Pune: The Department of Agriculture should do necessary planning for providing fertilisers, seeds and pesticides as per the demand of farmers for the Kharif season, instructed Deputy Chief Minister and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar.
He was speaking at a Kharif season review meeting at the Divisional Commissioner's Office.
He said flying squads should be appointed to take necessary precautions regarding agricultural inputs and careful planning should be done to ensure that the input for Kharif season is not sold at extra rates.
District Collector Naval Kishore Ram, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ayush Prasad, Resident Deputy Collector Jayshree Katare, Deputy Collector Vijaysinh Deshmukh, Divisional Joint Director of Agriculture Dilip Zende and other district administration officials were present.
Pawar said 2.30 lakh hectares of the area has been planned for Kharif season in Pune district, which includes paddy, millet, maize, sorghum and soybean. This requires 26,000 quintals of seeds. He instructed the officials to arrange to provide fertilisers as per the demand of farmers and also instructed them to keep an eye on the agricultural inputs through the flying Squad so that it is not sold at a higher price.
He also instructed to provide quality seed to farmers and decide on setting up a direct market system from farmers to consumers as soon as possible.
District Collector Naval Kishore Ram gave detailed information about the planning of Pune District Kharif Season 2020 through a presentation.
Agri activities exempted
However, the curfew order, which has been passed in the backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic, has exempted the activities related to agriculture, which includes industries such as fertilisers, pesticides. A total of 6,736 licensed vendors, which includes 2,136 for seeds, 2,402 of fertilisers and 2,198 of pesticides, have been notified by all the subordinate offices in the district. All the outlets are functioning as per the rules and regulations of the local administration. As many as 49 companies in MIDCs that are working for seeds, fertilisers or various other inputs required for agriculture have been given 76 passes for the transportation.
