**Summary:**
In response to concerns regarding the adulteration of fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2598 on August 5, 2025. The government acknowledged the issue and outlined measures implemented to ensure the supply of quality agricultural inputs. These measures include the enforcement of the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985, the Insecticide Act, 1968, the Seed Act, 1966, and the Seed Control Order 1983.
Data from the past three years (2022-23 to 2024-25) indicates that of 527,814 fertilizer samples tested, 28,303 were found to be non-standard. During the same period, 43,001 out of 597,859 seed samples tested were classified as substandard. For pesticides, 5,723 out of 221,253 samples were reported as misbranded.
The government has directed states to launch campaigns focused on ensuring the quality of fertilizers, with the aim of providing farmers with adequate quantities of quality inputs at the right time and place. While the central government ensures adequate fertilizer supply to States/UTs, the responsibility for ensuring availability to farmers at the local level rests with the State governments. Monitoring of enforcement actions taken by State Governments regarding fertilizer quality is ongoing.
Between April 2025 and July 25, 2025, nationwide raids resulted in the issuance of 5,302 show cause notices, the suspension/cancellation of 2,172 licenses, and the registration of 170 FIRs against those found in violation. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, provided this information.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare, the primary governing body mentioned in the document.
SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question regarding adulteration of fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Fertiliser Control Order, 1985: A regulatory order implemented by the Government of India to ensure the quality of fertilizers.
Insecticide Act, 1968: An act implemented by the Government of India to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings and animals
Seed Act, 1966: An act implemented by the Government of India to regulate the quality of seeds.
Seed Control Order 1983: A regulatory order implemented by the Government of India to ensure the quality of seeds.
States and Union Territories: Refers to all the States and Union Territories of India, which are responsible for ensuring the availability of quality fertilizers to farmers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2598
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05TH AUGUST, 2025
ADULTERATION OF FERTILIZERS
2598. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the rising cases of adulteration in fertilizers,
seeds, and pesticides being sold to farmers across the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of such cases reported in the last three years and the impact on
agricultural productivity and farmers’ income; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to launch a nationwide awareness and testing
campaign against adulterated agricultural inputs and food items, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c) In order to ensure supply of good quality of fertiliser, seeds and pesticides, the
Government of India is implementing the Fertiliser (Control) Order,1985, Insecticide
Act,1968, Seed Act,1966 and Seed Control Order 1983. During the last three years,( 2022-
23 to 2024-25), 5,27,814 fertilisers samples were tested. Out of these, 28,303 samples
were found non-standard. Similarly, during the last three years, 5,97,859 seed samples
were tested. Out of these, 43,001 seed samples were found sub-standard. In case of
pesticides, 2,21,253 samples were tested and 5,723 samples were reported misbranded.
Government of India has issued instructions to States to launch a campaign to ensure the
quality of fertilizers. The objective of the campaign is to ensure available quality inputs to
the farmers in adequate quantity at right place and right time. The Government supplies
adequate quantities of fertilizers to the States/UTs based on the assessment conducted by
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.It is the responsibility of the States to ensure
that adequate fertilizers are available to farmers at the right place and at the location where
it is required.
The Government is regularly monitoring the enforcement action taken by State
Governments for fertilizer. During the period April, 2025 to 25th July, 2025, numerous raids
have been conducted across the country with 5,302 show cause notices issued, 2,172
licenses suspended/cancelled and 170 FIRs registered against defaulters.
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