Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne announced the state’s decision to adopt a policy to curb “fertiliser linking,” inspired by Uttar Pradesh’s recent move. The announcement was made during a meeting addressing concerns of the Maharashtra Fertilisers, Pesticides, Seeds Dealers Association. Minister Bharne highlighted measures aimed at improving the agricultural supply chain and easing the burden on local retailers.
He emphasized that the new policy would prohibit companies selling subsidised fertilisers from mandating retailers to purchase non-subsidised products. Additionally, steps will be taken to safeguard retailers, ensuring they are not held liable for substandard agricultural inputs, focusing instead on manufacturers. The Minister also pledged action against illegal seeds, particularly targeting uncertified HTBT cotton seeds entering from neighbouring states.
Furthermore, Minister Bharne mentioned plans to engage with the Central Government and coordinate with law enforcement agencies to enforce these regulations effectively. He stressed the importance of leveraging technology for transparency in the sector, advocating for the use of the Central Government’s SATHI portal for monitoring seeds throughout the supply chain. The Minister also assured flexibility in the mandatory training programme for retailers and expressed intentions to address pending issues with Union Minister J. P. Nadda at the central level.
