Jammu: Directorate of Agriculture, conducted one day Refresher Training Program-Cum-Orientation course on use of Point-of-Sale (POS) Machines for Direct Benefit transfer (DBT) in Fertilizers under GO LIVE mission being launched in the State with effect from 1st of March 2018.
The program was inaugurated by the Joint Director of Agriculture (Extension), Jammu, R. L. Bhagat, at Krishi Bhawan Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhagat said the objective of the scheme is to have an accurate detail of fertilizers reaching the Point-of-Sale (POS) at retailers’ level and the quantity of fertilizers being sold and actually utilized by the farmers. This is to ensure that the subsidy on fertilizers reaching to the farmers is actually assessed and pilferage if any is checked, he added. He said digitization and use of POS Machines will facilitate proper data management and prompt flow of fertilizer stock/sale information between the government, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and the farmers. He further said this system will also be helpful in checking the excessive and indiscriminate use of fertilizers in agriculture crops and misuse of fertilizer subsidy in other activities as well.
About 85 identified Master Trainers (Field Functionaries) of the Department for DBT in different Agriculture Sub-Divisions of Jammu Province were also imparted training in usage of Point-of-Sale (POS) devices. The use and working of POS Machines was also demonstrated through practical handling and PowerPoint presentation by Akhil Vaid, State Coordinator DBT, Fertilizers (GOI). He also cleared various queries regarding technical and practical difficulties of the wholesale and retail dealers while implementing and shifting to the new system.
The wholesalers were also asked to use Release Order Module (ROM) in letter and spirit to make timely availability of fertilizers as per requirement of respective areas. The non-usage of Point-of-Sale (POS) devices will warrant strict action from the Law Enforcement Agency of the Agriculture Department.
- M. Sharma, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Central), Deepak Kuchroo, DSSO Jammu, S. Baljeet Singh, ADLE, Jammu, representatives of fertilizer supplying companies viz NFL, IFFCO, CFCL, wholesale/retail dealers of Jammu Division attended the program.
