(a) whether fertilizers are being adulterated;
(b) if so, the number of complaints received in this regard and the action taken against
the erring persons during the last three years, State-wise; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to check adulteration in fertilizers?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHRIPAD Y. NAIK)
(a) to (c): No specific case of adulteration of fertilizer has been reported to the
Government. However, some cases of non-standard fertilizer have been reported by the
State Governments in their reports on quality control of fertilizer. During last three years
i.e. 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 the percentage of samples found non-standard is
about 6%. In order to ensure the availability of quality fertilisers to the farmers, the
Government of India has promulgated the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, under the
Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This Order provides that only such fertilisers which
meet the quality standards as laid down in the said Order are sold to the farmers. The
State Governments are the enforcement agencies and are adequately empowered to take
action against those who indulge in selling of non-standard fertilisers. There are 66
fertiliser control laboratories in the country to check the quality of fertilisers with the
annual analysing capacity of 1.20 lakh samples. The Government of India advises and
periodically assists the State Governments to strengthen the fertilizer Quality Control
laboratories in terms of equipment and enforcement machinery.