New Delhi, 25 March (H.S.):

Amid global instability Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan convened a high-level review meeting at his residence Wednesday zeroing in on safeguarding farmer interests and prepping for the upcoming kharif season.

Senior ministry officials received clear directives that no lapses will be tolerated given the precarious world situation with focus locked on ensuring steady supplies of fertilizers seeds and other farm essentials reaching growers on time.

Shivraj Singh mandated uninterrupted fertilizer distribution and accelerated rollout of the Farmer ID project to make delivery transparent directing benefits straight to rightful hands. Coordination meetings with state chief ministers and agriculture ministers will follow soon.

The meeting underscored zero tolerance for profiteering off crisis through fertilizer seed hoarding or black-marketing with states directed to ramp up surveillance and hammer violators.

Reviewing seed production the minister ordered guaranteed gas for drying and agro-chemical availability while stressing tighter coordination with petroleum ministry for packaging materials covering milk and other farm goods.

Special Cell for Agri Monitoring

A dedicated cell now monitors agri inputs weekly reporting directly to the minister on fertilizers seeds and pesticides for swift decisions when needed.

Shivraj Singh reaffirmed government's ironclad commitment to farmer support vowing no disruption to production or supply chains despite global headwinds.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar