The news of “fake fertilizer seized in Bikaner” comes at a time when news agencies are already flooded with the news of urea shortage at some places whereas other news agency busy with covering the news of the availability of fake fertilizers. Notably, urea shortage in Telangana has already drawn attention from several political parties and in this new queue the new addition is the news of seizing of fake fertilizers in Rajasthan by the agriculture minister of the state, Dr Kirodi Lal Meena.
Fake Fertilizers Seized in Bikaner Despite of the Strict Warning of Union Agriculture Minister
In a recurrent series of action against the use of fake fertilizers, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote a letter to states months back. In the letter the union minister urged them to take strict actions on the use of fake fertilisers. The letter was issued to states after a raid was conducted in Chittorgarh District of Rajasthan and 319 bags of fake fertilizers were seized.
This time only the district and date have changed but the crime and state remain the same. Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Dr Kirodi Lal Meena seized fake fertilizers in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Agriculture urea (fertilizers) continues to remain the apple of discord, recently the persistent shortage of agriculture urea finally erupted in intensified anger in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh.
Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Termed the Operation a Major Step Against Fertilizer Adulteration
Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Dr Kirodi Lal Meena raided two fertilizer factories in Bikaner’s Kolayat area, seizing 64,000 bags of counterfeit fertilizer and ordering both units to be sealed. This incident, however, goes beyond the seizing of fake fertilizers, it also raises question over the availability of urea. Why urea shortage in Telangana led to political debate among parties however now followed by the event it is feared that why urea shortage in Rajasthan may also become a heated political exchange. As cases from Rajasthan always surface over social media sites over the use of fake fertilizers. Seize of fake fertilizer raises questions over the production of same category of fertilizers. This is not the first time Minister Meena has carried out surprise inspections. In July, he raided warehouses in Bichwal, Bikaner, where adulterated fertilizer was found. Just a day before the Bikaner raid, he conducted a crackdown in Sriganganagar. On September 25, he visited a fertilizer shop in Alwar’s Umrain area after farmers complained of being overcharged. The shopkeeper was found guilty of forcing farmers to pay Rs 950 extra for two bags of fertilizer.