New Delhi, 8 August: As many as 145 FIRs have been lodged across India for hoarding and black marketing of fertilisers during the ongoing kharif season, the Union government informed Parliament, underlining a nationwide crackdown on illegal fertiliser trade.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said that the highest number of cases—47—were registered in Uttar Pradesh, including 44 for black marketing and 3 for hoarding. This was followed by Bihar (18) and Maharashtra (15). Other states such as Nagaland (14), Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Goa, Gujarat, and Delhi reported a few isolated incidents.
Punjab, which conducted 2,323 inspections between April 1 and August 1, reported one FIR for hoarding. In Haryana, 4,133 inspections led to the issuance of 47 show-cause notices, cancellation of 3 licences, and two FIRs—one each for hoarding and black marketing.
“Fertilisers are classified as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Their production, distribution, and sale are governed by the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985, and the Fertiliser (Movement Control) Order, 1973,” Patel informed the House.
The minister said that under these laws, state governments are empowered to initiate punitive action against individuals or dealers engaged in unlawful fertiliser trade practices.
From April 1 to August 1, 2025, a total of 1,58,128 inspections were conducted across the country. These efforts led to:
- 2,811 show-cause notices
- 2,695 licence suspensions or cancellations
- 145 FIRs, including five for hoarding
Of the five hoarding cases, one was filed in Punjab, the data shows.
Earlier in July, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote to the Chief Ministers of all states and Union Territories, urging immediate and strict action against the sale of counterfeit, substandard, and black-marketed fertilisers.
His letter also raised concerns about practices such as forced tagging and diversion of subsidised fertilisers, stressing the need for coordinated enforcement to protect farmers’ interests and ensure timely availability of fertilisers during the peak cropping season.
