New Delhi, March 25: Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting to ensure stability in India’s agriculture sector and safeguard farmers’ interests amid the ongoing global crisis, while preparing for the upcoming Kharif season.
The meeting, held at the minister’s residence, brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and related departments. Chouhan directed officials to adopt a proactive approach during the current situation and ensure that essential agricultural inputs remain available across the country.
Focus on Fertiliser Supply and Farmer ID
During the review, the minister stressed the need for an equitable and uninterrupted supply of fertilisers. He instructed officials to speed up the implementation of the ‘Farmer ID’ initiative to improve transparency and efficiency in the distribution system.
Chouhan also announced that he would soon convene a meeting with chief ministers and agriculture ministers of various states to review progress and strengthen coordination.
Action Against Hoarding and Black Marketing
The minister directed authorities to take strict action against individuals or entities involved in black marketing and hoarding of fertilisers and seeds amid the global disruptions. He said state governments would also be encouraged to adopt stringent measures to curb such practices and protect farmers.
Review of Seed Production and Agro-Chemical Supply
Officials reviewed the supply of agro-chemicals as well as the availability of gases required for the seed-drying process. Chouhan emphasised that there should be no shortage of packaging materials used for milk and other agricultural products, especially during the ongoing global challenges.
To address this, he instructed officials to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Petroleum and other concerned departments to ensure smooth supply chains.
Special Cell Set Up for Monitoring
As part of the government’s preparedness measures, a special monitoring cell has been established to oversee the agricultural sector round the clock. The cell will submit weekly reports to the Union Agriculture Minister on the availability of fertilisers, seeds and pesticides.
In his concluding remarks, Chouhan reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring timely availability of agricultural resources and maintaining stability in the sector during the current global uncertainty.
