Forced Fertiliser Sales Under Fire: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Directs States to Protect Farmers’ Rights

Key Highlights

 

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has issued a stern directive to all the Chief Ministers to stop farmers from being forced to buy nano-fertilisers and biostimulants forthwith. This comes after a chain of complaints across the country that stores are forcing farmers to buy these items as a condition to get subsidised conventional fertilisers like urea and DAP.

 

What Caused the Directive?

 

Farmers claimed that they were being refused subsidised fertilizers if they did not comply with the sale of nano-fertilizers or biostimulants, a tactic referred to as "forced tagging."

 

Chouhan wrote in his letter that the coercion is illegal under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, and falls under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

 

The minister made it clear that legal action—cancellation of licenses and registration of FIRs, for example—should be taken against the perpetrators of these offenses.

 

Ensuring Quality and Availability

 

Chouhan also requested states to implement stringent action against the sale of spurious and sub-standard fertiliser and requested monitoring, sampling, and testing on a frequent basis so that quality inputs only are provided to farmers.

 

He laid stress on the necessity of harsh action against diversion of subsidised fertilisers, black marketing, and overpricing, especially in the context of ongoing supply shortages and rising international prices.

 

The minister also requested the states to discharge their obligation of providing timely and adequate availability of fertilisers, particularly during the critical kharif season.

 

Wider Context and Policy Concerns

 

The directive is amid India having exhausted stockpiles of key fertilizers such as DAP, as a result of disruptions globally and export bans by leading producers such as China.

 

The administration has increased subsidies and acquired long-term import contracts in order to match domestic supply and prices. Chouhan's move also follows his recent comments on the effectiveness of nano-fertilisers and biostimulants, and his determination to protect farmers' interests in national policy as well as in international trade agreement talks.

 

What the government's message is communicating is obvious: farmers do not wish for unwanted products, and their capacity to receive quality, necessary fertilisers should be maintained at all costs.

 

Sources: The Indian Express, Financial Express, Moneycontrol