Fertiliser Quality & Supply Under Scrutiny As Govt Intensifies Nationwide Enforcement Drive

New Delhi, Nov 13 (KNN) The Department of Fertilisers (DoF), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) and State Governments, has carried out an extensive enforcement drive to curb black marketing, hoarding, and diversion of fertilisers during the Kharif and ongoing Rabi seasons of 2025–26 (April–November).

The coordinated effort aims to safeguard farmers’ interests, maintain supply integrity, and ensure the timely and equitable availability of fertilisers across India.

Senior officials from the Centre and States held multiple joint meetings to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.

The result was a large-scale nationwide crackdown, involving over 3.17 lakh inspections and raids across districts. These operations led to 5,119 show cause notices for black marketing, 3,645 license suspensions or cancellations, and 418 FIRs.

Actions against hoarding included 667 show cause notices, 202 license suspensions, and 37 FIRs, while diversion cases resulted in 2,991 notices, 451 suspensions, and 92 FIRs.

All measures were undertaken under the Essential Commodities Act and the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985.

Several States demonstrated proactive enforcement. Uttar Pradesh led with 28,273 inspections, nearly 2,000 show cause notices, and 2,730 license suspensions.

Maharashtra conducted 42,566 inspections and over 1,000 license cancellations, while Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat also carried out wide-ranging drives to prevent artificial shortages and price manipulation during the peak agricultural season.

Quality control remained a key focus area. Enforcement teams issued 3,544 show cause notices related to sub-standard fertilisers, resulting in 1,316 license suspensions or cancellations and 60 FIRs.

Intensive sampling and testing helped remove inferior materials from the supply chain, ensuring only fertilisers meeting prescribed standards reached farmers.

To enhance transparency, digital dashboards and real-time monitoring systems were deployed to track stock movement, reallocate seized or hoarded fertilisers, and promptly address farmer complaints.

Farmers and dealers are encouraged to report irregularities and cooperate to maintain a fair and transparent distribution system.

(KNN Bureau)