Ahmedgarh: Special teams to check hoarding, smuggling, overcharging of fertilisers

Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, November 12

In order to check exploitation and harassment of farmers in procuring fertilisers used during sowing for Rabi crops, the administration has constituted block level teams of officials to check hoarding of fertilisers by dealers and cooperative societies of the region.

Farmers have been advised to save extra expenses on the cultivation of wheat, potato and pea crops by using DAP and urea optimally according to guidelines of experts of the Agriculture Department.

Ahmedgarh SDM Harbans Singh and Executive Magistrate Pawandeep Singh said Malerkotla Deputy Commissioner Madhvi Kataria had cautioned officials of the Agriculture and Cooperative Department against harassment and exploitation of farmers on the pretext of fake shortage of the DAP and urea fertilisers normally distributed through network of private dealers and cooperative societies.

Referring to observations of officials of the Agriculture Department led by Chief Agriculture Officer, Dr Jaswinder Grewal, the DC claimed that 7,450 MT of DAP and 700 MT of urea is required for Rabi crops to be sown on 53,528 hectares in the region.

While stocks weighing 5,381 MT of fertiliser have already arrived at distribution points, officials have been advised to ensure that pending supplies reach godowns of dealers and cooperative societies within the stipulated period.

Maintaining that ‘first come first serve’ policy would be followed during distribution of fertilisers SDM Harbans Singh and Executive Magistrate Pawandeep Singh said special teams, comprising district and block-level officials had been keeping close a watch on distribution centres to ensure check on smuggling and hoarding of fertilisers, besides overcharging on the pretext of fake shortage.