NASHIK :
Citing huge demand for agricultural commodities in the near future, the state government has decided to celebrate year 2020 as the year of Agricultural Productivity by facilitating smooth access to fertilizers, seeds and crop loan, said Dada Bhuse, minister of state for agriculture.
He was speaking at a kharif season review meeting held at the collectorate here on Wednesday. Guardian minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Zilla Parishad president Balasaheb Kshirsagar, agriculture chairman Sanjay Bankar, district collector Suraj Mandhare, ZP CEO Leena Bansod, deputy superintendent (rural) Sharmishtha Valavalkar, district superintendent agriculture officer Sanjeev Padwal, district sub-registrar (co-operative) Gautam Balsane and district agriculture development officer Ramesh Shinde apart from subdivisional and taluka level agricultural officials as well as farmers’ representatives were present.
Bhuse said that farmers are also in trouble due to the pandemic. In such a situation, the state agricultural department in cooperation with district administration is actively delivering the produce directly to the doorstep of consumers. “We will celebrate the year 2020 as the year of agricultural productivity.
Also, special attention will be given to storage, transportation and processing of agricultural products. A special scheme in the name of late Balasaheb Thackeray is in pipeline for farmers. Planning will be done to deliver agricultural produce directly to the consumers through block farming and pharmaceutical companies,” the minister said.
Assuring that there will be no shortage of fertilisers and seeds, the minister warned that black marketing of these agricultural inputs will not be entertained and stricter action will be initiated against the offenders.
He also warned against hoarding of agricultural commodities which can cause price fluctuations in market. As the prices of urea are at reasonable level with sufficient availability, there is is an increasing demand for this fertilizer from the farmers.
Planning should be done after reviewing crop loan situation. The district collector should solve difficulties of farmers who apply for crop loan by discussing it with the lead district manager and the district sub-registrar, Bhuse added.
