Meet farmers’ fertilizer needs fully, CM tells officials

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu told the officials to ensure that the demand for fertilizers was fully met by taking necessary steps in a transparent manner.

Taking stock of the fertilizer supply position through a teleconference with the District Collectors, Superintendents of Police and officials of the Agriculture and Marketing departments on Saturday, Mr. Naidu said staff from the village/ ward secretariats, up to the level of Collectors, should closely monitor the fertilizer supply by making field visits.

He wanted information about the same to be furnished to the farmers from time to time so that they did not panic.

Further, the Chief Minister instructed that fertilizer supply should be linked with Aadhaar-based WebLand and e-Crop systems from the coming rabi season.

He appreciated the efforts of the Collectors and officials of the Agriculture and Marketing departments in the streamlining of fertilizer supply.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that a total of 77,396 MT of fertilizers was currently available in the districts. A ship carrying 15,000 MT of fertilizer was reaching Kakinada port on September 7, the officials said, adding that an additional stock of 41,000 MT was set to arrive in the next 10 days.

Mr. Naidu ordered that stringent action be taken against those diverting the fertilizers noticed in some districts.