Beneficiaries on list 700, but 150 could not be contacted, 158 did not receive subsidy, reveals Shivraj
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Union Agriculture Minister on Monday asked his ministry officials as well as from the States to be vigilant to ensure the money spent under different schemes actually reaches the beneficiaries. He said agriculture will not be successful unless both the Centre and States work as team and sought their suggestions on various issues.
Addressing the annual Rabi conference, which began Monday, Chouhan cited an instance to drive him the point that there can be no complacency in implementing government schemes. The example he cited was about 700 beneficiary farmers in one district who were said to have availed government subsidy.
“First, I was told the list is being prepared. When it reached me there was no full name nor any address or contact number. I pursued further and got the details. Out of 700 on the list, 150 contact numbers were either wrong or invalid as those could not be contacted. When our team contacted 500 farmers, out of that 158 said they had not received any subsidy,” Chouhan narrated the incident without disclosing the name of the district or the period when the incident took place.
The two-day National Agriculture Conference for Rabi season began in New Delhi Monday. Agriculture secretary Devesh Chaturvedi said that the ministry has prepared six broad topics and formed equal number of groups to discuss those issues and their finding will be presented before the gathering on Tuesday.
The topics identified by it include climate resilience farming, quality inputs, diversification of agriculture and horticulture crops, extension services and their role and convergence of schemes.
Chouhan credited the farmers and scientists for their hard work as the country has achieved 3.7 per cent growth in agriculture. He reiterated about taking stern action against those selling fake fertilizers, seeds and pesticides. Warning retailers and companies against the practice of tagging other products along with fertilisers, the minister wondered how could farmers be forced to buy something.
He also said that these days there is no certainty about climate, so efforts should be made to get crop insurance availed by as many farmers as possible. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has to be implemented properly so that farmers get relief, he noted. He said that the entire staff should work fast for quick relief in flood affected areas.
He also cautioned officials and scientists to be vigilant against pest attacks as there are reports from farmers about diseases in soyabean and paddy in some States.
Published on September 15, 2025
