Transferring fertiliser subsidy

Farmers do not favour direct cash transfer

The government’s decision to devise a plan to transfer fertiliser subsidy directly into the bank accounts of farmers has both merits and demerits that need to be weighed meticulously before taking a final call. Prima facie, the intention behind the move seems commendable as it seeks to plug the leakages in subsidy disbursement. But its implementation is unlikely to be hassle-free. This is because all farmers do not use fertiliser and in the case of the users, too, the assessment of their subsidy entitlement will be complicated. The quantity of fertiliser used by each farmer, as also the amount of