The Union Department of Fertilisers has taken strong action against unfair practices in the fertiliser market. They have cancelled or suspended over 4,200 licenses and registrations belonging to fertiliser distributors. These actions were taken because of black marketing, hoarding, and diverting fertiliser stocks away from farmers. This is a significant effort to protect farmers and ensure fertilisers are available when needed.
The department, working with the Union Agriculture Ministry, carried out a large-scale operation across the country. They aimed to secure the supply chain for fertilisers. State governments worked closely with the department. Together, they conducted many inspections and raids. This helped to prevent black marketing and hoarding. It also stopped the diversion of fertilisers. These efforts helped to make sure fertilisers were available on time and that the market remained fair.
Officials conducted a total of 3,17,054 inspections and raids. These checks monitored how fertilisers were being distributed. As a result, 5,119 show cause notices were issued for black marketing. This led to the cancellation or suspension of 3,645 licenses. Additionally, 418 First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed nationwide. For hoarding, 667 show cause notices were given. This resulted in 20 license suspensions or cancellations and 37 FIRs. To stop diversion, authorities issued 2,991 show cause notices. This led to 451 licenses being cancelled or suspended and 92 FIRs being registered.
All these enforcement actions were carried out under the Essential Commodities Act and the Fertiliser Control Order. These laws ensure that fertiliser distribution follows strict rules and that everyone is accountable. The government wants to make sure that these essential farming inputs reach farmers at fair prices.
In addition to tackling these issues, the enforcement teams also looked into cases of sub-standard fertilisers. Working with state governments, they issued 3,544 show cause notices for suspected poor-quality fertilisers. This resulted in 1,316 licenses being cancelled or suspended and 60 FIRs being filed. The department regularly collected samples and tested them rigorously. This process ensures that only fertilisers meeting the required standards enter the supply chain. This protects farmers from using ineffective or harmful products.
The government’s proactive and strict measures are aimed at improving the agricultural sector. By ensuring fair trade practices and quality control, they are supporting the livelihoods of farmers across India. This initiative is a key step towards strengthening the country’s food security.
