Agriculture officers empowered to inspect fertilisers and insecticides

In a move aimed at ensuring the sale of quality fertilisers and insecticides, the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has assigned the powers of inspectors to Block Agriculture Officers (BAOs) and Assistant Plant Protection Officers (APPOs) across the state.

As per a recent notification, BAOs will now function as both insecticide and fertiliser inspectors, while APPOs will specifically oversee fertilisers within their respective jurisdictions. The Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Director General of Horticulture have been directed to ensure that these officials receive proper training, as per the Fertiliser Control Order, and are given specific performance targets that will be reviewed regularly.

A senior official from the Agriculture Department said though Deputy Directors of Agriculture (DDA), Quality Control Inspectors (QCI), Sub-Divisional Officers (SDO), and Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) are responsible for drawing samples, limited manpower has made timely sampling a challenge. Moreover, monitoring supply chains, preventing black marketing, and ensuring quality standards, especially during peak seasons, have been major concerns.

Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA) Kurukshetra, Dr Karam Chand, emphasised the importance of these measures, stating, “Fertilisers and insecticides play crucial roles in agriculture. Assigning these powers to Block Agriculture Officers and Assistant Plant Protection Officers will help in ensuring better monitoring of input supply in the market and maintaining product quality. Samples will now be drawn in a time-bound manner, and a closer watch will be kept on supply distribution during peak seasons.”

Dr Chand also noted that farmers occasionally raise complaints regarding the quality and effectiveness of agricultural inputs. “When complaints are received, the samples from the batch concerned are sent for testing, and appropriate action is taken based on the results. This step will ensure that farmers receive high-quality fertilisers and insecticides while also preventing issues such as tagging, where other products are sold along with subsidised items,” he explained.

To facilitate smooth implementation, state-level training sessions will be organised to educate officials on sample collection procedures and relevant legal provisions.