Patna: Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, has called for stronger collaboration with fertiliser manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the timely and transparent delivery of essential agricultural inputs ahead of the upcoming Kharif season.
In a key meeting held at Krishi Bhawan, Patna, Sinha issued specific directives to address the state’s fertiliser requirements and improve distribution efficiency.
The Agriculture Department has projected a substantial demand for fertilisers—including urea, DAP, MOP, complex, and SSP—amounting to more than 10 lakh metric tonnes from April to September. Sinha stressed the need for fertiliser companies to meet this demand promptly to avoid shortages. He also reviewed the performance of companies during the previous Kharif and Rabi seasons to ensure delivery processes remain efficient and well-coordinated.
Focus on rural access and infrastructure
One of the major issues discussed was the lack of rack points in seven districts: Arwal, Banka, Gopalganj, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Supaul, and Sheohar. While the Government of India has already been urged to include Lakhisarai on the rack-point list, Sinha directed officials to push further for rack-point status for the remaining districts. This would help streamline fertiliser distribution and make supplies more accessible to farmers in remote areas.
Sinha also reviewed transportation costs borne by fertiliser companies and demanded detailed reports for the 2024–25 financial year. He underscored the need to analyse transportation charges in bordering states—Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh—to ensure fairness and to seek necessary amendments from the Centre if required.
Tackling malpractice and ensuring transparency
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised that no fertiliser should be sold alongside unauthorised products—a malpractice he called unacceptable. To combat this, he directed all suppliers to display informative banners about fertiliser usage at retail outlets to better educate farmers. A comprehensive review meeting will be held with manufacturers and sellers to ensure compliance and monitor the flow of fertilisers in key border districts, which are often prone to diversion.
His resolve to curb black-market sales and ensure fair pricing was clear, as he warned that any retailer found violating regulations would face strict action. He also called for the identification of new fertiliser sellers and the issuing of proper authorisations to ensure adherence to rules.
A more transparent and equitable fertiliser market
With these measures, Bihar’s agriculture sector is set for a more transparent and efficient fertiliser distribution system. The government’s proactive approach aims not only to boost Kharif crop production but also to protect the interests of farmers across the state by ensuring access to affordable and timely fertilisers.
