UP Agriculture Dept Cracks Down On Fertiliser Black Marketing; Over 2,300 Licences Suspended

Amid rising complaints of fertiliser shortage, the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Department has intensified its crackdown on black marketing, overcharging, and hoarding. So far, 1,314 licences have been cancelled and 1,005 suspended, while FIRs have been registered in 192 cases, Agriculture Minister Suryapratap Shahi said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at Lok Bhavan, the minister said the department is taking strict action against negligence and irregularities in fertiliser distribution. A total of 27,315 raids have been conducted, from which 5,291 samples have been sent for testing. Joint action against retail and wholesale sellers has resulted in over 2,300 cancellations and suspensions, and 62 shops have been sealed.

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Shahi stressed that the state has an adequate supply of fertilisers and that any form of hoarding or black marketing would not be tolerated. Between October 1 and November 13, 10.2 million farmers purchased 1,682,000 tonnes of fertiliser through POS machines. This includes 482,000 tonnes of urea, 624,000 tonnes of DAP, and 362,000 tonnes of NPK.

Currently, the state has stocks of 1,259,000 tonnes of urea, 376,000 tonnes of DAP, 394,000 tonnes of NPK, 265,000 tonnes of SSP, and 81,000 tonnes of MOP. Cooperative societies also hold 512,000 tonnes of urea, 133,000 tonnes of DAP, and 79,000 tonnes of NPK.

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The minister further said there is no seed shortage in the ongoing Rabi season. The target is to distribute 1,112,000 quintals of subsidised seeds, of which 69 per cent has been completed. To promote pulse cultivation, 76,258 minikits from the state sector and 114,697 from the central sector have been distributed.

For oilseeds, 492,000 minikits of mustard–rapeseed have been allocated, with 394,000 already reaching farmers. Additionally, 5,700 quintals of mustard seed are being provided free of cost for cluster demonstrations and intercropping.