The Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday assured that there will be no impact on the country’s agriculture sector and farmers due to the West Asia conflict, as the availability of seed and fertilizer stocks is adequate for the upcoming Kharif season.
The agriculture ministry said the availability of seeds for the Kharif season is 19.29 lakh quintals more than the estimated 166.46 lakh quintals.
Addressing a press conference, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said, “In view of the international situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has conducted a comprehensive review and has prepared all the necessary input materials for the upcoming Kharif season. The assessment done in coordination with the states has confirmed that adequate quantities of seeds are available. The total seed requirement for this Kharif season is estimated to be 166.46 lakh quintals. We have 185.74 lakh quintals of seeds are available.”
The availability of seeds of all major crops like paddy, soybean, groundnut, maize and pulses is also in surplus.
Maninder Kaur Dwivedi also informed that the government had faced problems in availability of LPG for drying hybrid maize seeds. However, this problem has been solved with the coordination of the Petroleum Ministry.
“The only minor hurdle in this regard was the requirement of LPG for drying hybrid maize seeds last month; however, adequate supply was made available through coordination with the Petroleum Ministry,” he said.
He also said that the government’s position is quite good in terms of availability of Rabi crop seeds.
Giving detailed information about the fertilizer requirements of Kharif crops, Additional Secretary Maninder Kaur Dwivedi said that it is 390.52 lakh metric tonnes. He further said that about 46 per cent, i.e. 180 lakh metric tonnes, is available as opening stock.
He added, “This quantity available is quite good, as as a general rule the opening stock is about one third of the requirement.”
Talking about agro chemicals, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi said that more than 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of pesticides are available, which is much more than the required availability.
“States have also been asked to encourage bio-pesticides and other sustainable methods, although we are in a good position,” he said.
All wholesale prices of agricultural products are also monitored by the Ministry, which he has assured will remain stable.
Maninder Kaur Dwivedi said, “Overall, prices are within the normal range like last few years. Prices of major crops like tomato, onion and potato are in the normal range and are showing improvement, the trend of improvement continues at the wholesale level also.”
The latest revision of stock availability comes against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia involving the United States, Israel and Iran that have led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global transit route for crude oil and energy supplies.