Bhopal, April 10: Central Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Friday that the central government will continue to protect farmers from rising global fertilizer prices. He stated that a ‘Farmer ID’ system is being introduced to ensure transparent distribution and prevent misuse of fertilizers.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, Chouhan emphasized that despite the increase in international raw material prices, the government has decided to keep fertilizer prices unchanged for farmers.
He mentioned, “A bag of urea will continue to cost ₹266, and DAP will remain at ₹1,350. The government is absorbing the additional burden to ensure farmers are not affected.”
Chouhan revealed that the central cabinet has approved an additional allocation of ₹41,000 crore to continue subsidies, ensuring that farmers do not face any economic distress due to fluctuations in global prices.
The minister noted that subsidized fertilizers are often diverted for industrial or non-agricultural purposes. To address this, the central government is developing a ‘Farmer ID’ based system.
Chouhan explained, “This model will link information about each farmer’s land, crop details, and family information to a single ID. Based on this, the precise fertilizer requirements will be determined.”
He added that the system aims to create a balance, ensuring adequate supply for genuine farmers while preventing hoarding, black marketing, and excessive purchases.
“Our goal is that no farmer should face a shortage of fertilizers, while also completely preventing misuse,” he stated.
According to the minister, over 92.9 million ‘Farmer IDs’ have been created so far, with the government aiming to extend this facility to approximately 130 million farmers across the country.
Chouhan also addressed the challenges faced by sharecroppers and tenant farmers, stating that a model successfully tested in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana allows these farmers to obtain fertilizers based on written permission from landowners.
He said, “We are working to improve this system and implement it nationwide so that no farmer is left out.”
Referring to global events, Shivraj Singh Chouhan mentioned that the government is closely monitoring the impact of geopolitical tensions on fertilizer supply and agricultural exports.
He stated, “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, high-level meetings are being held continuously to ensure uninterrupted availability of fertilizers.”
Chouhan reiterated that the safety of farmers remains the government’s top priority. He concluded, “We are committed to ensuring fair prices, adequate inputs, and minimal impact of global crises on farmers.”
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