NT Reporter
Panaji
Following complaints by farmers over difficulties faced by them in using the newly introduced mandatory Framework for Fertilizer Sale (FFS) mobile application, the Agriculture Department has deployed its staff at fertiliser distribution centres across the state to assist them.
“The FFS application had been introduced to prevent the black marketing of subsidised fertilisers and bring transparency to their sale and distribution,” said Agriculture Director Chandrahas Desai, adding that the digital system would ensure that fertilisers were supplied only to genuine farmers.
Farmers in Morjim had appealed to the state government to simplify the fertiliser purchase process by removing the mandatory use of the FFS application and setting up a fertiliser storage facility in the village.
Desai said government-subsidised urea was sold for Rs 266, while its market price was around Rs 2,500. He said the price difference made subsidised fertiliser vulnerable to diversion and illegal sale. “Without a proper tracking system people purchase subsidised fertiliser and sell it at higher prices or divert it for use in tile, plastic and pharmafactories. The digital system has been introduced to prevent such misuse,” he said.
The FFS application was launched in Goa in mid-July 2026. Under the system, farmers book subsidised fertiliser through the mobile application, select their preferred distribution outlet and generate a QR code, which is presented at authorised cooperative societies or fertiliser centres while collecting the material.
Desai said every fertiliser transaction was digitally recorded, including the quantity purchased, the person who sold it and the price at which it was supplied. “Fertiliser dealers across the state have been trained to assist farmers with registration and OTP verification,” he said.
Desai said farmers without smartphones would not be denied fertiliser, as dealers had been instructed to use their own phones to complete the process.
Department staff deployed at distribution points would also assist farmers using either the dealer’s or department staff member’s phone.
