advised officials to adopt a modern approach. He suggested that if farmers transition from traditional methods to sprinkler irrigation and apply fertilizers dissolved in water directly to the roots, it would yield dual benefits. This practice would not only save a substantial amount of precious water but also deliver a balanced amount of nutrients directly to the plants, improving both crop quality and yield.
The representatives of the fertilizer manufacturing and marketing companies assured the minister of an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers across the state. They pledged to work in tandem with government policies and provide full cooperation to maintain timely district-level stocks. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Vijayendra Kumar, Director General Rajnarayan Kaushik, Managing Director of HAFED Anish Yadav, and several other senior technical officers.
