Fertilizer Flying Squads seize 70,000 bags of suspected spurious urea
1 min read . Updated: 09 May 2023, 05:57 PM IST
PremiumStrict vigilance on product quality and licensing, along with legal and administrative measures, have not only benefitted Indian farmers but also generated cross-border demand for domestic fertilizers, govt said
New Delhi: The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has said its Fertilizer Flying Squads (FFS) have carried out over 370 surprise inspections in 15 states and Union Territories, uncovering the diversion of urea and seizing 70,000 bags of potentially counterfeit product.
This crackdown led to the filing of 30 First Information Reports (FIRs) and the deauthorization of 112 mixture manufacturers found to have procedural and documentation irregularities.
The inspections targeted mixture, Single Superphosphate (SSP), and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) units, with 33% of the 268 tested samples declared sub-standard and 45% found to contain neem oil content. The action has curbed black marketing, hoarding, and the supply of sub-standard fertilizers across India, a release said.
Demand for Technical Grade Urea has surged, prompting neighboring countries to request imports from India for the first time. Illegal diversion of subsidized urea intended for agriculture has contributed to shortages for farmers amid a global fertilizer crisis.
The government offers urea to farmers at a significant discount, selling a 45 kg bag for Rs. 266, compared to the market price of Rs. 2,500. The crackdown has also spurred innovation in the industry, with the Department of Fertilizers developing a new mixture module for the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) that will improve fertilizer quality awareness for farmers.
Strict vigilance on product quality and licensing, along with legal and administrative measures, have not only benefitted Indian farmers but also generated cross-border demand for domestic fertilizers. The shift towards bio and organic fertilizers among existing mixture manufacturers is also promoting natural farming and reducing chemical fertilizer consumption.