UP govt to increaseprivate sector role in fertiliser distribution
The development attains significance amid reports of a serious fertiliser crisis hitting various districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Fertiliser distribution is equally divided between the cooperative and the private sector.
Now, the state govt has decided to get 65% of the fertiliser distribution done through private agencies while restricting the stocks in the cooperative societies to 35%.
Last year, the state govt had decided to divert 30% of the fertiliser from private to cooperative societies. By prioritising cooperative societies, which often have a wider and direct reach in rural areas, the govt sought to ensure "equitable distribution" and prevent hoarding and supply bottlenecks.
Fertiliser is supplied by IFFCO and KRIBHCO to cooperative societies. Principal secretary, agriculture, Ravinder told TOI that private agencies were better equipped to distribute fertiliser to farmers.
"This will mitigate the crisis, if any, regarding fertiliser distribution," he said, maintaining that the state govt was keeping a close vigil on the diversion of fertiliser. The agriculture department has been apprehending diversion of fertiliser to Nepal through bordering districts like Balrampur and Deoria.
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Agriculture department officials said that in the ongoing Kharif season, 42.64 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser was sold, which was approximately 6 lakh MT more than in 2024 when 36.76 lakh MT of fertiliser was sold. Nevertheless, allegations of mismanagement in fertiliser distribution by cooperative societies came to the govt's notice. "We are keeping a close check and issuing instructions to address the crisis," the principal secretary said.
He said that the department also came across instances of glitches in fertiliser distribution through PoS. "This needs to be addressed. We are taking corrective measures to mitigate the situation," he said. The agriculture department has been claiming that every district has a stock of urea for 7-10 days. Ground reports, however, showed farmers lining up in long queues to get fertiliser. There have been reports of demonstrations.
Ruckus for fertiliser has also been reported in certain districts, including Ayodhya, prompting police to control the situation sternly.
According to data of agriculture department, about 16 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser is available, in which about six lakh metric tonnes of urea is present. "Racks of fertilisers are on way and are expected to reach in a couple of days," a senior official said.
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