2 days ago

Centre deploys digital tool to prevent fertiliser shortages

The government has created a computer system to watch fertiliser supplies across India.

It can show where fertiliser is being sent, how much is available and where shortages may occur.

This may help officials act before farmers face long queues.

The system connects information about buyers, shops, farms and crops.

Farmer IDs could help check whether fertiliser purchases match the land and crops being farmed.

Officials say this could reduce cheating and illegal diversion of fertiliser.

Fertiliser subsidies have become more expensive because sales and imported prices have increased.

However, many areas still have limited coverage by Farmer IDs, so the system is not yet complete everywhere.

Key facts

System integration: The tool is linked to the Integrated Fertiliser Management System, AgriStack and Haryana’s Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal.
Buyers covered: More than 140 million Aadhaar-linked fertiliser buyers are connected through the iFMS.
Retail network: The system covers more than 0.25 million, or 250,000, retail outlets.
Annual transactions: The iFMS processes nearly 70 million tonnes of fertiliser transactions each year.
Annual subsidies: The system supports transparent disbursement of around Rs 3 trillion in annual subsidies.
FY26 subsidy: Fertiliser subsidy reached Rs 1.86 trillion, nearly 11 per cent above the Rs 1.67 trillion Budget estimate.
Farmer ID coverage: As of August 15, 2026, Farmer IDs covered 61 per cent of India’s sown area, according to the agriculture ministry’s assessment.

rediff.com · 2 days ago