Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4330 regarding spurious seeds and fertilizers, answered on August 19, 2025. It details actions taken under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, and Seed Act, 1966, to regulate quality and address violations, particularly in Rajasthan. The report covers inspections, enforcement, and sample testing, with data from Tonk district provided for the last two years (2023-2025).
Key Points / Main Content:
Fertilizer and Seed Quality Regulation:
* The Government implements the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Seed Act, 1966, along with Seed Rules, 1968, and the Seed Control Order, 1983, to regulate fertilizer and seed quality.
* State Governments are the primary enforcement authorities for the FCO and the Seed Act, empowered to take legal action against violations.
* The Government issues advisories and instructions to States to conduct campaigns ensuring the quality of fertilizers and seeds.
* The Central Fertilizer Quality Control and Training Institute conducts inspections, draws and tests samples, and directs States to take action against defaulters.
Enforcement Actions in Rajasthan (April 2025 - August 8, 2025):
* 10,423 raids were conducted.
* 853 show cause notices were issued.
* 54 licenses were suspended/cancelled.
* 53 FIRs were registered against defaulters.
* Central teams inspected Alwar and Bharatpur districts in July 2025.
Punitive Actions:
* Violations of the FCO can lead to cancellation/suspension of authorization letters and imprisonment from three months to seven years under the Essential Commodities Act.
* The Seed Act, 1966, prescribes a fine of ₹500 for the first offense and imprisonment up to 6 months, a fine of ₹1000, or both for subsequent offenses.
* There is no provision for compensation to farmers.
Sample Testing in Tonk District (Last Two Years):
* 424 fertilizer samples and 437 seed samples were tested.
* 46 fertilizer samples and 13 seed samples were found to be substandard.
* 7 fertilizer-related and 7 seed-related cases are in court.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for enforcing the Fertiliser Control Order and Seed Act to ensure the quality of fertilizers and seeds. Must act on violations.
* Action Required: Conduct regular inspections, sample testing, and take legal action against those violating regulations.
Farmers:
* Impact: Directly affected by the quality of seeds and fertilizers available in the market, impacting crop yield and income.
* Action Required: Be aware of the potential for spurious products and report any concerns to the appropriate state authorities.
Fertilizer and Seed Companies/Firms:
* Impact: Subject to inspections, penalties, and legal action if found to be supplying substandard or adulterated products.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with the Fertiliser Control Order and Seed Act, maintain product quality, and be prepared for potential inspections.
Key Entities Referenced
Rajasthan: A state in India, mentioned in the context of reports of large-scale adulteration of fertilizers and seeds, and inspections by the Central team.
Fertiliser Inorganic, Organic or Mixed Control Order,1985: A control order (FCO) implemented by the Government of India under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to ensure the supply of quality fertilizers.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: An act under which the Fertiliser Control Order is implemented, and violation of the provision of the Fertiliser Control Order attracts punitive action.
Seed Act 1966: An act that regulates the quality of seeds sold in the market.
Seed Rules, 1968: Rules pertaining to the Seed Act, 1966, regulating seed quality.
Seed Control Order, 1983: An order which regulates the quality of seeds sold in the market.
Alwar: A district in Rajasthan where inspections were made by the Central team to check Fertilizers related issues.
Bharatpur: A district in Rajasthan where inspections were made by the Central team to check Fertilizers related issues.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOKSABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4330
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH AUGUST, 2025
SPURIOUS SEEDS AND FERTILIZERS
4330. SHRIBHAJANLALJATAV AND SHR IHARISH CHANDRA MEENA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether matters involving large scale adulteration of fertilizers and seeds has been
reported from Rajasthan, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any independent investigation has been conducted or any central inspection
team has been sent or any instructions have been issued by the Government under the
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 and Seed Act, 1960 to present such irregularities, the details
thereof;
(c) the corrective measures taken by the Government so far to strengthen the quality
control system;
(d) the total number of samples of fertilizers and seeds tested in Tank district during the
last two years and the number of samples found sub-standard out of them and the action taken
thereon along with the details thereof;
(e) the details of punitive action taken against the firms supplying these spurious seeds
and fertilizers; and
(f) whether the Government is running any relief or compensation scheme to compensate
the loss suffered by the farmers, if so, the number of farmers provided relief so far along with
the total compensation amount distributed to them, the district-wise details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c): In order to ensure supply of quality fertilizers, the Government is implementing the
Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) ( Control) Order,1985 (FCO) under the Essential
Commodities Act, 1955. Similarly, Seed Act 1966, the Seed Rules, 1968 and the Seed
(Control) Order, 1983 regulates the quality of seeds sold in the market. Under FCO, State
Governments are the enforcement authority empowered to take action against violation.Similarly under the Seed Control Order and the Seed Act, 1966, State Governments are
empowered to take legal action against any violation of its provision. It is the responsibility of
the States to ensure quality fertilizers and seeds are available to farmers. Accordingly, State
authorities take necessary action as per the Essential Commodity Act or Seed Act as the case
may be.
The Government gives instructions to States time to time to launch campaign to ensure
the quality of fertilizers and seeds. Advisory are issued to State Governments for
implementation of legal and regulatory provisions available under the Seeds Act/Essential
Commodities Act. 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 also takes up
necessary enforcement action suo moto through central agency namely, Central Fertilizer
Quality Control and Training Institute under the Ministry by conducting inspection, drawing and
testing of samples and directing States to take necessary actions against defaulters.
During the period April, 2025 to 8th August, 2025, 10423 raids have been conducted in
Rajasthan with 853 show cause notices issued, 54 licenses suspended/cancelled and 53 FIRs
registered against defaulters. During the month of July, 2025 two inspections were made by
the Central team in 02 districts namely Alwar & Bharatpur of Rajasthan State to check
Fertilizers related issues. Such enforcement action is conducted for all kinds of fertilizers
specified under FCO such as chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, bio-fertilizers,
micronutrient, bio-stimulant, Fermented Organic Manure, Liquefied Fermented Organic
Manure, nano fertilizers, water soluble fertilizers, liquid fertilizers, fortified fertilizers,
customized fertilizers etc.
(d) to (f): Any violation of the provision of the Fertiliser (Control) Order attracts punitive action
such as cancellation & suspension of authorization letter and penal action under the Essential
Commodities Act for imprisonment for a period of three months to seven years. The Seed Act,
1966 provides for penalty of ₹ 500 as fine for the first offence & imprisonment up to 6 months,
or with fine of ₹1000 or with both for the subsequent offences. However, there is no provision
of compensation.
During the last two year, 424 samples of fertilizers and 437 samples of seeds tested in Tonk
district. Out of these, 46 samples of fertilizers and 13 samples of seeds were found non –
standard. State Government has taken action thereon. As a result, 7 cases related fertilizers
and 7 cases related to seeds are in court.
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