Integration of e-Crop and Webland Data with Fertilizer Sales under Consideration

Complaints regarding fertilizer distribution have come down significantly. District-level inspections are giving positive results.

* Collectors, SPs, Vigilance and Agriculture officials in district inspection teams are working with complete coordination. Through regular reviews, field visits, inspections, and meetings with farmers, awareness is being created. This has helped in gradually streamlining the purchase of urea by farmers.

* It is difficult to investigate Aadhaar details of large-scale buyers in fertilizer sales as sufficient administrative mechanisms are not available.

* Markfed has purchased fertilizers during the off-season by spending crores of rupees.With 35% share of urea sales, Markfed has shown the best progress in this Kharif season.

* As part of monitoring efforts, integration of e-Crop and Webland data with fertilizer sales is being taken up.

* At retail shops, farmers can know fertilizer availability and stock details through the display boards which show fertilizer names, stock levels, and maximum retail price.

* Agriculture Minister Sri Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, in today’s press release, said that urea supply and sales in the state are gradually stabilizing. With continuous efforts of the government machinery to create awareness, anxiety,insecurity among farmers on urea availability  is coming down.

* As per the directions of Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu, district-level teams with Collectors, SPs, Vigilance and Agriculture officials are touring fields, conducting inspections, and interacting with farmers. This has improved awareness on urea availability, ensuring that farmers are now making purchases only as per immediate requirement, instead of advance buying.

The Minister also clarified, in response to a news item titled Mundhey Mallinchesaaru ( Sold Out in Advance ), that based on agricultural and climatic conditions in different areas, farmers apply fertilizers differently. From April to June, vegetables, orchards and horticulture crops use fertilizers in between pre-monsoon showers, while paddy nurseries are generally raised only towards the end of June. Wealthier farmers with large land holdings tend to purchase in advance.
Therefore, between April and June, on an average, only 35,000–40,000 metric tonnes of urea is consumed across the state. In July, due to the traditional transplantation of Yadagaru paddy in Nellore and Tirupati districts, usage rises sharply to about 90,000 metric tonnes. Monthly, district-wise sales give a clear picture of fertilizer use.
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* Markfed, despite financial constraints, purchased fertilizers in advance during the off-season to build a buffer stock and ensure timely supply to farmers. Unlike private dealers, Markfed strengthened primary societies at the village level and achieved 35% of urea sales this Kharif season — the highest ever in its history. Going forward, urea sales will follow a 70:30 ratio, with 70% to be sold to societies through Markfed.

* The Minister said that linking fertilizer sales with integrating  e-Crop and Webland data, based on crop and land records, is a governance policy matter at the Central Government level, and this is currently under consideration.

* He added that every retail fertilizer dealer must display, on stock boards at their premises, details of fertilizer availability, company names, stock levels, and maximum retail price, so that farmers can easily know availability in their area.

* Finally, the Minister stated that senior government officials are constantly reviewing the distribution status through teleconferences and videoconferences with district officials and taking corrective measures. As part of this, urea was diverted from Palnadu and Eluru districts to Krishna district to resolve the issue there. He instructed officials to ensure that no farmer faces any inconvenience  #######