**Executive Summary**
This document contains answers to an unstarred question raised in Lok Sabha on December 5, 2025, regarding the guidelines for purchasing fertilizers. It addresses concerns about purchase limits and unethical sales practices in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts. The document clarifies the government's position on fertilizer availability, purchase limits, and actions to prevent black-marketing and forced product tagging.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Fertilizer Purchase Limits:**
* The purchase limit for DAP/Urea fertilizer is five bags per Aadhaar card in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, along with verification of other land records.
* This measure aims to ensure adequate fertilizer availability to each farmer.
* Sufficient quantities of fertilizers have been supplied in both districts to avoid shortages.
* **Addressing Unethical Sales Practices:**
* Fertilizers are declared as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and notified under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.
* State Governments are empowered to take action against black-marketing and overpricing of fertilizers.
* The Department of Fertilizers does not encourage tagging other products with fertilizers.
* Fertilizer companies are directed not to indulge in such practices, and State Governments are advised to take strict action to prevent it.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh Districts**
* **Impact:** Are subject to fertilizer purchase limits tied to their Aadhaar card and land records, but the limit has been increased to five bags.
* **Action Required:** Farmers must verify land records and use their Aadhaar cards when purchasing fertilizers to stay within the purchase limit.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Empowered and responsible for monitoring fertilizer distribution and taking action against black-marketing and forced product tagging.
* **Action Required:** Take appropriate action against individuals involved in black-marketing/overpricing. Take strict action to prevent unethical sales practices, such as tagging of other products with fertilizers.
**Fertilizer Companies**
* **Impact:** Subject to directions from the Department of Fertilizers regarding ethical sales practices.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with regulations to avoid unethical sales practices, such as forced product tagging.
Key Entities Referenced
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: Order notified under the Essential Commodities Act, governing the quality, distribution, and pricing of fertilizers.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Law that empowers the government to control the production, supply, and distribution of essential commodities, including fertilizers.
Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers: The Union Government ministry responsible for policy and regulation of the chemical and fertilizer industries.
Rajasthan: The State that implemented purchase limits on fertilizers in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1082 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 05.12.2025
Guidelines for Purchasing Fertilizers
1082: Shri. Kuldeep Indora:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS ANS FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the purchase limit of three bags of
DAP and five bags of urea fertilizer on each Aadhaar card in Sri Ganganagar and
Hanumangarh districts is not in accordance with the genuine needs of the farmers so
they have to face problem of fertilizer crunch visit fertilizer centres time and again;
(b) if so, the details thereof,
(c) whether the Government is considering to issue any guidelines to lift this limit on
fertilizer purchases so that farmers can purchase fertilizers as per their requirement,
if so, the details thereof,
(d) whether the Government is also aware that vendors often sell fertilizers along with
other products and force farmers to buy them; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken against such fertilizer vendors?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN MINISTRY OF CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (c) : Yes, Sir .As informed by the Government of Rajasthan, the licensing
authorities of Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh have issued directions stating that-2-
the purchase limit for DAP/Urea fertilizer is five bags per Aadhaar along with verification
of other land records. This has been done to ensure adequate availability of fertilizers
to each farmer. Sufficient quantity of fertilizers have been supplied in both Sri
Ganganagar and Hanumangarh Districts. These measures have been put in place by
the State Government to ensure transparent and orderly distribution of fertilizers.
Hence, there is no shortage of fertilizers in either district as on date.
(d) & (e) : Fertilizers are declared as an essential commodity under the Essential
Commodities Act, 1955 and notified under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985. State
Governments are empowered to take action against persons involved in black-
marketing/ overpricing, as per provisions of EC Act. Any complaints received at
Department of Fertilizers level regarding black marketing/over-pricing of fertilizers is
sent to concerned State Government to take appropriate action under Essential
Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order, 1985. Further, tagging of other
products with fertilizers is not encouraged by Department of Fertilizers. Accordingly,
suitable directions are issued to fertilizer companies directing them not to indulge in
such practices. Further, State Governments are also advised to take strict action as
per extant rules to prevent tagging.
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