The Chhattisgarh government on Monday denied any mismanagement of official schemes, non-availability of chemical fertilizers or any other problem related to farmers after the BJP raised them on the first day of the Monsoon Assembly session.
Thirteen BJP members moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion and the government's reply on the issues faced by farmers.
After Speaker permitted a discussion, BJP's Brijmohan Agrawal said the problems of farmers were being aggravated due to corruption, financial constraints and non-availability of chemical fertilizers as the state had made more allocation to private sellers.
They also spoke about black-marketing and sale of sub-standard fertilizers and seeds.
He said the government’s portal shows details of stock of fertilizers allocated during the last season. The BJP leaders said there is no monitoring of demand and supply of fertilizers and seeds, which they insisted has led to mismanagement in the farm sector.
Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said agriculture is a high priority for the state government.
In 2020-21, out of the Rs 7,561 crores allocated to the department, 98 percent was spent for agriculture works and farmers.
For Kharif 2021, the demand was for 11.75 lakh tonnes of chemical fertilizers and 9.52 lakh quintals of seeds against which 56 percent of fertilizers and 95 percent of seeds were stored. The supply was less in quantity from April to July, he said. Action was taken against sub-standard quality products sold to farmers. Regular inspection and sampling were done to monitor the quality of fertilizers and seeds. There is no resentment against the government among the farmers, Choubey added.