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To cater to com
plaints and representations related to fertilizers in Gujarat, the state government has started control rooms at the state, district, and taluka levels, stated an official release on Sunday.
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“This special initiative has been taken by the office of Director of Agriculture for ease in distribution and availability of fertilizer and resolution of farmer-related representation and difficulties,” the release stated.
To deal with complaints at the state level, a control room has been started while also launching a helpline — 079-23256080. Similar control rooms have been set up at the district and taluka levels, along with helpline numbers.Farmers can dial the numbers to register their representation on availability and distribution of fertilizers and other related matters.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel stated that owing to good rainfall this year, sowing of around 61% Kharif crops has been completed early. He also said that farmers are being provided urea, DAP and NPK fertilizers by the central government, which is also giving them substantial subsidies over time.
The minister also stated that the government is ensuring that there is no hoarding, overcharging or black marketing of fertilizers anywhere in the state.
Gujarat Government Sets Up Control Rooms and Helpline to Address Farmers’ Fertilizer Woes
As the Kharif season gains momentum, Gujarat’s Directorate of Agriculture has taken a commendable step to ensure farmers face no unnecessary hurdles when it comes to fertilizer access. On August 3, 2025, the state government announced the initiation of control rooms across state, district, and taluka levels, alongside a dedicated helpline to assist farmers with any fertilizer-related grievances.Sakshi Post
A Direct Line for Farmer Concerns
The newly launched state-level helpline number (079‑23256080) is operational every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., designed to provide timely support to farmers dealing with issues like fertilizer availability, delayed deliveries, or distribution discrepancies.Sakshi PostDeshGujarat
This initiative ensures that farmers need not make multiple visits to administrative offices or wait indefinitely—help is now just a call away. At local levels, district and taluka control rooms stand ready to resolve issues at the grassroots level.DeshGujaratSakshi Post
Why It Matters for Gujarat’s Farm Community
Agriculture in Gujarat is not just a livelihood—it’s a backbone of the state’s economy. With over 43 lakh farming households and around 55–60% of the population dependent on it, even minor disruptions in fertilizer supply can severely impact sowing and crop health.Sakshi Post
Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel highlighted that due to favorable rains this season, nearly 61% of Kharif sowing has already been completed. Ensuring timely supply of essential fertilizers like urea, DAP, and NPK, especially with central subsidies in place, becomes pivotal for sustaining this momentum.The Indian Express
The control rooms serve as both a monitoring mechanism and a customer care service, aiming to curb issues like hoarding, black-marketing, or overcharging. Top officials, including the Agriculture Minister, will oversee the system’s operation to guarantee transparency and fairness.The Indian ExpressDeshGujarat
Tackling Malpractices Head-On
This helpline and control room mechanism comes against the backdrop of stricter enforcement steps taken earlier this year. In June 2025, surprise inspections across 16 districts flagged discrepancies among fertilizer dealers. As a result, 24 dealer licenses were suspended, and around 1,090 metric tonnes of suspicious stock—worth nearly ₹1.78 crore—was seized.The Times of Indianews.gujarat.in
Further, as reported on August 7, complaints led the Agriculture Department to file a police complaint and FIRs against dealers in Kadana for deliberately creating artificial shortages and misguiding farmers despite having sufficient stock. Some dealers were found selling subsidized fertilizers at inflated prices, not issuing bills, or lacking proper weighing mechanisms—a blatant exploitation of the system.Ahmedabad Mirror
These crackdowns and the newly launched helpline form a multi-tiered strategy—combining prevention, detection, and redressal—to safeguard farmer interests.
What Farmers Should Know
Use the Helpline: Dial 079‑23256080 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for any fertilizer-related issue—from stock availability to unfair pricing.
Reach Out Locally: District and taluka-level control rooms are available for in-person or localized assistance.
Trust the System: This initiative is backed by senior officials to ensure complaints are tracked, resolved, and used for better supply chain monitoring.
Stay Alert & Report: If a dealer is hoarding, overcharging, or denying bills, report the issue immediately via these channels—action is already being taken when such misconduct is flagged.
Final Thoughts
With the kharif sowing season underway, Gujarat’s farmer community can breathe a little easier knowing that the government has established a direct support system for a key agricultural input—fertilizer. The combination of control rooms, helplines, surprise audits, and legal follow-ups signals a strong administrative resolve to uphold transparency, fairness, and accessibility in fertilizer distribution.
Top officials of the state government are also supervising the distribution of fertilizers, the minister added.