LUCKNOW – Uttar Pradesh’s Agriculture Minister, Surya Pratap Shahi, presided over a review meeting on Wednesday at Krishi Bhawan, where he stressed that it is the “primary responsibility of departmental planning officers” to ensure that the approved budget for farmers’ welfare is spent on time and that seeds and agricultural machinery are made available to farmers promptly. The minister warned that no form of negligence will be tolerated.
Strict Monitoring of Fertilizer Distribution
Reviewing the supply, storage, and distribution of fertilizers, the minister called for continuous and intense monitoring at every fertilizer sales center. He instructed local officials to ensure that fertilizers are only provided to farmers based on their land records (Khatauni), a measure intended to curb hoarding and black marketing. Shahi highlighted that continuous fertilizer supply has led to a significant increase in sales this year, with 2,641,474 metric tons sold compared to 2,157,439 metric tons last year—a rise of 484,035 metric tons. He also appealed to farmers to use chemical fertilizers judiciously to protect soil health and fertility.
Urging Faster Budget Expenditure and Planning for Rabi Season
The minister also reviewed this financial year’s budget, noting that only about 20% of the funds have been spent so far. He issued a stern warning to officials who have been slow in spending their budget and instructed them to expedite their work. He also suggested organizing “brainstorming workshops” to enhance the work efficiency of officials.
Looking ahead, Shahi instructed officials to begin preparations for the upcoming Rabi season. He directed them to work with the Sugarcane Department to prepare a plan for promoting intercropping of sugarcane with other crops such as maize, gram, peas, linseed, lentils, and mustard. He also called for proper training for farmers on new agricultural techniques through Farm Schools, mandating the attendance of at least 25 farmers at each workshop and proper video and photographic documentation.
The minister also reviewed the current crop coverage in the state, stating that paddy has been sown on 6741.954 thousand hectares so far. The meeting was attended by key officials, including Principal Secretary of Agriculture Ravindra and Director of Agriculture Dr. Pankaj Kumar Tripathi.
