Government official Shivraj Singh Chouhan urges state leaders to combat counterfeit fertilizers and prevent enforced nano tagging procedures.
In an effort to ensure quality inputs for farmers and protect soil health, the Union Agriculture Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in India have taken stringent measures against the sale of fake and substandard fertilizers.
Recent initiatives focus on regulation, quality control, and subsidy reforms. Neem-coated urea is now mandatory for all urea production, aiming to reduce black marketing, promote better nitrogen use efficiency, and curb the diversion of urea for non-agricultural uses.
The Ministry is emphasizing stringent quality checks and monitoring throughout the fertilizer manufacturing process, including raw material testing, adherence to formulation standards, in-process control, and laboratory analysis to ensure fertilizers meet prescribed standards.
The government is also promoting integrated nutrient management, combining inorganic and organic inputs to improve soil health and crop quality, indirectly supporting the reduction of substandard chemical fertilizer usage. Subsidy reforms are underway to make pricing and distribution more transparent and discourage the circulation of fake products in the supply chain.
Regular sampling and testing of fertilizers have been instructed to identify substandard products. The Minister has called on all States and Union Territories to initiate aggressive awareness and enforcement drives against fake fertilizers. Awareness campaigns should be launched to help farmers distinguish between genuine and counterfeit agricultural products.
The Minister has written letters to all Chief Ministers urging immediate action against black marketing, illegal tagging, and the sale of fake agricultural inputs. States have been directed to prevent black marketing, overpricing, and diversion of fertilizers in the supply chain.
States have been urged to involve farmers in the monitoring process for agricultural inputs. The Minister has ordered an immediate halt to the forced tagging of nano-fertilizers or bio-stimulants with conventional fertilizers.
Strong legal action, including the cancellation of licenses, registration of FIRs, and effective prosecution, has been instructed to ensure accountability and conviction of offenders. The Minister concluded that regular monitoring will safeguard farmers' incomes and strengthen national food security.
The Minister has also directed the development of robust feedback systems and real-time reporting mechanisms with the participation of farmer groups. Agriculture is identified as the backbone of the Indian economy by the Minister.
These actions represent the government’s commitment to enforcing strict regulations against spurious fertilizers, enhancing farmer awareness, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices through better input quality control and subsidies administration. This aligns with broader agricultural efforts to improve soil health, boost productivity, and protect farmer interests in India.
This article was first published on July 14, 2025.
The Ministry's actions to combat the sale of fake fertilizers delve into policy-and-legislation, as stringent measures are being taken to ensure regulations, quality control, and subsidy reforms. These initiatives are part of the broader politics surrounding general-news issues, such as national food security and the health of India's agriculture sector.
