Seal Factories and Shops if Fake or Substandard Fertilizers and Pesticides are Found: Shivraj Singh

In case of sale of fake fertilizers, seeds and pesticides, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan took a tough stand and held a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and directed to take strict action against those selling fake fertilizers, seeds and pesticides. Shivraj Singh said that in case of finding substandard or fake fertilizers, seeds or pesticides, the factory and shops should be sealed. He said that all the officers should take the damage of farmers' crops very seriously, so that farmers can be saved from loss. Shivraj Singh has also given instructions to conduct raids on a large scale and to go to the fields and investigate.

In the meeting, the Agriculture Minister said that not just one but hundreds of farmers in various districts are facing problems due to fake fertilizers, seeds and pesticides. Such complaints come from many places, farmers say that they are putting medicine in the field but it is not having any effect, I am very worried. The pain of these farmers should be understood seriously. Shivraj Singh said that yesterday he himself went to the farmer's field and saw that a farmer had applied a medicine due to which the soybean crop was completely destroyed. He said when he visited the field, hundreds of farmers were present there. All of them complained to him and told him about their problems. Shivraj Singh said that those who sell such substandard or fake medicines, fertilizers and seeds should not be spared at all, strict action should be ensured against them. The Union Minister, while taking information about the action taken so far in this regard from the agriculture officials, said that fake fertilizers, seeds and pesticides are a curse for the farmers. Shivraj Singh said that we cannot see our farmers being looted.

Shivraj Singh directed that the staff of the Agriculture Department should go to the farmers' fields along with the state governments and investigate and take strict action by running a campaign and conducting surprise raids on a large scale. Samples should be taken and action be taken if they fail. He said that if we take strict action against the companies or manufacturers who are doing irregularities, then fear will be created in the people doing irregularities and farmers will get relief. Factories and shops should be sealed if any irregularities are found.

Shivraj Singh also gave instructions to listen to the complaints of the farmers in this regard and resolve them as soon as possible, and also said that he himself will regularly review the complaints received. He talked to the state governments in this regard and asked to take effective action with full sensitivity in the matter of farmers. Shivraj Singh also gave guidelines to spread awareness among farmers in this regard widely, so that farmers can avoid getting troubled.

The Union Agriculture Minister said that during the Vikasit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, publicity should also be done among the farmers, so that farmers can avoid loss and trouble. On another subject, Shivraj Singh gave instructions to verify the subsidy assistance given by the Central Government for poly house, greenhouse, mechanization by the teams of the Agriculture Department. He said that it should be checked how much benefit the farmers are actually getting from the subsidy given by the Center for poly house, greenhouse, mechanization. The benefit of subsidy schemes from the Center should be received on time. Shivraj Singh said that our schemes should be used properly and it should be verified from time to time.