The Indian government is taking action to combat the sale of spurious seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, ensuring farmers have access to quality agricultural inputs. Existing legislation, including the Seeds Act, 1966, the Insecticide Act, 1964, and the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, provides the framework for quality control and enforcement. This press release was issued on February 11, 2025.
State-Level Enforcement
State Departments of Agriculture are responsible for appointing inspectors to ensure the quality of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides within their respective jurisdictions. When samples are found to be spurious or substandard, action is taken under the relevant Acts and Rules.
2023-24 Sample Analysis Results
During the 2023-24 fiscal year, significant efforts were made to analyze samples and identify substandard products:
- Seeds: 133,588 seed samples were drawn, with 3,630 found to be substandard.
- Fertilizers: 181,153 fertilizer samples were analyzed, with 8,988 found to be non-standard.
- Pesticides: 80,789 pesticide samples were analyzed, with 2,222 found to be spurious.
Ongoing Efforts
These figures highlight the ongoing challenge of ensuring the quality of agricultural inputs. The state-level inspections and sample analysis play a vital role in identifying and removing these harmful products from the market.
