Latest news with #NagpurAgroDealersAssociation
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Data mismatch in urea stock may hamper state's quota from Centre
Nagpur: With urea supply taking a hit this season, the state's agriculture department has tightened its vigil on the fertiliser dealers to prevent any diversion of stock. There is a mismatch in stock data shown in the point of sales (POS) machines provided to the dealers and the actual stock with them, said sources. As a result, there are chances that the state's quota may be cut on the grounds that there is enough urea available in Maharashtra's districts, said sources. The dealers are supposed to sell urea and other subsidised fertilisers like di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) through POS machines provided by the state govt. The data has to be fed in the machines too. It has been noticed that in a number of cases, the POS machines show higher stock availability than what was actually found in an ongoing stock verification drive. Out of 400 dealers in the Nagpur division, the mismatch was found in about 100, said sources. Each district is allotted a quota for urea supply by the state, which in turn gets the allotment from the Centre. The POS data is the basis for judging the availability in each district. If the machines show unsold urea, the state may not get a fresh supply, explained a source. The agriculture department is also probing whether urea is being diverted to the grey market too, said a source. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A Teaspoon Before Bed Burns Body Fat - Fit Into Your Clothes Again! Health & Family Click Here Undo To ensure enough quota, a stock verification drive has been carried for the first time in recent years, said sources. Secretary of Nagpur Agro Dealers Association, Vijay Chandak, said this is not deliberate. The sales have to be updated on the POS machines, but it gets delayed due to poor connectivity in rural areas. Moreover, sometimes traders genuinely miss updating the POS, leading to the mismatch. A source in the fertiliser industry said there is a shortage because of worldwide gap between the consumption patterns of urea as compared to the manufacturing facilities. There has been a marked increase in urea demand post-Covid in a bid to increase agricultural output, leading to a global deficit. As against tender of quantity up to 10 lakh tonnes of urea supply, only 5 to 6 tonnes is being offered by the vendors, said a source in the industry.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BG cotton seed prices up but discounts likely due to abundant supply
1 2 Nagpur: Though rates of BG cotton seeds have gone up to Rs901 per packet, a hike of Rs35 compared to last year, they are expected to be still available at a discount this kharif season due to abundant availability. BG cotton is genetically modified variety resistant to pink bollworm, a major pest that attacks the crop. The rates are fixed by govt, and there have been years when a hike was implemented. Cotton, due to its variations in price and output, is linked to agrarian crisis in the region. Any change in the prices makes a difference to the farmers from Vidarbha, as western districts of the region form one of the prominent cotton-growing belts of the country. Traders, including members of Nagpur Agro Dealers Association, told TOI that supply is abundant because of a favourable season throughout the cotton-growing parts of the country. "Seed companies produce the seeds in farm blocks belonging to private growers. Good weather ensured enough output," said a trader in Nagpur, adding due to excessive supply, traders may woo farmers with discount. However, traders also accept that grey market of herbicide-tolerant (HT) seeds eats away their business. BG cotton seeds are only resistant to bollworm. HT seeds are also resistant to weed killer, which saves labour costs. Though not approved for commercial use, farmers prefer to buy HT seeds illegally, said traders. The matter has been raised with authorities from time to time, they say.
