Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena recently conducted surprise inspections in Jaipur’s Vishwakarma Industrial Area. The inspections revealed unauthorized production and distribution of fake agricultural products at multiple locations. One serious irregularity involved the alleged manufacturing of Muriate of Potash from salt, deceiving farmers who purchased it as potash fertilizer.
During the inspections, various agricultural products were found lacking essential information like manufacturing and expiry dates. These products, sold at higher prices, did not comply with the Fertiliser (Control) Order of 1985. Meena emphasized that the use of fake agricultural products not only harms farmers’ crops and incomes but also negatively impacts soil fertility.
The Agriculture Minister stressed the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards those endangering farmers’ land, crops, and livelihoods. He ordered the reopening of a previously sealed unit named Nandi Fertilizers for further investigation. Meena also discovered unauthorized supplies of biostimulants at a Carrying and Forwarding warehouse, Samriddhi Services, despite their prohibition in Rajasthan.
At another firm, Chittari Agri Care, unauthorized storage of biostimulants and other agricultural products was found. Investigations are ongoing regarding the alleged unauthorized subsidy claims for certain products. Meena directed officials to stop the sale of products from suspicious units, conduct laboratory testing on samples, and take strict legal actions against guilty companies.
The Agriculture Minister instructed the immediate registration of FIRs where necessary and initiated a special statewide inspection drive against similar warehouses and units. He reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding farmers’ interests and vowed to continue the fight against fraudulent activities targeting farmers.
