Thane to Launch Online Fertiliser Distribution Platform on August 15
Thane district will implement a new digital platform titled 'Framework for Fertiliser Sale' starting August 15 to streamline fertiliser distribution for local farmers, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ranjit Yadav announced on Wednesday.
Developed by the central fertiliser and agriculture ministries in coordination with state governments, the digital system aims to create a more transparent and farmer-centric distribution network. The platform allows farmers across the district to check real-time fertiliser stock availability and place orders directly from their mobile phones.
Under the new system, farmers can verify stock availability from home, choose a nearby registered dealer, and complete their bookings online. To register, users must input their land details and register using either an Aadhaar number or a farmer ID before selecting their recommended fertilisers.
Once registered, the platform generates a unique QR code and a token number for the user. Farmers can then present this QR code to the selected vendor, who scans the code to complete stock collection. Authorities stated that this structured process will reduce unnecessary visits to agriculture centres, saving time and travel expenses for farmers.
The initiative follows a pilot rollout across 56 districts in 23 states, as well as successful regional trials in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Kolhapur. The framework is now expanding to Thane alongside nine other districts in Maharashtra.
Thane district currently has 1,38,862 farmers working across 59,831 hectares of Kharif crop area. Agriculture officials confirmed in a Zilla Parishad release that there is no shortage of fertilisers in the district ahead of the rollout.
Yadav stated that the Zilla Parishad is fully prepared for the August 15 launch and urged farmers across Thane to take advantage of the digital platform. The official release added that anyone experiencing issues with online booking or distribution can contact their local block agriculture officer or quality control inspector for immediate grievance redressal.
