Latest news with #FertiliserControlOrder
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Overpricing: Eight fertiliser retail outlets in Bargarh face action
BARGARH: The Agriculture department has cancelled the licences of eight retail outlets in Bargarh for violating government guidelines related to the sale of fertilisers and pesticides. Acting on complaints and reports of irregularities, agriculture officials conducted surprise inspections across several locations in the district. Following the raids, the licences of seven fertiliser retailers and one pesticide dealer were revoked for overcharging and flouting regulatory norms. As per government norms, only licensed retailers, wholesalers and primary agriculture cooperative societies are authorised to sell fertilisers at regulated rates. However, officials found that some outlets were selling fertilisers and pesticides at inflated prices. For instance, urea priced at Rs 266.50 for 45 kg was reportedly being sold at Rs 350. Similarly, DAP fixed at Rs 1,350 for 50 kg was being allegedly sold for Rs 1,550 to Rs 1,600. Pesticides were also being sold at arbitrary rates. A senior agriculture officer said, 'Strict action has been taken against those violating the Fertiliser Control Order. Inspections will continue to curb black marketing and protect farmers' interests.' The retailers whose licences were cancelled are Sahu Pesticides, Adgaon; SS Traders, Chakarkend; Godavarti Srinibas Rao Fertilisers, Nuniapali; Saurabh Traders, Jamurda; Krushak Seba Kendra, Mithapali (Paikmal block); Pradhan Agro Service, Mandosil; Pradhan Fertiliser, Gaisilet block and Paras Traders in Bargarh town.
Hans India
06-08-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Atchanna warns against delays in fertiliser supply
Vijayawada: Agriculture minister K Atchannaidu on Tuesday directed officials to ensure uninterrupted fertiliser supply to farmers during the ongoing kharif season, warning against any distribution delays. The minister issued the instructions during a teleconference with district collectors and agriculture officials to review statewide fertiliser availability. The review meeting followed reports of urea shortages in certain parts of the state. Atchannaidu stressed that no farmer should face difficulties in procuring fertilisers and ordered officials to closely monitor cooperative societies to prevent irregularities. He acknowledged that while the state government has been pushing for higher fertiliser allocations from the Centre, some media reports have pointed to localized supply gaps, prompting him to seek detailed reports. Addressing concerns in Srikakulam district, officials clarified that an early release of water from the Vamsadhara project expanded the cultivated area, increasing fertilizer demand. To meet the surge, 18,000 metric tonne fertilisers were supplied against the initial requirement of 12,000 metric tonnes. The district administration also noted that farmers were increasingly relying on Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs) and cooperative societies over private dealers. Agriculture director S Dilli Rao informed that the state has urged the Centre to release pending fertilizer quotas for July and August. Minister Atchannaidu said he would coordinate with Union minister K Ram Mohan Naidu to expedite urea supplies. For kharif 2025, the state has planned 16.76 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser distribution. As of August 5, 15.94 lakh metric tonnes have been made available, with 7.03 lakh metric tonnes stocked across cooperative societies, RSKs, and Markfed godowns. Additionally, the Centre has allocated 4.58 lakh metric tonnes for August, with the state closely tracking its arrival. Atchannaidu dismissed false propaganda by some media and YSRCP leaders about shortages, accusing the opposition of spreading misinformation to disrupt the new government's welfare initiatives. Pointing to the government's efforts, he noted that 6.99 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers were distributed through PACS and RSKs in 2024–25, up from 6.17 lakh metric tonnes in 2023–24 under the previous administration. The minister also issued a strict warning to dealers, stating that hoarding, diversion, or overpricing would lead to license cancellation under the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India imports major quantity of water soluble fertilisers from China, other countries
India imports a significant quantity of water soluble fertilisers from China as well as alternative suppliers like Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco and the USA, Parliament was informed on Friday. The country's annual consumption of water soluble fertilisers was at around 3.35 lakh tonnes during 2023-24 fiscal. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Healthcare CXO Data Science Operations Management others Product Management healthcare Cybersecurity Finance Project Management Management MBA MCA Others Design Thinking Data Science Data Analytics Digital Marketing Technology Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Against this domestic demand, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said: "... a significant quantity is imported from China as well as alternative suppliers like Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco and the USA." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo However, fertilizer companies are free to import phosphatic and potassium fertilisers as per their business dynamic, she said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha . The minister was responding to a query on whether China has halted export of certain speciality fertilisers to India which is likely to adversely affect Indian farmers. Live Events The minister said there is no classification as "speciality fertilisers" under the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985, except for "100 per cent water soluble complex fertiliser" and "100 per cent water soluble mixture" category. The water soluble fertilisers are mainly used for cash and horticultural crops. None of these fertilizer are subsidized fertilizers within the ambit of the government's Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme.
