Lok Sabha Question No. 2592 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Fertiliser Act
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2592

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## IMPACT OF SUBSTANDARD FERTILIZERS ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

2592. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  is  aware  that  the  use  of  substandard  fertilisers  has  adversely impacted  agricultural  productivity  and  the  income  of  farmers  across  the  country,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has received representations requesting amendments to the existing Fertiliser Act, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether it  is  a  fact  that  persons  involved  in  the  manufacture  or  distribution  of  poorquality fertilisers are often released by Courts with only minor penalties despite the scale of violation, if so the details thereof;
- (d) the details of steps proposes by the Government to take to amend the Fertiliser Act and  strengthen  penalties  to  ensure  accountability  and  provide  adequate  compensation  to farmers affected by the use of spurious fertilisers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) to (d): The Ministry is cognizant of the issue of substandard fertilisers. Instructions are issued  to  States  from  time  to  time  to  launch  campaigns  to  ensure  quality  of  fertilizers. Advisory has been issued to State Governments for implementation of legal and regulatory provisions  under  the  Essential  Commodities  Act.  The  objective  is  to  ensure  availability  of quality  inputs  to  farmers.Necessary  enforcement  action  is  also  taken  suo  moto  through

Central  Fertilizer  Quality  Control  and  Training  Institute  under  the  Ministry  by  conducting inspections, and drawing and testing of samples. Details of enforcement action taken during the last three years and current year are as follows-

| Year                       | No. of Raids   | Show cause notice issued   | No. of licenses cancelled/suspen ded   |   FIRs registered |   Conviction |
|----------------------------|----------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------|
| 2022-23                    | 1,66,375       | 6,781                      | 627                                    |               169 |            0 |
| 2023-24                    | 1,81,153       | 2,603                      | 477                                    |               240 |           10 |
| 2024-25                    | 1,80,286       | 2,876                      | 1,135                                  |               350 |           28 |
| 2025-26 (as on 05.12.2025) | 3,51,312       | 3,984                      | 1,447                                  |                68 |            3 |

The Government is implementing the Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order,  1985  (FCO)  under  the  Essential  Commodities  Act,  1955.  Under  FCO,  State Governments  are  the  enforcement  authority  empowered  to  take  action  against  violations. Accordingly, State  authorities take  necessary  actions  as  per the  Essential  Commodity  Act. Any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  the  FCO  attracts  punitive  action  such  as  cancellation  & suspension of authorization letter and penal actions under the Essential Commodities Act as imprisonment  for  a  period  of  three  months  to  seven  years.  Since,  there  is  adequate provisions  under  Essential  Commodities  Act,  1955,  no  proposal  is  under  consideration  for amendment of FCO/ Essential Commodities Act, 1955 at present.

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