Chouhan writes to CMs on tagging nanofertilisers, crackdown on fakes

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written to state CMs to end the forced tagging of nano-fertilisers with conventional products and take action against counterfeit fertilisers

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written to chief ministers of all states and heads of Union Territories (UTs) to stop forced tagging of nanofertilisers or bio-stimulant products with conventional fertilisers. 

The minister also urged them to crack down on sale of substandard fertilisers and their black marketing. 

Sources said Chouhan’s letter came amid feedback received from farmers during the fortnight long ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,’ that concluded last month and also from interactions outside the campaign. 

The minister also said during the review meeting of the campaign that special steps, including a stringent law, should be enacted to stop the spread of spurious seeds and fertilisers. 

Meanwhile, on forced tagging of nano products, such as nano urea and nano DAP, with conventional fertilisers, sources said that many times companies have been resorting to such practices to boost sales. 

An official statement issued on Sunday, said that Chouhan also directed state CMs to take immediate and strict action against counterfeit and substandard fertilisers. 

He also highlighted that the sale of counterfeit or substandard fertilisers is prohibited under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, which falls under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. 

That apart, Chouhan said in the letter that it was the responsibility of the states to ensure adequate availability of fertilisers at the right places. 

Therefore, states must strictly monitor and take swift action against activities such as black marketing, overpricing, and diversion of subsidised fertilisers, he added. 

He instructed them to ensure regular monitoring of fertiliser production and sale, as well as strict control over counterfeit and substandard products through sampling and testing. 

On forced tagging of nano-fertilisers or bio-stimulant products with conventional fertilisers, Chouhan said it should be ‘stopped’ immediately. 

“Strict legal action, including cancellation of licenses and registration of FIRs, should be taken against the culprits, and effective prosecution must be ensured to secure conviction,” the statement said. 

It said states have been directed to develop feedback and information systems involving the farmers or farmer groups in the monitoring process. States were also urged to make special efforts to educate farmers in identifying genuine and counterfeit products. Chouhan also mooted statewide campaigns to eliminate the problem of fake and substandard agricultural inputs.  

Govt to provide 5.2 mt of rice for ethanol blending

 

The Centre has decided to provide 5.2 million tonnes (mt) of rice from Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns for ethanol blending at a price of ₹2,250 per quintal till October and at a rate of ₹2,320 per quintal** from November till June 2026. The rates were announced under the recent policy on open market sales of wheat and rice. Apart from this, 3.2 mt of rice has been allocated to state governments and for use in community kitchens at the same price. For wheat, the Centre has fixed a price of ₹2,550 per quintal for sale to private parties, cooperative agencies, and others.