Bhubaneswar: Acknowledging challenges in procuring fertilisers from the international market, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday urged states and farmers to increasingly adopt organic farming as an alternative amid the ongoing global supply constraints.
Addressing the Eastern Zonal Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar, Chouhan said the Centre was making all possible efforts to ensure adequate fertiliser availability for farmers despite difficulties in global sourcing.
“I have no hesitation in admitting that fertilisers are not easily available in the international market. The Government of India is trying hard to procure fertilisers from wherever they are available for our farmers,” he said.
The Union minister stressed the need to prevent diversion and misuse of subsidised fertilisers during the current supply crunch.
“We must ensure that subsidised fertilisers are not diverted to any other sector. At the same time, duplication and poor-quality fertilisers, which adversely affect crops and farmers, must also be checked. States should take stringent action wherever such irregularities are found,” Chouhan said.
Referring to the Union Cabinet’s recent approval of Rs 41,000 crore towards fertiliser subsidies, he said the Centre remained committed to supporting farmers and safeguarding agricultural productivity.
Pitching for sustainable agriculture, Chouhan called upon farmers to adopt organic farming practices to preserve soil health for future generations.
“Every farmer should begin organic farming on at least a portion of their land,” he said.
The minister also announced that the Centre was planning to introduce two new Bills aimed at strengthening the legal framework to ensure the availability of quality pesticides and seeds to farmers.
Expressing concern over the possible impact of El Nino conditions on agriculture this year, Chouhan said forecasts indicated the likelihood of deficient rainfall during the middle phase of the crop season.
“In such a situation, farmers should be advised to cultivate crops that are less vulnerable to rainfall fluctuations,” he said.
Chouhan further announced that a ‘Save the Farm Campaign’ would be conducted from June 1 to June 15 to create awareness among farmers about modern agricultural technologies and various government welfare schemes.
Among those present at the conference were Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, and agriculture ministers from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
