The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has directed District Agriculture Officers to enforce stricter norms for fertiliser sales, mandating biometric authentication and PoS receipts. Farmers, however, complain about difficulties in accessing smartphones and scanners due to worn fingerprints and ageing skin.
The State government had roped in 300 AEOs, which included more than 200 women, on an outsourcing basis four years ago to carry out extension works at the grassroots level