Chhattisgarh agriculture minister warns against black marketing hoarding of fertilisers

Raipur, Apr 7 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam on Tuesday warned that those involved in black marketing and hoarding of chemical fertilisers in the state will face stringent legal action, including jail.
Addressing a review meeting of his department at the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya campus here, the minister insisted the government was fully vigilant amid concerns over possible supply disruptions due to the ongoing war in West Asia which has upended fertilizer and energy supply chains.
"There will be no shortage of fertilisers. Strict monitoring is being carried out, and any irregularity will invite immediate action," he said, adding officials have been directed to conduct regular and surprise inspections across districts.
Netam maintained preparations for the kharif 2026 season are underway, with emphasis on ensuring timely availability of fertilisers, including pre-stocking in remote areas.
He also reviewed preparations for the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan', scheduled from May 5 to May 20, under which teams of agricultural scientists and officials will visit villages to interact with cultivators and provide guidance on modern farming techniques and alternative fertilisers.
The minister noted the state will promote the use of alternatives such as NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and SSP (single super phosphate) fertilisers in view of last year's DAP (diammonium phosphate) supply issues, while also simultaneously encouraging organic farming practices.
Efforts are being made to boost cultivation of pulses, oilseeds and other alternative crops to enhance farmer income and reduce input costs, Netam emphasised.
He directed officials to complete registration of all farmers under the AgriStack 'Farmer ID' initiative within a week to ensure they receive benefits under the PM-KISAN scheme of the Centre.
Reviewing implementation of the PM-AASHA scheme -- aimed at ensuring remunerative prices for farm products -- he expressed concern over its slow progress in several districts and called for better coordination among cooperative agencies such as MARKFED and NAFED to expedite procurement of pulses and oilseeds.
He asked the horticulture department to prepare an action plan for promoting cultivation of 'makhana' (puffed fox nut) and 'singhara' (water chestnut) along with fish farming to diversify farmer income sources.
The minister said the government's focus is on making agriculture more sustainable, modern and profitable while ensuring adequate supply of essential inputs.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)