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Farmers' Shield: India Declares War on Fake Fertilisers
India's Agriculture Minister has launched a nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and substandard fertilisers, urging states and union territories to take immediate and strict action. The move aims to protect farmers' incomes by ensuring access to quality, affordable inputs and eliminating illegal practices like black marketing and forced product tagging.
New Delhi, 13th July 2025 – In a significant move to safeguard the backbone of India's economy, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare,Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has issued a stern directive to all State and Union Territory Chief Ministers, demanding immediate and rigorous action against the pervasive issue of counterfeit and substandard fertilisers. This decisive step is aimed at eradicating the sale of fake agricultural inputs, curbing the black marketing of subsidised fertilisers, and putting an end to illegal practices such as forced tagging across the nation.
In a strongly worded letter, Shri Chouhan underscored the critical role of agriculture in India's economic stability. He emphasised that providing farmers with timely access to standard quality fertilisers at affordable prices is paramount to ensuring the stability of their incomes.
The Minister also highlighted that the sale of counterfeit or substandard fertilisers is a direct violation of the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, which operates under the wider Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This underscores the serious legal ramifications for those involved in such illicit activities.
To tackle this multifaceted problem, the Union Minister laid out clear directives for the States:
* Ensuring Availability and Preventing Misuse: States bear the primary responsibility of guaranteeing adequate fertiliser availability at the right locations. They must also rigorously monitor and swiftly act against black marketing, overpricing, and the diversion of subsidised fertilisers.
* Strict Quality Control: Regular oversight of fertiliser production and sales is crucial. This includes stringent control over counterfeit and substandard products through systematic sampling and testing.
* Halting Forced Tagging: The practice of "forced tagging," where nano-fertilisers or bio-stimulant products are bundled with conventional fertilisers, must cease immediately. This ensures farmers are not coerced into buying unnecessary products.
* Robust Legal Action: Perpetrators will face severe legal consequences, including the cancellation of licenses and the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs). States are urged to ensure effective prosecution to secure convictions.
* Empowering Farmers: To enhance monitoring, States have been directed to develop robust feedback and information systems that actively involve farmers and farmer groups. Furthermore, special efforts must be made to educate farmers on how to identify genuine versus counterfeit products.
The Minister urged all States to launch a comprehensive, statewide campaign in accordance with these directives. The ultimate goal is to eliminate the problem of fake and substandard agricultural inputs from its very roots. He concluded by stressing that consistent monitoring of these efforts at the State level will lead to an effective and sustainable solution, ultimately benefiting millions of farmers across India.(source-pib)
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