Senior officials from the agriculture department in Karnataka's Kodagu district have issued a stern set of instructions to fertiliser sellers and traders, directing them to strictly follow regulations concerning the inventory and sale of agricultural fertilisers. The directives were delivered during a key meeting chaired by Joint Director of Agriculture Chandrashekhar.
Strict Guidelines for Fertiliser Stock and Distribution
The meeting, which saw participation from wholesale fertiliser sellers, the Karnataka State Seed Corporation Marketing Federation, the District Equipment Sellers Association, and representatives from various fertiliser-supplying companies, focused on ensuring adequate supply. Officials emphasised that steps must be taken to maintain the required stock of fertilisers for the district by March. Companies were instructed to supply fertilisers strictly according to the specified allotment.
Clear guidelines were established for the supply chain, from wholesale dealers to retail sellers. A critical rule mandates that retail sellers should distribute fertilisers only to farmers within their designated jurisdictions. Furthermore, the quantity of fertiliser provided must correspond directly to the amount of land owned by the farmer. The department warned that action will be taken if fertilisers are supplied to landless individuals.
POS Machines, Aadhaar Linking, and Cross-Border Sales Ban
The officials issued a specific warning regarding the use of Point of Sale (POS) machines. If a retailer enters the Aadhaar number of a landless person in the POS machine while selling fertiliser, the department will register a case against that retailer. All retail outlets were instructed to conduct sales exclusively through the POS systems provided by their wholesale dealers.
In a significant move to prevent diversion, the officials explicitly prohibited the movement of fertilisers from Kodagu district to any other district or to the neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This rule aims to ensure that local agricultural needs are met first and to curb illegal trafficking.
Three-Department Inspection Teams Formed for Vigilance
To enforce these regulations rigorously, the authorities revealed that three special teams have been formed in the district. These teams comprise personnel from multiple departments:
- Agriculture Department
- Police Department
- Revenue Department
- Horticulture Department
- Commercial Tax Department
These multi-departmental squads will conduct surprise visits and inspections at various fertiliser sales centres. If any irregularities, omissions, or errors are found during these inspections, a First Information Report (FIR) will be filed against the concerned shop owners. The officials also cautioned equipment sellers that an FIR would be registered if there is any attempt to divert agricultural-grade fertilisers to factories for industrial use.
