Why the Agriculture Department is keeping tabs on Kurukshetra’s fertiliser usage, sale

Concerned with the injudicious use of fertilisers and illegal sales, the Agriculture Department in Kurukshetra district has launched the ‘Dharti Mata Bachao’ campaign, to keep a check on the usage, sales and motivate farmers to use fertilisers as per the requirement of the land only.

What is the campaign about?

Under the ‘Dharti Mata Bachao’ campaign the district officials and the committees including the district, subdivisional and village-level committees would keep a watch on the fertiliser sales and raise the matter with higher authorities if any irregularity is observed. They will identify the villages where chemical fertilisers are being used excessively. Gram Sabhas will be held in the identified villages, where scientists from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra will participate and provide detailed information to the farmers about the adverse effects of excessive fertiliser use.

What directions have been issued to committees?

Directions have been issued to the officials and committees concerned to monitor the sales of fertilisers in their respective jurisdictions. They will monitor excessive sales of fertilisers to a specific individual or group of individuals in the village. They can identify the reasons for this and inform the authorities in cases of non-agricultural use or unauthorised sales to neighbouring districts.

How will farmers be persuaded?

The farmers will be encouraged to use chemical fertilisers judiciously to improve the soil quality of their fields. The soil health cards distributed to the farmers will help address micronutrient deficiencies in the soil. Accordingly, the farmers should use only those fertilisers that are necessary to improve soil health. It will also control their input cost and reduce the cost of production. The officials will also appeal to the farmers to raise the issue with the department if any dealer tags other products with the fertiliser and forces them to purchase the products. A warning has also been issued for the fertiliser dealers, not to forcibly sell other products alongside the subsidised fertilisers to the farmers else strict action will be taken against them.

What do officials of the Agriculture Department say?

The officials of the Agriculture Department have expressed concerns over the injudicious use and illegal sales of fertilisers. Kurukshetra Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA) Dr Karamchand said the excessive use of chemical fertiliser was not good for the soil health, while the judicious use improved soil health, reduced the cost of production and increased the farmers’ income. The committees will also monitor that no counterfeit and sub-standard products are sold to the farmers in the market. The entire exercise also aims at bringing transparency to the fertiliser distribution in the district.