Indian Express
26-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Fertilisers ministry warns firms of action over ‘forced sales' days after Shivraj Chouhan wrote to CMs
Days after Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote to the chief ministers of all states to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or bio-stimulants along with conventional fertilisers, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has directed fertiliser companies to ensure that non-subsidised products are not tagged with subsidised fertilisers. It warned that such 'malpractice' will invite 'strict action'. In a letter to all fertiliser firms on July 21, the ministry said that it has come to its notice that some non-subsidised products such as pesticides, nano fertilisers, bio-stimulants, etc, are being tagged with subsidised fertilisers like urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) and NPK (a complex fertiliser comprising Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium). The complaints highlighted that retailers were not selling the subsidised fertilisers to farmers unless they purchased the non-subsidised items. The ministry highlighted that fertilisers are declared as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and any activity involving such unauthorised tagging of other products with subsidised fertilisers may constitute a violation of the law and the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985. 'The Department has issued advisories from time to time to discourage such practices,' the ministry's letter said. 'The Department continues to receive complaints and grievances petitions, indicating that the practice…is widespread and persistent. Such practices place an undue financial burden on farmers and undermine the objectives of the government's fertiliser subsidy framework, which aims to provide affordable and equitable access to essential fertilisers,' it added. 'Therefore, you are directed to strictly ensure that no such tagging…is done for the farmers. Any instance of such malpractice, if brought to the notice of this Department, will invite strict action under relevant statutory provisions,' it said. On July 13, Chouhan had asked state governments to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or bio-stimulants along with conventional fertilisers like urea and DAP. However, Agriculture Ministry officials pointed out that the Fertilisers Ministry's letter to companies has come at a time when the Kharif season sowing is almost over and many farmers have already purchased nutrients like DAP and urea. Till July 11, 2025, sowing has been reported across 597.86 lakh hectares, besides the sale of 27.51 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers such as urea, DAP, Muriate of Potassium (MOP), NPK, and Single Super Phosphate (SSP). Availability and Sale of Fertilisers during Kharif Season 2025* *figures in lakh metric tonnes Source: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Explained: Biostimulants that aid plant growth, now under the Centre's scrutiny
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week wrote to Chief Ministers of all states to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers. Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised fertilisers like urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to farmers unless they purchase biostimulants. He also said that many farmers had recently raised complaints about the inefficacy 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,' he said. The substances stimulate physiological processes in plants and help enhance the yield from a harvest. Plant-derived waste materials and seaweed extracts are at times used in their production. Officially, the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, which regulates the manufacturing and sale of biostimulants, defines it as 'a substance or microorganism or a combination of both whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizosphere is to stimulate physiological processes in plants and to enhance its nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress… but does not include pesticides or plant growth regulators which are regulated under the Insecticide Act, 1968.' Market research firm Fortune Business Insights noted, 'The India biostimulants market size was valued at USD 355.53 million in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 410.78 million in 2025 to USD 1,135.96 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 15.64% during the forecast period.' Chouhan said that around 30,000 biostimulant products had been sold unchecked for several years, 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 approximately 650,' he said in a statement on July 15. As biostimulants did not fall under the existing fertiliser or pesticide categories, they were sold in the open market without government approval for a long time. In India, fertilisers and pesticides are governed by the 1985 Fertiliser Control Order and the Insecticides Act of 1968, respectively. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare issues the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and makes changes to it from time to time. However, in 2011, the Punjab and Haryana High Court made an observation. Any manufacturer producing a bioproduct claiming to be a substitute for insecticides or fertiliser, but not covered under the rules, was to apply to the respective Director General of Agriculture, in the case of Haryana and Punjab. This paved the way for states to take samples of these products and check them before allowing their sale to farmers. As the sale of biostimulants increased over the years, it caught the Centre's attention. In 2017, NITI Aayog, the government's premier think tank, and the Agriculture Ministry started working on a framework for biostimulants. Finally, in February 2021, the ministry amended the 1985 FCO and included biostimulants, paving the way for their regulated manufacturing, sale and import. The inclusion of biostimulants empowered the Central government to fix specifications. The FCO classified biostimulants specified in Schedule VI of the FCO in eight categories, including botanical extracts (as well as seaweed extracts), bio-chemicals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Every manufacturer or importer of a biostimulant shall make an application to the Controller of Fertilisers along with the requisite product information. The product's chemistry, source (natural extracts of plant/microbe/animal/synthetic), shelf-life, reports of bio-efficacy trials, and toxicity must be submitted, along with other data. The five basic acute toxicity tests are: (i) Acute oral (Rat) (ii) Acute dermal (Rat) (iii) Acute Inhalation (Rat) (iv) Primary skin Irritation (Rabbit) (v) Eye irritation (Rabbit) The four eco-toxicity tests are: (i) Toxicity to birds (ii) Toxicity to Fish (Freshwater) (iii) Toxicity to honeybees (iv) Toxicity to earthworm The FCO clearly states that no biostimulant shall contain any pesticide beyond the permissible limit of 0.01ppm. Further, agronomic bio-efficiency trials shall be conducted under the National Agricultural Research System, including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and state agricultural universities. 'Bio-efficacy trials shall be conducted at minimum three different doses for one season at three agro-ecological locations,' it states. Additionally, on April 9, 2021, the agriculture ministry constituted the Central Biostimulant Committee for five years, with the Agriculture Commissioner as its Chairperson and seven other members. Under the FCO, it shall advise the Centre on: (i) inclusion of a new biostimulant; (ii) specifications of various biostimulants; (iii) methods of drawing of samples and its analysis; (iv) minimum requirements of laboratory; (v) method of testing of biostimulants; (vi) any other matter referred to it by the central government. According to the FCO order, amended in 2021, manufacturers could make and sell biostimulants for two years if they made an application for provisional registration. Sources say that the Agriculture Ministry kept extending the two-year deadline, which allowed most of the manufacturers as of 2021 to continue making and selling biostimulants based on provisional registration. Whereas, under the regular registration, companies have to submit testing protocols to the government. On March 17, in the latest extension of the provisional certificate facility, the ministry allowed biostimulants' sale for three months until June 16. It applied to all companies manufacturing or importing a biostimulant as of March 17, for which no standards were specified. With the March 17 notification having expired, the companies having provisional certificates and stocks of biostimulants cannot sell their products in the market now, said a source. In addition to this, the Agriculture Ministry notified 'Specifications of Biostimulants' on May 26 for several crops, including tomato, chilli, cucumber, paddy, brinjal, cotton, potato, green gram, grape, hot pepper, soybean, maize, and onion. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
