As the Centre has proposed to introduce disbursal of fertilizer subsidy directly to the beneficiary farmers by introducing e-purchase across the country from June 1, the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies and the fertilizer traders have been provided with Point of Sale instrument.
According to Collector M. Karunakaran, the fertilizer stockists / traders in the district should have Aadhaar Card, the Identity Number given by Department of Agriculture and Point of Sale for enabling cashless purchase of fertilizers as the Union Government had proposed to give fertilizer subsidy directly to the farmers from June 1.
The subsidy would reach the farmers on buying the fertilizers from bigger dealers, retail fertilizer traders and the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks, which would channelize the subsidy to the beneficiary farmers on getting the same from the Union Government.
“Since the stockists should have Aadhaar Card, the Identity Number given by Department of Agriculture and Point of Sale to continue their business, Point of Sale instruments have been given to 347 traders and 149 Primary Agriculture Cooperative Banks by the Department of Agriculture. Moreover, Aadhaar cards have been given to 99% of the farmers in the district as giving direct subsidy to the beneficiary farmers will not be possible without Aadhaar cards,” Dr. Karunakaran said.
The Collector said the fertilizer stockists and the officials of the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies had been trained in handling the Point of Sale for their business and for ensuring proper channelizing of subsidy to the beneficiary farmers.
He also informed that the farmers could buy fertilizers at the prescribed cost only based on the findings of ‘soil health card’ given to the individual.
“This will avoid buying fertilizer at the subsidised cost for other purposes,” the Collector said appealing to the secretaries of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies and the traders to make the scheme a success.
