Junnar farmers told to book fertiliser on FFS app from September 30
From September 30, fertiliser will be sold only after online booking on the FFS app, and the agriculture department has urged Junnar taluka farmers to register in time.
The Maharashtra government's agriculture department has introduced a system built around the FFS (Framework for Fertilizer Sale) app for selling fertiliser. The aim is to make buying fertiliser easier and more transparent for farmers, and to have it follow a plan fixed in advance.
From September 30, farmers will have to book online on the FFS app before they can buy fertiliser. The agriculture department has therefore appealed to farmers in Junnar taluka to download the app in time, and to register and book the fertiliser they need in advance.
Under this digital system, farmers will get online information on how much fertiliser stock is available, how much they will be allotted based on their crop and area, and which authorised sales centre is nearest. This will improve transparency in distribution and save farmers time.
To register, farmers should download the FFS app from the Google Play Store on an Android phone, choose the required language and state, and log in with an Aadhaar number or Farmer ID through an OTP. After login, the app will show the land and crops recorded in the farmer's name. The fertiliser quota available for that area and crop will also appear in the app. Farmers can then choose the type of fertiliser, the number of bags and the nearest authorised fertiliser sales centre, and book online.
Once the booking is successful, a QR code or E-Token will arrive on the farmer's mobile phone. The farmer will have to show this QR code at the authorised sales centre chosen at the time of booking. After the necessary checks are completed, the booked fertiliser will be handed over.
As fertiliser can be booked in advance through the app, crowds and waiting time in queues at sales centres are expected to fall. There will also be a digital record of how much fertiliser each farmer has booked and from which centre they will collect it, which will bring transparency to distribution.
Nilesh Budhwant, agriculture officer at Panchayat Samiti Junnar, made the appeal: "From September 30, fertiliser can be bought only after online booking through the FFS app. So information about this system should reach as many farmers in villages as possible. Farmers should download the app and register in time, and book the fertiliser they need in advance."
The agriculture department has made it clear that it is better for farmers to register on the FFS app and book the fertiliser they need beforehand than to have to scramble when the need arises in the middle of the season.
