Raipur. Cooperative Minister Kedar Kashyap today took a meeting of senior officials of Cooperative Department at Mahanadi Ministry Building and reviewed the supply of chemical fertilizers in the state, storage and distribution to farmers. Minister Kashyap said that cooperative societies have the responsibility of providing chemical fertilizers to farmers easily. In view of the demand of farmers, regular storage and distribution of fertilizers should be ensured in committees. Minister Kashyap said that farmers should be made aware of the use of other fertilizers as an alternative to DAP.
Minister Kashyap clearly stated in the meeting that farmers should not have to wander for fertilizer. There should also be a strict monitoring on which there is no disturbance in private sector shops. He warned of selling fertilizers at a higher price and strict action on complaints of black marketing. Minister Kashyap said that protection of the interests of farmers is the priority of the government. There should not be any kind of kindness in this.
It was informed in the meeting that a target of 10.72 lakh metric tonnes is for cooperatives for the Kharif season 2025. There has been a storage of 4.10 lakh metric tonnes against this, which is 38.23 percent of the target. Distribution of chemical fertilizers is going on to farmers through cooperative societies. As of May 31, 1.57 lakh metric tonnes of manure has been distributed to farmers. Currently 2.52 lakh metric tons of chemical fertilizer is available in cooperative societies.
Minister Kashyap instructed the officials to strengthen cooperatives in the state and to constitute cooperatives in each gram panchayat to strengthen cooperatives in the state. Minister Kashyap said that this is necessary for prosperity from cooperatives. It was informed in the meeting that there are 11650 gram panchayats in the state, out of which 2058 packs, 1958 fisheries, 1009 milk and 1055 small forest produce cooperative societies are registered. 1279 additional gram panchayats have been covered by identifying the 8611 cooperative society without cooperative society in the state. This year, the target is to constitute 1175 milk, 120 fisheries and 532 packs.
In the meeting, a thorough review of loan disbursement for Kharif year 2025 was also done. It was informed in the meeting that this year, a loan of Rs 2441 crore has been distributed to 4.90 lakh farmers against the target of loan disbursement of Rs 7800 crore. In the meeting, the officers have been instructed to complete the audit of all cooperative societies by June 30.
In the meeting, Subrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Cooperation, Secretary C.R. Prasanna, MD Markfed Kiran Kaushal, Director Agriculture Rahul Dev, Apex MD K.N. Senior officials of all divisions including Kande, Additional Commissioner Hitesh Doshi were present.