Latest news with #Chouhan
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Government to crack down on unapproved biostimulants' sale
NEW DELHI: Raising questions over sale of certain biostimulants whose efficacy is not proven by proper data, Union agriculture minister Tuesday pulled up officials and asked whether his ministry and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are truly serving the interests of farmers or merely helping private companies. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His strong remarks came during a review meeting on the unregulated sale of biostimulants, where he said government will not allow the sale of such products without scientific approval, with strict action being taken against unauthorised manufacturers. Biostimulants are applied to seeds, plants or soil by farmers to stimulate natural plant growth, though use of many such formulations (substances or microorganisms, such as beneficial bacteria, fungi, and plant extracts) is not backed by verified field trial data under the existing regulatory mechanism. Government currently regulates biostimulants through the amended Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) Control Order, 1985. Questioning the efficacy, regulation, and oversight of biostimulants being sold to farmers in many states, Chouhan directed that such products must undergo scientific evaluation by ICAR to assess their utility and said only those products will be approved that pass all parameters of efficacy. Asking officials to prepare a standard of procedure (SOP) for strict regulations, he said, "Permission will now be given only after scientific approval and the entire responsibility for this will lie on the officials. " The minister's directives came in response to several complaints that he received during his ground visits to many states during a fortnight-long campaign - 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' - in May-June. "After hearing the grievances of innocent farmers, I cannot sit idle. As the agriculture minister, it is my duty to act," he said.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Govt not to allow sale of biostimulants without scientific approval: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Two days after he asked chief ministers of states to immediately stop forced sale of nano-fertilisers and biostimulants to farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday said the government will not allow the sale of biostimulants without scientific nod. He directed the officials of his ministry to put in place 'clear rules and SOPs (standard operating procedures)' for the sale of biostimulants. Chairing a meeting, Chouhan said that farmers raised numerous complaints about the sale of fake fertilisers, seeds, biostimulants, and nano urea during his visits to villages as part of recently concluded 15-day 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', where he held direct interactions with them. Chouhan questioned why biostimulants, despite repeated renewals and years of sales, were still in the market even after several complaints stated that they were ineffective. 'Now, only those biostimulants that meet all the criteria and are proven beneficial to farmers will be approved. Approvals will now be based solely on scientific validation, and the responsibility for this will rest entirely with the concerned officials,' he said, according to an official statement. Many companies started selling biostimulants without any rules, but the government will not let this happen at any cost, he said, adding that the government will take action against suspicious manufacturers of biostimulants. 'It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given,' Chouhan said. He also emphasised the need for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to evaluate biostimulants. Chouhan instructed the officials to put in place clear rules and SOPs, and said that irregularities will no longer be tolerated. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms (such as beneficial bacteria, fungi, or plant extracts) that, when applied to seeds, plants, or soil, stimulate natural plant processes. The minister pointed out that for several years, around 30,000 biostimulant products were being sold unchecked, and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation. 'After I enforced stricter checks, the number has now come down to around 650,' he said. It is learnt that the meeting was called impromptu and no notice was given to officials. The meeting was attended by the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the ICAR. The biostimulants market in India was valued at approximately USD 355–362 million in 2024 and is projected to reach between USD 1.13 billion and USD 1.2 billion by 2032. On July 13, Chouhan had asked the state governments to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers such as urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP). In a letter to chief ministers, Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised conventional fertilisers such as urea, DAP, etc. to farmers unless they purchase nano-fertilisers or biostimulants.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt not to allow sale of biostimulants without scientific nod: Agriculture Minister Shivaraj Singh Chouhan
Agriculture Minister Shivaraj Singh Chouhan is concerned about biostimulant quality. The government will now require scientific approval for biostimulant sales. This decision follows farmer complaints about product ineffectiveness. The ministry will create standard operating procedures. Action will be taken against suspicious manufacturers. India's biostimulant market is projected to grow significantly by 2032. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Concerned over irregularities in the biostimulant market, Agriculture Minister Shivaraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the government will not allow the sale of such products without scientific a review meeting, Chouhan pulled up the ministry and ICAR officials for watching with closed eyes the rising sale of biostimulants amid farmers' complaints about their quality and minister directed his ministry officials to permit the sale of those biostimulants which are effective in the farm field and meet the quality parameters, according to an official also directed ministry officials to prepare a standard of procedure (SOP) by setting rules and regulations."Now, permission will be given only after it is scientifically approved and the entire responsibility for this will be with the concerned officials," he are substances or microorganisms (such as beneficial bacteria, fungi, or plant extracts) that, when applied to seeds, plants, or soil, stimulate natural plant concern over irregularities in the sector, Chouhan said biostimulants have been sold in the country for many years and the permission period for the sale is being extended one year after another, but many times complaints come from the field that there is no benefit from it, still it is being sold."It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given," Chouhan of companies started selling biostimulants without any rules, but the government will not let this happen at any cost, he government will take action against suspicious manufacturers of biostimulants, he there is a comprehensive regulatory framework for biostimulants through amendments to the Fertiliser (In organic , Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985 (FCO), with recent updates in 2024 and biostimulants market in India was valued at approximately USD 355-362 million in 2024 and is projected to reach between USD 1.13 billion and USD 1.2 billion by 2032.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Union minister Chouhan uses convoy vehicle to rush accident victim to hospital
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday stopped his convoy in Bhopal to assist a youth injured in a road accident and ensured he was rushed to the hospital. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan also spoke to the hospital's doctor over the phone. (ANI) According to an official statement, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister was en route to attend a Jain community event in Awadhpuri area when he noticed a crowd gathered near Chetak Bridge. "On inquiring, he learnt that a youth had been injured in a road mishap and was lying unattended. He quickly arranged for one of the vehicles in his convoy to rush the injured to a nearby hospital and deputed an official from his team to accompany the injured person," the statement said. Chouhan also spoke to the hospital's doctor over the phone and asked him to give urgent medical attention to the injured person, it added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Watch: Shivraj Singh Chouhan halts convoy to help crash victim; rushes youth to hospital in Bhopal
(Source: X) NEW DELHI: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan halted his convoy on Sunday to assist a youth injured in a road accident in Bhopal, ensuring the victim was taken to hospital without delay. According to an official statement, the incident occurred near Chetak Bridge while Chouhan was on his way to attend a Jain community event in the Awadhpuri area. The minister noticed a crowd gathered on the roadside and asked his team to find out what had happened. "On inquiring, he learnt that a youth had been injured in a road mishap and was lying unattended. He quickly arranged for one of the vehicles in his convoy to rush the injured to a nearby hospital and deputed an official from his team to accompany the injured person," the statement said. Chouhan also contacted the hospital's doctor by phone and requested immediate medical care for the youth. The statement added that the minister stressed the need for urgent attention to ensure the victim received proper treatment.
