Bhubaneswar: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday acknowledged challenges in procuring fertilisers from the international market, urging states and farmers to increasingly adopt organic farming as an alternative.
Addressing the Eastern Zonal Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar, Chouhan said the Centre was making every possible effort to ensure fertiliser availability for farmers despite global supply constraints.
“I have no hesitation in admitting that fertilisers are not easily available in the international market. The Government of India is trying hard to procure fertilisers from wherever they are available for our farmers,” he said.
He said that the fertiliser cost has also escalated in the international market due to the crisis.
There are about 28 countries from which fertilisers can be imported. The Centre is in contact with these countries and trying to procure the fertilisers wherever they are available and at whatever cost, he said.
He stressed the need to prevent the diversion and misuse of subsidised fertilisers during the ongoing supply crunch.
He warned that indiscriminate use of fertilisers without soil testing increases input costs and damage soil fertility. He urged states to encourage farmers to use fertilisers only as per scientific requirements.
“We must ensure that subsidised fertilisers are not diverted to any other sector. At the same time, duplication and poor-quality fertilisers, which adversely affect crops and farmers, must also be checked. States should take stringent action wherever such irregularities are found,” Chouhan said.
Referring to the Union Cabinet’s recent decision to approve Rs 41,000 crore towards fertiliser subsidies, he said the Centre remains committed to supporting farmers.
He also called upon states and cultivators to promote organic farming to preserve soil health for future generations.
“Every farmer should begin organic farming on at least a portion of their land,” he said.
Referring to natural farming as a major focus area of the Prime Minister, he appealed to farmers to adopt natural farming practices on at least a portion of their land.
The minister said the Centre is planning to introduce two new bills aimed at strengthening the legal framework for ensuring the availability of quality pesticides and seeds.
Expressing concern over the possible impact of El Nino on agriculture this year, Chouhan said forecasts indicate a likelihood of deficient rainfall during the middle of the crop season.
“In such a situation, farmers should be advised to cultivate crops that are less vulnerable to rainfall fluctuations,” he said.
He emphasised that agriculture cannot remain confined only to paddy and wheat, and that greater focus must now be placed on pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables and other high-value crops, especially given the enormous potential of Eastern India in these sectors.
The minister said that combining crop cultivation with horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, beekeeping and agro-forestry can significantly enhance the incomes of small farmers.
He urged ICAR, state agriculture ministers and officials to ensure that integrated farming models are demonstrated to farmers in an inspiring and practical manner.
Chouhan said a ‘Save the Farm Campaign’ will be conducted from June 1 to June 15 to spread awareness among farmers about modern agricultural technologies and government schemes.
He outlined three major priorities for the agriculture sector, ensuring food security for 1.4 billion citizens, providing nutritious food and securing better livelihoods and higher incomes for farmers.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Odisha is fundamentally an agrarian state where agriculture forms the backbone of livelihoods, food security and socio-economic development. He stated that the state government is committed to making agriculture more inclusive, climate-resilient and farmer-centric through a series of major initiatives.
Majhi said that Odisha is working extensively on pulses production, edible oil self-reliance, crop diversification and expansion of cultivation.
He also pointed out that with the rise in paddy production and procurement, challenges related to storage, evacuation and marketing have emerged, making it essential to simultaneously strengthen value addition, management and market systems.
He also stressed the importance of organic farming, conservation of traditional crop varieties, biodiversity revival and greater focus by agricultural scientists on these areas.
