AP State Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand has issued instructions to collectors and agriculture department officials to ensure that there is no shortage of urea and other fertilizers for farmers anywhere in the state. He made it clear that strict action will be taken against traders who create artificial shortage of urea and cause concern among farmers.
He warned that traders are creating problems by setting rules in many areas that DAP will be sold only if complex fertilizers are used, and that EC and PD acts will be registered against such people. CS Vijayanand held a teleconference with collectors, agriculture officials and irrigation department officials of all districts in the state.
He made several suggestions to the collectors and officials on the availability of urea in the districts, precautions to be taken to prevent ponds and canals from getting clogged in the wake of rains, and water management. CS Vijayanand suggested that farmers should be made aware that farmers are using urea more than the requirement of crops, which is causing land to become shallow.
“Excessive use of chemical fertilizers reduces soil fertility and affects crop yields. Farmers should be informed about this. We will provide farmers with the required amount of urea. Farmers should ensure that they use fertilizers in the dosage recommended by scientists according to soil fertility. Do not arouse suspicion among farmers that there is a shortage of urea”, he advised.
Vijayanand assured that farmers have the required amount of fertilizers available and deplored false propaganda being spread in some media and social media that there is a shortage of urea. He asked Collectors to respond immediately and inform the facts whenever such stories come out. Action should be taken against those who spread false propaganda, he said.
“Accurate information should be provided to farmers about how much has been supplied and how much is in stock every day. Collectors should inspect godowns and fertilizer stores frequently. Collectors and officials should talk to farmers. Adequate stock should be made available to every farmer service center”, he added. CS Vijayanand asked officials to explain farmers on the benefits of using nano urea and receive farmers’ problems from the PGRS portal.
