Summary
- Widespread Sale of Counterfeit Fertilizers
- Illegal Practices and Misuse of Subsidies
- Call for Strong Enforcement and Farmer Involvement
New Delhi, July 13: The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has issued a stern directive to all Chief Ministers across States and Union Territories, urging immediate and decisive measures to combat the sale and distribution of counterfeit and substandard fertilizers.
In a letter dispatched to the Chief Ministers, the Minister expressed grave concern over the rising incidents of fake fertilizer sales, black marketing of subsidized products, and unauthorized practices like forced tagging of nano-fertilizers. The communication underscores the urgent need for coordinated enforcement to safeguard farmers’ interests and maintain the integrity of agricultural inputs.
Highlighting agriculture as the foundation of the Indian economy, the Minister stressed that timely availability of high-quality, reasonably priced fertilizers is crucial for ensuring income stability among farmers. He reminded States that distributing substandard or fake fertilizers is a punishable offence under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, which operates under the broader framework of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
The Union Minister laid out specific instructions for States to follow:
- Ensure adequate and timely supply of fertilizers in regions where they are most needed.
- Intensify monitoring and take swift action against black marketing, hoarding, and mispricing of subsidized fertilizers.
- Conduct routine checks, sampling, and lab testing to detect counterfeit or low-quality products.
- Prohibit the forced inclusion (tagging) of nano-fertilizers or bio-stimulants with standard fertilizers.
- Enforce strict penalties, including license cancellation, registration of FIRs, and effective prosecution to achieve convictions against offenders.
- To promote accountability and grassroots participation, States have been advised to establish feedback and information-sharing mechanisms involving farmers and farmer groups.
- The Minister also called for widespread awareness campaigns to help cultivators distinguish between authentic and fake fertilizer products.
He concluded by urging States to launch comprehensive state-level drives in line with these guidelines to eliminate the menace of fraudulent agricultural inputs. Emphasizing consistent oversight, the Minister said that sustained action at the State level will ensure long-term protection for India’s farming community. (Edited)
