The Department of Agriculture has issued ‘stop sales orders’ on about 91,215 kg of various fertilizers by retail dealers after violations were detected under Fertilizer Control Order 1985.
Surprise checks are being conducted by special teams of Agriculture Officers at private fertilizer retail shops so as to ensure that they comply with the rules and carry out their sales through Point Of Sale devices given to them under the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system.
R. Santhanakrishnan, Joint Director of Agriculture, in a press release said, the raids were conducted as per the directions of the Director of Agriculture so as to ensure availability of fertilizers to farmers for the samba season as water has been released for irrigation from Mettur dam. The officials also checked whether all records were properly maintained and the fertilizers were sold at the stipulated prices. The checks would continue, he added.
Mr. Santhanakrishnan maintained that adequate stocks of fertilizers were available in the district for the samba season in primary agricultural cooperative societies and private traders. Over 9,167 tonnes of urea, 9,036 tonnes of DAP, 6,039 tonnes of potash and 14,761 tonnes of complex fertilizers were available in the district, he said.
