Agri Minister Shivraj Chairs Meet to Shield Agriculture Amid Global Crisis
Push for Farmer ID rollout, strict action on hoarding and fertilizer supply review
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews agriculture preparedness for Kharif
- Orders faster rollout of Farmer ID system
- Govt to crack down on hoarding and black marketing
- Special monitoring cell set up for agri supply chain
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th March: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness in the agriculture sector amid global uncertainties, with a focus on ensuring stability and safeguarding farmers’ interests ahead of the Kharif season.
The meeting, attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, assessed key areas including fertilizer availability, seed production, agro-chemical supply and overall supply chain resilience.
Emphasising proactive governance during global disruptions, Chouhan directed officials to ensure uninterrupted and equitable distribution of fertilizers across the country. He also instructed the expedited implementation of the ‘Farmer ID’ system to enhance transparency and efficiency in distribution mechanisms.
In a strong warning against market malpractice, the minister called for strict action against black marketing and hoarding of fertilizers and seeds. He said state governments would also be encouraged to take stringent steps to curb such activities.
The review also covered the availability of agro-chemicals and gases required for seed drying processes. Chouhan stressed that there should be no shortage of packaging materials, particularly for agricultural and dairy products, and directed coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and other departments to ensure supply continuity.
To strengthen monitoring, the government has set up a dedicated ‘Special Cell’ to track the availability of fertilizers, seeds and pesticides on a real-time basis. The cell will submit weekly reports to the minister.
Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to the farming community, Chouhan said all necessary measures would be taken to ensure timely access to agricultural inputs and to maintain stability in the sector during evolving global conditions.
