Mumbai, April 1 Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharane on Wednesday directed officials to ensure that adequate stocks of urea and DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) fertilizers are maintained during April and May ahead of the Kharif season.
Chairing a review meeting here, the minister instructed the agriculture department to draw up strict and timely plans for fertilizer availability and distribution across the state, stressing that farmers must not face any shortage, according to an official release.
The minister said fertilizer manufacturing and supply companies should prepare taluka-wise distribution plans in consultation with agricultural development officers and ensure timely supply to retailers, either directly or through wholesalers.
He added that surplus stock should not remain with wholesalers and that inter-district movement of allocated fertilizers must be restricted, the release said.
Bharane also directed that fresh supplies should not be issued to dealers holding large unsold stocks, and that all fertilizer sales must be recorded in real time using POS (point of sale) machines to maintain transparency, it said.
Wholesalers must sell urea and other fertilizers only within the districts for which allocation has been made, the minister said. Retailers with a balance stock of 20 metric tonnes or more in the fertilizer control system should not be supplied with additional stock, he said.
Bharane warned that strict action would be taken against any company or vendor found forcing farmers to purchase additional products along with fertilizers. He said such practices violate provisions under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, as per the release.
The minister emphasised reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers by promoting alternatives such as “nano fertilizers, green manure, and organic inputs like Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and PSB for seed treatment”, the release said.
He said farmers would be encouraged to adopt recommended nutrient application practices under the Soil Health Card scheme.
Bharane said that the state aims to bring 1.81 lakh hectares under natural farming through central schemes, which would help reduce input costs and improve soil health. He also said the use of drones for spraying nano fertilizers would be promoted.
Officials were instructed to closely monitor supply and distribution to ensure seamless availability of urea and Di-Ammonium Phosphate during the upcoming Kharif season, the release added.
