Madhya Pradesh - New revolution in fertilizer distribution to farmers, arrival of fertilizer ATM system
In India, an agricultural country, farmers are the backbone of our economy. They work hard day and night to grow food, but sometimes small problems spoil their hard work. One of the major problems is the distribution of fertilizers. In the state, farmers have to stand in long queues to buy fertilizers, wait for hours, and sometimes due to black marketing, they are not able to get even the required amount of fertilizer. But now there is good news. The government has taken a new initiative, under which it has decided to start the fertilizer ATM system through co-operative banks and cooperative societies. This system is going to make the life of farmers easier, and it will not only save time but will also increase transparency. In this article, let us understand this new system in detail, discuss its benefits, and see how useful it can prove to be for the farmers.
First of all, let's talk about the current situation. Nowadays farmers go to cooperative societies or banks to get fertilizers, where there are long queues in front of POS machines. They have to stand in the rain or sun, and on top of that if the stock is low then they get disappointed. Many times black marketers buy fertilizers in advance and sell them at higher prices. This causes the most loss to small farmers. In view of these problems, the government has decided to bring a fertilizer ATM system. This is happening for the first time, and in this, farmers will be given an ATM card like a debit card. With this card, they will be able to get fertilizers as per their need, without standing in a queue.
How will this system work? In simple words, every farmer will get a card, in which the amount of fertilizer will be pre-decided based on the area of their land. Suppose you have 5 acres of land, then the quota of urea, DAP or other fertilizers will be loaded in the card accordingly. The farmer will be able to get fertilizers by swiping this card or entering the PIN. The best thing is that there is no need to pay money immediately. Farmers will be able to take fertilizer on credit, and pay without interest after the harvest. This is a boon for those farmers who are financially weak and feel short of money at the time of the season.
The entire process will be digital, which will ensure transparency. The record of every transaction will be recorded online, and farmers will get information on their mobile through SMS. For example, if you have taken 50 kg of urea, then a message will come immediately that how much quota is left and by when to pay. This will stop black marketing, because everything will be trackable. The government says that this system has been designed to provide fertilizer on time. At present, Aadhar card or other documents are checked in POS machines, which takes time, but in the ATM system everything will be verified in advance.
Now let's talk about the benefits of this system. The biggest benefit is saving time. Farmers will no longer have to stand in line for hours. They will be able to go to the cooperative society and get fertilizer with the card whenever they want. This is especially useful for women and elderly farmers, who are physically weak. Second, the credit facility will reduce the financial burden. The option of paying after harvesting will empower farmers. Third, digital records will stop corruption. At present, many times there are irregularities in cooperative societies, but online tracking will make everything transparent. Fourth, it is also good for the environment, because paper work will be reduced and everything will be digital.
But every coin has two sides. There are some challenges in this system too. Assistant Commissioner Cooperative Raj Yashvardhan Kuril said that the financial condition of cooperative banks is not good right now. Therefore, first the cash based system will start, then gradually the ATM system will be implemented. This means that there may be some delay in the beginning. The second challenge is technical literacy. Many farmers in rural areas are unaware of smartphones or digital systems. They will need training. The government should set up helpdesks in cooperative societies, where farmers can learn to use the card. Third, internet connectivity. If the network is weak in villages, then there may be problems in online recording. It is important to address these challenges, otherwise even a good plan may fail.
To understand this system, take an example. Suppose Ramlal is a small farmer who owns 2 acres of land. Currently, he stands in line at 5 am to get fertilizer, but many times returns empty-handed. In the new system, he will get a card, which will have a quota of 100 kg of urea. He goes to the committee in the evening, swipes the card, and takes the fertilizer. He pays after selling the crop. A message comes on the mobile: "You have taken 50 kg of urea, the remaining 50 kg is left." This will make Ramlal's life easier.
This initiative of the government is going to make the dream of Digital India come true. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has launched many schemes for farmers, such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, crop insurance, and now this fertilizer ATM. This system at the state level can become an example for other states. Experts believe that if implemented properly, it will increase agricultural production, because getting fertilizer on time will lead to better crops. But for success, cooperative banks need to be strengthened. The government should inject funds into the banks and train the staff.
Finally, it would not be wrong to say that the fertilizer ATM system is bringing a new dawn for farmers. Freedom from long queues, credit facility, and digital transparency will make their hard work worth it. But the government should ensure that this scheme reaches the rural level and every farmer can avail its benefits. If farmers are happy, the country will be happy. Let us welcome this new beginning and hope that it is implemented across the country soon.
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