Bhagalpur: The Ministry of Agriculture is to start an investigation after receiving reports that many farmers, who use state government grants to buy organic input for organic agriculture both divert these or not using it for that purpose.
Overall 2,258 farmers in the district have used state government grants for organic farming.
The source said the audit was starting before registering a case against absent.
District Agriculture K K K K JHA said 2,258 farmers were registered in 24 farmer groups spreading more than seven blocks provided grants for organic farming.
“Organic farming is being carried out in almost 2000 hectares of land and every farmer gets RS11,500 per acre per year to buy organic input,” he said.
Seven blocks where organic farming has begun is Sultanganj, Nathnagar, Sabour, Kahalgaon, Pirpainty, Rangra and Kharik.
Organic farming is a leading CM Nith Kumar project, which has promoted ‘organic corridors’ in 13 districts in addition to Ganga from Buxar to Bhagalpur Regency to promote organic farming and also keep the river.
“The first installment of the total RS2.30 Crore is provided for farmers and similar is being carried out for this year too.
We have found a report that many registered farmers have taken grants but do not buy organic input or submit purchasing details,” Jha said.
He added: “We try to start a third-party audit about the purchase and use of organic input for specific agricultural purposes produced by grants.
Legal actions against fellow farmers will begin.
Steps such as Recovery of Grant Money, Cancellation of Registration, Emergency Benefits of the Scheme Different for farmers in addition to registering cases of certificates etc.
will be made as soon as the audit report shows precisely absent.
“Referring to the ‘organic input’, Jha says this is bio-fertilizer fertilizer, compost, green fertilizer, neem-based fertilizer, cow manure and beef Organic seeds include organic agriculture and where agriculture is carried out without using synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides and growth steroids of growth or other chemicals.