CHANDIGARH, Jan 7: All senior agriculture officials in Punjab have been asked to keep strict vigil on the sale and distribution of urea by dealers and cooperative societies so that the farmers do not face any shortage.
Punjab’s Director, Agriculture, Mangal Singh today issued the directive, also also directing the officials of the Agriculture Department to take strict action under law against the dealers/persons who are involved in the unauthorised storage of fertiliser “for purpose of black marketing of this fertiliser.”
He clarified that if any official is found involved in malpractices and is not performing his duties in the interest of the state and the farming community, strict action against him will be initiated.
Department of Agriculture had received complaints against dealers and cooperative societies after some farmers were finding difficulty in procuring urea for their Rabi crop.
Singh in an official release said that Punjab has received about 9.75 lakh Metric Tonne of urea this year against 8.24 Lakh MT previous year during the Rabi season.
He also requested the farmers to help his department by keeping vigil and intimate his officers regarding any unauthorized activity concerning sale of urea so that strict action may be taken against the dealers.
He advised the farmers not to purchase urea beyond their requirement.
He said that by purchasing and storing the urea for future use “will create temporary shortage and provide opportunity to the perpetrators for black marketing of fertilizer”.
“The Central Government supplies fertilizer to the states on their monthly consumption patterns,” he added. (PTI)
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