**Summary:**
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is actively engaged in ensuring the quality of fertilizers and promoting responsible pesticide use through various initiatives. Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and State Agriculture Departments conduct training programs to educate farmers on judicious pesticide application. While there are no direct subsidies for pesticide purchases, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW) enforces the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Insecticide Rules, 1971, to maintain pesticide quality. A network of 12,511 Insecticide Inspectors across the country regularly samples pesticides from manufacturing and sales locations to prevent the distribution of substandard products. From 2020-21 to 2024-25, 356,091 pesticide samples were analyzed, with 9,088 found to be substandard, leading to legal action against those responsible.
The 'Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization' (SMAM) provides financial assistance for the purchase of agricultural machinery, including subsidized rates for individual farmers and the establishment of Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) and Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs). Women farmers receive targeted support for establishing CHCs. Drones are also promoted through financial assistance to CHCs (40% of the cost, up to Rs. 4.00 lakhs for cooperatives, FPOs, and rural entrepreneurs; 50% up to Rs. 5.00 lakhs for agriculture graduates). Individual farmers can also receive subsidies for drone purchases, with higher rates for small and marginal, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, women, and North Eastern state farmers (50% up to Rs. 5.00 lakhs) compared to other farmers (40% up to Rs. 4.00 lakhs).
The Crop Residue Management Scheme, implemented since 2018-19 in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and NCT of Delhi, addresses crop stubble burning by subsidizing machinery for crop residue management.
Fertilizer quality is regulated under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) 1985, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The FCO specifies standards for chemical fertilizers, biofertilizers, organic fertilizers, deoiled cakes, biostimulants, and organic carbon enhancers. The sale of non-compliant fertilizers is prohibited, with violations leading to administrative and penal actions, including potential imprisonment and fines. State governments, through fertilizer inspectors, monitor fertilizer quality by sampling from various points in the supply chain.
Furthermore, the DAFW implements the 'Per Drop More Crop' (PDMC) and Rainfed Area Development (RAD) schemes to mitigate climate change impacts on marginal farmers. PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency through micro-irrigation, while RAD promotes Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) to enhance productivity and minimize climate-related risks.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The central ministry responsible for agriculture and farmer welfare in India, overseeing various schemes and regulations.
Insecticides Act, 1968: A law enacted in India to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, and use of insecticides to prevent risks to humans, animals, and the environment.
Insecticide Rules, 1971: Rules established under the Insecticides Act, 1968, to provide detailed guidelines for the implementation of the Act.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM): A centrally sponsored scheme implemented in all States and Union Territories to provide financial assistance for the purchase of agricultural machinery and promote farm mechanization.
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: An order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to regulate the quality, distribution, and sale of fertilizers in India.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: An act of the Parliament of India that seeks to control the production, supply, and distribution of certain essential commodities in order to ensure their availability to consumers and protect them from exploitation.
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): A scheme focused on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation techniques.
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and NCT of Delhi: States and Union Territory where the Crop Residue Management Scheme is being implemented to address crop stubble burning issues.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
MECHANISM TO CHECK QUALITY OF
FERTILISERS
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 6:30PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through its Central Integrated Pest Management Centers
(CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture Departments conduct various training
programs to create awareness among farmers to prevent the excessive use of chemical pesticides and only
need based judicious use of chemical pesticides as last resort. At present, there is no scheme/programme
under Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) for purchase of pesticides at subsidized
prices. Further, DA&FW implements various provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticide Rules,
1971 to ensure the supply of quality pesticides to farmers in the country. Total 12511 Insecticide Inspectors
are appointed by Central and State governments in the country for quality check of pesticides and draw
samples from manufacturing units and sale points within their jurisdiction at regular intervals, and to curb the
sale of counterfeit, substandard and misbranded pesticides. A total of 356091 pesticide samples were analysed
during 2020-21 to 2024-25, out of which 9088 pesticide samples were found to be substandard and
appropriate legal action has been initiated against the defaulters.
DA&FW is implementing centrally sponsored scheme namely 'Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization'
(SMAM) in all the States and Union Territories from 2014-15 under which financial assistance is provided for
purchase of agriculture machinery at subsidised price to the farmers on individual ownership basis and for
establishment of Custom Hiring Center(CHC)/ Farm Machinery Bank(FMB) to promote farm mechanisation.
Under this scheme, to promote the women farmers in agriculture sector financial assistance is provided to
women farmers for establishing Custom Hiring Centers (CHC) through State Government departments for
providing the services to farmers on rental basis. In order to make available drone services to farmers on
rental basis, financial assistance at the rate of 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs are provided for
purchase of drones to CHCs under Cooperative Society of Farmers, FPOs and Rural entrepreneurs.
Agriculture graduates establishing CHCs are eligible to receive financial assistance at the rate 50% of the cost
of drone up to a maximum of Rs. 5.00 lakhs per drone. For purchase of drones on individual basis, the Small
and Marginal, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, Women and North Eastern State farmers are provided
financial assistance at the rate 50% of the cost up to a maximum of Rs. 5.00 lakhs and other farmers at the rate
40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs. In addition to this, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
(DA&FW) is implementing Crop Residue Management Scheme from 2018-19 in order to support the efforts
of the Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to address the
crop stubble burning issues and to subsidize machinery required for management of Crop residue.
Government of India promulgated the Fertilizer Control Order, (FCO) 1985 under Section 3 of Essential
Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate quality of fertilizer. In Schedule I, III to VI and VIII the specification of
chemical fertilizer, bio-fertilizer, organic fertilizer, de-oiled cakes, bio-stimulants and organic carbon
enhancer are specified. Clause 19 of FCO strictly prohibits the sale of fertilizer which are not of prescribed
standards. Any violation of the provision of FCO invokes both administrative action under FCO like
cancellation &suspension of authorization letter and penal action under Essential Commodities Act for a
period from 3 months to 7 years with fine. The states government through fertilizer inspectors are empowered
to check the quality of fertilizer by drawing samples from godowns manufacturing units, retails outlets, etc.
DA&FW is also implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) and Rainfed Area Development (RAD) schemes
taken to save the marginal farmers from the impact of climate change by enhancing productivity and
minimising risks associated with climatic variability. The PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at
farm level through Micro Irrigation viz. Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems and RAD focuses on Integrated
Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability.This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, shri Shri Ramnath
Thakur in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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RC/ KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2148527)