Pune: Farmers may soon be able to book fertilizers through their mobile phones, as the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has developed a new app aimed at making fertilizer distribution more transparent and reducing black marketing.The mobile app – Fertilizer Sales Application System – is currently being tested MaharashtraBihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Telangana.In Maharashtra, the pilot project has been going on since last week in Ashtapur village in Haveli taluka of Pune district.Currently, farmers purchase fertilizers through local retailers and distributors. Many complain about long waiting times during the monsoon season, lack of stock and black marketing of subsidized fertilizers.Officials believe the new digital system can help address these problems.Under the new system, farmers will be able to check fertilizer shops within a radius of 20 kilometers through the app and see which fertilizer is in stock.Farmers can book required fertilizers online without visiting the shop. Once the booking is confirmed, the fertilizer stock will be reserved in the name of the farmer. The farmer can get it from the selected shop within three days by making payment online or directly at the shop.Officials associated with the project said that Aadhaar verification will be mandatory for registration on the app. After booking, farmers will receive a QR code on their mobile phones. This code will be scanned at the fertilizer shop before delivery of the stock.“During the trials conducted over the past few days, 124 farmers of the village purchased 206 bags of fertilizers using the app. The trial was successful and it will soon be implemented in other areas of the state,” agriculture director (quality control and inputs) Sunil Borkar told TOI.Meanwhile, a section of farmers said that implementing the online process could be difficult and complicated for many users. He said that people familiar with the technology will be able to use it easily, but small and marginal farmers will not be able to get its full benefit. He said officials need to understand the ground reality well before introducing such systems.“It is important to have a strong system. The authorities concerned need to keep a close eye on retailers who hoard to sell fertilizers at high prices when there is shortage in the market. Regular stock checking is necessary to prevent hoarding,” said Shantaram Sarvade, a farmer activist from Khed tehsil.Agriculture department officials said the app will help bring transparency in fertilizer sales and reduce illegal hoarding and diversion of subsidized stocks.“Farmers will know where fertilizer is available and how much stock is left. This could reduce unnecessary rush and panic buying,” said an official.Officials said this system can be implemented on an experimental basis in two districts from May 29, although the names of the districts have not been decided yet.Another official said, “The app is also expected to help officials monitor fertilizer sales digitally. Officials will be able to track stock movement and identify irregularities more easily as all bookings and transactions will be recorded online. It is also linked to the existing integrated fertilizer management system.”Farmers and local agricultural workers in the pilot area have welcomed the initiative. Many believe that this can reduce the harassment faced by farmers during the peak farming season.Santosh Kotwal, a farmer who participated in the trial, told TOI, “I can book fertilizer at the nearest retailer’s shop. It is easy for booking if you know how to use a smartphone. However, in many villages, network connectivity is a major concern. In that scenario, the authorities should ensure support for small and marginal farmers.Santosh Dhamane, another farmer who participated in the trial, said, “In many villages, farmers stand in queues for hours only to find out whether the stock is gone. If the app shows availability in real time, it will save both time and money.”