Raipur. Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare Minister Ramvichar Netam today held a meeting of top officials of agriculture and related departments at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan and thoroughly reviewed the preparations for Kharif 2024-25. Minister Netam directed the officials to ensure the availability of quality fertilizers and certified seeds and other agricultural inputs.
Minister Netam said that it is the responsibility of the departmental officers to ensure the supply of fertilizers and seeds to the farmers as per their demand. There should not be any kind of negligence in this. He instructed the officers to regularly visit their respective areas and monitor the storage and lifting of fertilizers and seeds, as well as continue sampling and investigation to ensure their quality.
In the meeting, Agriculture Production Commissioner Shehla Nigar informed that in the last Kharif marketing year 2023, a total of 4.62 lakh quintals of seeds were distributed in the cooperative sector. In the current Kharif year 2024, the demand for 5.44 lakh quintals of seeds has been estimated in the cooperative sector. At present, a total of 6.31 lakh quintals of seeds are available with the Seed Corporation, which is 116 percent of the demand. As of June 10, a total of 4.16 lakh quintals of seeds have been stored in various cooperative societies, which is about 76 percent of the demand. Farmers have so far lifted 2.41 lakh quintals of seeds, which is 47 percent more than the 1.64 lakh quintals lifted in the same period last year.
In the meeting, Nigar informed that the current storage of fertilizers in the cooperative sector is 6.20 lakh tonnes, which is 72 percent of the demand. Farmers have so far lifted 3.29 lakh tonnes of fertilizers, which is 38 percent of the demand. Minister Netam expressed satisfaction over the storage status of seeds and fertilizers and said that this pace of storage should be maintained throughout the Kharif season, so that the supply is not disrupted.
Instructions to monitor fertilizer transportation in districts
Minister Netam directed the officials to maintain constant coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Chemicals of the Government of India and fertilizer supply companies. He has also given instructions to promote nano fertilizers and monitor fertilizer transportation in border districts. He told the officials of Apex Bank that the storage capacity in the committees should be assessed, if there is a need for additional warehouse for storage, then its proposal should be made available immediately. Director Agriculture Dr. Saransh Mittal, officials of Markfed, Seed Corporation, Apex Bank, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University and senior officials of Agriculture and Horticulture Department were present in the meeting.
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