The government has taken a tough stand against the fertilizer companies that try to force customers to buy their other products along with fertilizers. It has strictly advised those companies not to tag any other product with fertilizers while selling them to the farmers.
On November 17 Thursday, Neeraja Adidam, Joint Secretary (Fertilizers), Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, issued this instruction to the MDs and CMDs of all fertilizer companies. In fact, according to the information gathered by Rural Voice, there had been complaints from the farmers that the companies were tagging their other products with fertilizers.
The memorandum issued by the Joint Secretary says that “this practice is not justified.” It adds that it is “illegal on the part of the company to indulge in such practices as it increases the cost of fertilizer.” The memo says that “fertilizer for agricultural purposes is highly subsidized.” The subsidy is borne by the Government for the benefit of farmers. However, when companies tag their other products with fertilizers, it increases the cost of fertilizers for the farmers.
“It should be stopped immediately,” says the memo. It also warns that “if any issue regarding tagging comes to the notice of the Department, strict action will be taken against” the company concerned.