Hyderabad, June 16 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday directed officials to develop an app for farmers to book all types of fertilisers for the upcoming crop season.
To enhance transparency and speed in fertiliser distribution, he ordered the introduction of a system where all types of fertilisers can be booked via an app.
He suggested that urea booked by farmers through the app be distributed via the Rythu Vedikas and directed that the responsibility for urea distribution be assigned to the district Additional Collectors.
The Chief Minister gave the directions at a review meeting on agriculture, which was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Rajya Sabha Member Vem Narendar Reddy, Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao and other top officials.
The Chief Minister instructed Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to regularly write to the Centre regarding the allocation of urea and other fertilisers required for the Kharif season.
He emphasised the need to pressure the Centre to allocate most of the fertilisers produced at the Ramagundam fertiliser plant to Telangana.
The CM suggested holding a meeting with MPs from all parties to explain the ground reality regarding the fertiliser situation in the state.
He also stated that, if necessary, a delegation of ministers and MPs should visit Delhi to make a formal request to the Centre.
CM Revanth Reddy directed officials to implement a specific action plan alongside a comprehensive strategy covering everything from the supply of seeds to farmers to the procurement of harvested produce.
During the meeting, discussions were held on past experiences with grain procurement and the measures needed to ensure farmers face no difficulties; suggestions were made by the Farmers’ Commission, the Agricultural University, and agricultural experts.
The CM ordered the immediate formation of a high-level committee to ensure smooth procurement operations starting from the upcoming season, preventing any inconvenience to farmers. This committee, functioning under the leadership of the Agriculture Secretary, will include the Director of Agriculture, the Managing Director of Civil Supplies, and the Secretary of the Planning Department as members.
The committee will continuously monitor various stages of the process—ranging from seed distribution and the initial sowing of crops to the recording of farmer and crop details, estimation of produce, and the final grain procurement—while also overseeing necessary precautionary measures.
In addition to field-level supervision, the committee will facilitate the adoption of modern technology required for this process. He directed that details regarding which farmer has sown which crop, as well as the specific crops and their cultivation extent in each village, be recorded accurately through field-level verification.
The Chief Minister ordered that all necessary measures be taken to ensure the smooth procurement of agricultural produce in the state, in accordance with Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and quotas prescribed by the Central Government.
He advised that an action plan be prepared in advance to address issues such as unseasonal rains, weighing, transportation, storage, and marketing during the grain procurement period.
Noting that a bonus is being provided to farmers cultivating fine-grain paddy, the Chief Minister ordered that seven varieties of fine-grain paddy seeds be made available.
He directed that these seeds be supplied to farmers at a subsidised rate and instructed officials to ensure their availability at ‘Rythu Vedikas’ (Farmers’ Platforms). It was emphasised that comprehensive data on farmers cultivating fine-variety paddy must be collected and that the Agriculture Department should have a complete understanding of the grain yield.
The Chief Minister made it clear that ‘Rythu Vedikas’ should henceforth be developed into centres that truly benefit farmers. He directed that arrangements be made for farmers to register their details and purchase seeds and fertilisers at these locations.
–IANS
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