“A dedicated portal will be set up for farmers’ complaints, suggestions, and other assistance” – Shivraj Singh

Shivraj Singh Chouhan today held a high-level meeting in Delhi to review the resolution of complaints received from farmers through call centres and other portals. In the meeting, Shivraj Singh instructed the officials to create a single dedicated portal for farmers’ complaints, suggestions, and other assistance instead of multiple portals, for the convenience of farmers, and to ensure early and proper resolution of problems. Shri Chouhan said that he himself will regularly review the complaints received from farmers so that they can be provided quick relief.

Taking cognisance of the complaints received from farmers and calls on helpline numbers, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Chouhan said that there should be no delay in resolving issues of farmers. Shivraj Singh said that all officials should work with complete transparency, credibility, and sensitivity in the interests of farmers and further strengthen the system. The mechanism should guarantee timely and effective resolution of farmers’ complaints. He said that our collective effort should be to ensure our farmers remain happy under all circumstances.

During the meeting, the Union Minister sought information from officials about the complaints received from farmers, many of which pertained to spurious or substandard fertilisers, seeds, and pesticides. Giving instructions to resolve these complaints on priority, Shri Chouhan said that he too receives such complaints during his visits to states.  “We must save farmers from being looted and, for this, the sale of substandard fertilisers, seeds, and pesticides must be strictly stopped,” he said. The Minister instructed that officers at the Centre, apart from taking action at their level, should also ensure strict action in coordination with state governments, so that our farmer brothers and sisters can get relief. Shivraj Singh said that the participation of states is necessary to resolve these problems. Stating that he himself has already written letters to chief ministers in this regard, the Minister said he will further discuss with states via video conferencing to provide relief to farmers.

Expressing strong displeasure over the sale of illegal biostimulants in the past, Union Minister Shivraj Singh reiterated that only notified products should be sold and emphasised the need for strict action, in coordination with state governments, to ensure absolute compliance. He directed officials to make every possible effort for this and stressed that apart from the 146 notified biostimulants so far, the sale of any other unapproved biostimulants should not be permitted. Simultaneously, the Union Minister also instructed officials to raise awareness among farmers about notified biostimulants and to circulate the list of certified biostimulants to them through social media.

The Minister was provided information regarding complaints about receiving installments under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. He directed the officials that since these are both important schemes, every complaint related to them must be resolved, and officials should also contact the farmers to take their feedback. “Our objective should be that our farmers must be completely satisfied in every respect,” he said.  Union Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi was also present during the meeting. He too gave his suggestions to Union Minister Shri Chouhan.