District Agriculture Officers (ADOs) to issue new retail licences in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With a view to streamlining the urea distribution system in the State, the Agriculture Department has instructed all District Agriculture Officers (ADOs) to issue new retail licences for this purpose.

The instruction has been issued in consonance with the decision taken by the State Cabinet in May this year to dispense with the system of urea wholesalers and instead issue new licences to more retailers.

The ADOs were given this instruction vide a letter from the Directorate of Agriculture two days ago. "As per the SOP on urea administration in the State dated May 20, you are requested to issue fresh retail licences of fertilizers to FPC (Farmer Producer Company), FPO (Farmer Producer Organization), Pathar Parichalana Samity, Samabai Samity, Small Tea Growers Association, big tea gardens (clubbing two or three gardens) with prior approval of District Level Standing Committee (DLSC)," the letter stated.

It may be recalled that a statewide shortage of urea had occurred during February-March this year, which led the Agriculture Department and all district administrations of the State to conduct an assessment. It was found that the wholesalers did not release urea to the retailers despite having huge stocks of the fertilizer. The excuses offered by the wholesalers were not accepted by the Agriculture Department and show-cause notices were issued to around 1,200 wholesalers.

It was at this junction that the State Cabinet took stock of the matter and decided to altogether dispense with urea wholesalers. Consequently, the process of issuing fresh retail licences is being set in motion.

Officials of the Agriculture Department said that the aim of this new step is to ensure that urea is easily accessible to the users at their time of need. As such, it will be made mandatory for the retailers to display the price list and stock position on a daily basis.

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