The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the Department of Posts have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a nationwide system for transporting pesticide, seed, and fertilizer samples to testing laboratories across India. This collaboration aims to enhance the speed, safety, and reliability of testing agricultural inputs, safeguarding farmers from counterfeit and substandard products. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The Communications Minister praised the Department of Posts for evolving into one of the world’s largest and most dependable logistics networks, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Viksit Bharat.” With over 1.60 lakh post offices, including approximately 1.40 lakh in rural areas, India Post can reach even the most remote regions of the country. Handling numerous deliveries daily and up to six lakh parcels during peak festive periods, India Post demonstrates robust operational capabilities.
This partnership is part of the PAN-India Online Pesticide, Seed, and Fertilizer Quality Management System developed by the Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP). The digital platform aims to enhance transparency, reinforce quality assessments, and ensure prompt testing of agricultural inputs through technology-driven processes. The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister emphasized the detrimental impact of fake and substandard agricultural products on farmers, leading to significant financial losses and distress.
