Chief Secretary B.K Agarwal said that Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation scheme is being implemented effectively to encourage sprinkler and drip system in the state. He requested the Union Ministry of Fertilizers to develop such soluble fertilizers that could help the farmers to increase their agricultural production.He was chairing a meeting to review availability of fertilizers to the farmers of the state and the direct benefit scheme being implemented by the central government. The Chief Secretary reviewed the demand and supply of the fertilizers and direct benefit scheme during the meeting.B.K Agarwal said that the distribution of fertilizers is being monitored through online mobile fertilizer system. The scheme has been started by the Union Ministry of Fertilizers under which total 2129 fertilizer vendors are registered out of which 1751 dealers are selling online and the rest of the vendors will also be able to provide internet facility soon.
Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Onkar Chand Sharma informed that that demand of 48,250 metric tonne fertilizer has been evaluated for Kharif, 2019 in the state and against the demand of 22,000 MT, 33,500 MT of fertilizers have were distributed by June 2019. Moreover, the availability of urea manure is also being fully ensured by the department.Director, Agriculture informed that the vendors are facing difficulty in updating PSO's due to implementation of 3.0 version in the POS machines and said that the fertilizer suppliers are not fully affording transportation subsidy.The Secretary Fertilizer, Government of India asked to send the matter to the Ministry.Additional Chief Secretary, Horticulture, urged the Government of India to provide fertilizer grade according to the requirement of the horticulturists for which the Secretary, Government of India, asked the State Government to send a proposal.Secretary, Union Ministry of Fertilizers Chhavilendra Raul, Additional Chief Secretary, Cooperative Nisha Singh and other senior officers of the Horticulture and Agriculture department and Himfed took part in the meeting.