Centre steps up action against fake fertilizers; over 4.3 lakh raids conducted since April 2025

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Ziraat Times
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Ziraat Times News Desk

New Delhi, Mar 13: The Government of India has intensified measures to curb the manufacture and sale of fake fertilizers and protect farmers from market malpractices, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel said fertilizers are regulated under the Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) Control Order, 1985, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which prohibits the manufacture or sale of fertilizers that fail to meet prescribed quality standards.

She said state governments are the designated enforcement authorities and are empowered to take strict action against violators. Penalties under the Act include suspension or cancellation of licenses and imprisonment ranging from three months to seven years.

According to the minister, authorities across the country have conducted 4,30,541 raids since April 2025 to check black marketing, hoarding, diversion and the sale of sub-standard fertilizers. The enforcement drives resulted in the issuance of 15,544 show-cause notices, 6,620 license suspensions or cancellations, and 794 FIRs against violators.

Patel informed the House that most states have reported no involvement of factories or companies in manufacturing fake chemical fertilizers during the past five years. However, some states have reported cases involving individuals or vendors.

Among them, Chhattisgarh registered two FIRs, Haryana four, Karnataka 15, and Madhya Pradesh reported 16 cases with 14 FIRs. Maharashtra initiated cases against 19 manufacturers, while Odisha reported three cases. Rajasthan took action against 42 manufacturers of suspicious fertilizers, and Uttar Pradesh reported 36 cases during the same period.

The minister also noted that fertilizers have been declared an essential commodity, enabling the government and state authorities to act against practices such as tagging or forceful selling of additional products along with subsidized fertilizers.

She added that the Department of Fertilizers regularly issues instructions to fertilizer companies and state governments to discourage such practices and ensure that farmers receive fertilizers without coercion or unfair conditions.

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