Agriculture Minister asks States to run campaign against fake and substandard fertilizers
On 13 July 2025, the Agriculture Ministry said Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had written to all Chief Ministers seeking a campaign against counterfeit and substandard fertilizers.
Summary
Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote to the Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories directing immediate and strict action against counterfeit and substandard fertilizers, the ministry said in New Delhi on 13 July 2025. The letter seeks to curb the sale of fake fertilizers, black marketing of subsidised fertilizers and forced tagging. States were asked to monitor production and sale through sampling and testing, stop forced tagging of nano-fertilizers or bio-stimulants with conventional fertilizers, and take strict legal action including cancellation of licences and registration of FIRs. The sale of counterfeit or substandard fertilizers is prohibited under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Key facts
- Letter to
- Chief Ministers of all States and UTs
- Targets
- Fake fertilizers, black marketing of subsidised fertilizers, forced tagging
- Directions
- Sampling and testing; stop forced tagging of nano-fertilizers/bio-stimulants; cancel licences, register FIRs
- Legal basis (static)
- Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955
Practice MCQs 3 questions
To whom did Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan write, as announced on 13 July 2025, seeking a campaign against fake fertilizers?
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Correct answer: B — Chief Ministers of all States and UTs
Agriculture Ministry: the Union Minister wrote to the Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories.
The sale of counterfeit or substandard fertilizers is prohibited under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, which is issued under which Act?
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Correct answer: D — Essential Commodities Act, 1955
Agriculture Ministry: sale of counterfeit or substandard fertilizers is prohibited under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, which falls under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Consider the following directions issued to States in the Agriculture Minister's letter (July 2025): 1. Forced tagging of nano-fertilizers or bio-stimulants with conventional fertilizers should be stopped immediately. 2. All sales of nano-fertilizers should be banned. 3. States should procure fertilizers directly from manufacturers abroad. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is in the letter. The letter asks States to stop forced tagging, not to ban nano-fertilizers, and says nothing about direct procurement abroad.