Chamba to form committees to curb excessive use of fertilisers

To curb the excessive use and misuse of chemical fertilisers, the Chamba district administration will constitute Dharati Mata Bachao Monitoring Committees at the village, subdivision and district levels. Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal today said that the initiative was being undertaken on the directions of the Central Government to promote a balanced use of fertilisers and prevent their illegal supply and smuggling in border areas.

He said that the committees would also be responsible for monitoring the sale and distribution of fertilisers in their areas, reporting to the authorities concerned any suspicious or excessive supply and remaining vigilant against illegal transportation or misuse of fertilisers. They would also motivate farmers to use fertilisers judiciously based on soil health cards and ensure a close watch on counterfeit or adulterated fertilisers. Any such cases would be promptly reported to the sub-divisional or district authorities, he added.

Repaswal said that at the village level, the gram pradhan would head the committee and include the gram panchayat secretary, Agriculture Sakhi, Drone Didis, progressive farmers, primary agriculture credit societies or farmer producer organisations and an Agriculture Department official. These village committees would hold meetings before every rabi and kharif season to discuss balanced fertiliser usage and educate farmers on nutrient-based application as recommended in the soil health cards, he added.

He said that the district administration would identify at least 100 villages where fertiliser consumption was unusually high. “Scientists from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra will visit these areas to spread awareness about scientific fertiliser management. The committees will meet at least twice every season to review consumption patterns, analyse any abnormal rise with data from retail sales and guide farmers accordingly,” he added.

The Deputy Commissioner said, “Similar committees will also be formed at the sub-divisional and district levels to ensure coordinated monitoring in the district.” He also directed all departments concerned to complete the formalities for the formation of committees by January 15.