KALABURAGI
Joint Director of Agriculture, Samad Patel, advised farmers to purchase seeds and fertilizers exclusively from authorised dealers to avoid being deceived. Legal consequences await agricultural equipment vendors who charge excessive prices for fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides beyond government-mandated rates, he said. Agricultural equipment must be distributed ensuring no deliberate shortages of seeds and fertilizers occur, while maintaining fair practices towards farmers, Patel said, advising sellers to maintain courteous behaviour with visiting farmers and respond constructively, alongside issuing warnings when necessary. Local farmers are currently preparing for monsoon sowing, with adequate stocks of seeds and fertilizers available to meet their requirements. Strict directives have been issued to all agricultural supply vendors in the district against overcharging for seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. To support farmers, vendors must prominently display stock levels and price lists for all products in their shops. Stock registers must be maintained accurately, reflecting actual physical inventory.
Sales of fertilizers require mandatory use of point of sale (POS) machines. Farmers' signatures must be collected and receipts provided for all transactions.Vendors must conduct business in accordance with relevant regulations, including Fertiliser Control Order, Seed Act, and associated rules. The technical recommendation for Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Pesticide ratio is 4:2:1.
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Current farming practices using primarily Amp and Ukhaim fertilizers have resulted in a district ratio of 8.41:5.80:1. To address this imbalance and enhance soil health, farmers were advised to incorporate micronutrients like zinc, boron, iron, manganese, and utilize compound fertilizers as DAP alternatives.