The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday announced stricter measures to ensure transparent distribution of subsidised fertilisers to farmers and prevent their black-marketing. The state government said fertilisers will be sold only to farmers possessing a valid Farmer ID, based on their landholding records.
Concerns Over Misuse
The government expressed concern over the misuse of subsidised fertilisers by anti-social elements for non-agricultural commercial activities. To address the issue, the government has made Farmer ID mandatory for purchasing subsidised fertilisers such as urea, DAP, NPK, MOP, and SSP.
Fertiliser Stock Availability
According to the agriculture department, the state currently has ample stock of fertilisers available for the upcoming Kharif season. Officials said that Uttar Pradesh has an availability of 27.94 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers, including 13.28 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 5.23 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, 4.81 lakh metric tonnes of NPK, 3.69 lakh metric tonnes of SSP, and 0.93 lakh metric tonnes of MOP. The stock is said to be 3.13 lakh metric tonnes higher than last year.
Supply Coordination and Restrictions
The government said fertiliser supply is being ensured in coordination with the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to meet the seasonal demand of farmers. The department has banned the tagging or compulsory sale of any other agricultural inputs along with fertilisers.
Advice to Farmers
Farmers have been advised to purchase fertilisers in balanced quantities and avoid unnecessary stockpiling. The department said that based on land records and crop requirements, farmers can purchase a maximum of five bags of DAP and seven bags of urea per hectare. The government further appealed to farmers not to buy fertilisers excessively before actual requirement, warning that prolonged exposure to air and moisture can reduce fertiliser effectiveness.
Monitoring and Legal Action
Meanwhile, monitoring committees have been constituted across all districts to keep strict surveillance on fertiliser sales. The government said raids and legal action under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 are being continuously carried out against illegal storage and black marketing of fertilisers.
