Bhubaneswar, April 17 (NationPress) Odisha's Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, has urged district collectors statewide to prioritize the efficient last-mile delivery of fertilisers as the Kharif season approaches. This directive was issued during a significant meeting convened in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

In light of disruptions to fertiliser production stemming from the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Chief Minister engaged in discussions with district collectors via video conferencing, providing essential guidance to ensure that farmers can obtain fertilisers at fair prices.

An official announcement revealed that Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Odisha Agriculture Department, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, shared insights regarding the availability of fertilisers. He reported that the Central Government plans to supply a total of 11,42,950 metric tonnes of fertilisers this year. The demand for April stands at 79,630 metric tonnes, with 3,61,490 metric tonnes already available as of April 15.

The state boasts 1,029 wholesale dealers and 12,093 retailers, ensuring a stable supply chain. Furthermore, the state government has revoked the licenses of six dealers after conducting inspections across the state.

The Central Government's Integrated Fertiliser Management System (IFMS) is delivering daily updates on fertiliser availability and distribution across different districts.

After assessing the current situation, the Chief Minister pointed out that the state possesses a stockpile of 1.77 lakh metric tonnes of urea and over 60,000 metric tonnes of DAP. However, he emphasized the need to focus beyond mere numbers to guarantee effective delivery to farmers on the ground.

CM Majhi instructed collectors to ensure that all farmers, whether small or marginal, receive the necessary fertilisers.

Additionally, he outlined strict measures against black marketing and hoarding, advocating for regular inspections, filing of FIRs, and revocation of licenses. Collectors were also tasked with overseeing joint monitoring of border check posts by police and agriculture officials to prevent the smuggling of fertilisers into neighboring states, as well as to halt the diversion of subsidized urea to industries like resin, plywood, or animal feed.

He further directed that monitoring committees be established in the remaining 565 out of 6,794 panchayats within a span of two to three days to enhance fertiliser distribution and availability.

Stressing the importance of transparency, CM Majhi called for the digital registration of farmers to facilitate access to various government schemes. He also urged for awareness campaigns promoting the balanced use of fertilisers and alternatives such as organic fertilisers and nano urea.

Moreover, he mandated that details regarding fertiliser stock and pricing be displayed prominently in Odia at all sales points and on electronic boards at the sub-division level.