The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan convened an important review meeting at his residence on March 25. According to a government statement, the primary objective of the meeting was to safeguard the interests of the Indian agricultural sector and its farmers amidst current global instability, while ensuring strategic preparedness for the upcoming Kharif season.
During the meeting, the Union Agriculture Minister gave clear instructions to the senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, stating that they must play a proactive role during times of crisis.
Key points and decisions of the meeting:
Fertilizer supply and Farmer ID:
The Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh emphasized the need to ensure an equitable and uninterrupted supply of fertilizers. He directed officials to expedite the work on ‘Farmer IDs’ to make the distribution system transparent. He further stated that he would soon hold a meeting with the chief ministers and agriculture ministers of various states for this purpose.
Decisive measures against market manipulation – Cracking Down on Black Marketing and Hoarding
Instructions have been issued to take strict action against those engaging in the black marketing of fertilizers and seeds by taking advantage of the global crisis. Chouhan stated that state governments will also be encouraged to take stringent measures in this direction.
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Seed production and packaging assistance:
The meeting reviewed the availability of agro-chemicals and the essential gases required for Drying Seed. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that there should be no shortage of packaging materials, particularly for milk and other agricultural products, amidst the global crisis. To ensure this, he also issued directives to coordinate with the Ministry of Petroleum and other relevant departments.
Formation of a Special Cell:
A ‘Special Cell’ has been established for the round-the-clock monitoring of the agricultural sector. This cell will submit a weekly report to the Union Agriculture Minister regarding the availability of fertilizers, seeds and pesticides.
In his closing remarks, Chouhan reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the timely delivery of all necessary agricultural resources to the farming community.
