The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India launched POS 3.1 software, SMS gateway and home delivery facility of fertilisers for farmers in Andhra Pradesh. State of Andhra Pradesh has also pioneered in the home delivery of fertilizers to the farmers successfully much to the delight of the ministry. Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri. D.V. Sadananda Gowda claims that Department of Fertilizer is the only Department which has successfully implemented a complex system of end to end computerization of movement of fertilizer in the entire country.

DBT system

Earlier Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system was launched on 1st March, 2018 on Pan India basis and which has been working very well since its inception. Then DBT 2.0 initiative was launched during July 2019.  The system enables us to know and monitor availability of fertilizer on real time basis at State, District and at the retail outlet. Entire fertilizer subsidy for the last two years have been disbursed through this system, thus showing the robustness of DBT system.

SMS Gateway

SMS Gateway periodically sends SMS to farmer about availability of fertilizer at retail outlet from where he last purchased the fertilizer. He will also be able to get information about availability of fertilizer at any retail outlet by sending retailer ID to Mobile No. 7738299899. Further on purchase of fertilizer, SMS will be sent to his mobile indicating the quantity purchased and amount paid by him.

PoS 3.1 Software

After a series of improvements in the system, Point-of-Sale (PoS) 3.1 software was launched. The improvement involves two modes of authentication and Re-registration of device under PoS. Under POS 3.1 version, keeping in view of prevailing pandemic situation, contactless OTP based authentication option has been introduced and Farmers will be able to purchase fertilizer without touching finger print sensor.

Under an initiative of Home delivery of Fertilizers in Andhra Pradesh through Rythu Bharosa Kendralu (RBK) state Government has launched 10,641 Rythu Bharosa Kendralu (RBKs) in all gram panchayats to provide farmers with quality inputs and allied services. Under this systems, farmers after biometric authentication can order fertilizers from RBK (Rythu Bharosa Kendra) in their village and fertilizer will be delivered at their door step. 

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)