SDG 1: No Poverty | SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
During a high-profile visit to the villages of Girhola and Khapri in Durg district, Chhattisgarh, on January 31, 2026, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, issued a decisive directive against the tampering of agricultural inputs. The Minister categorized the sale of fake seeds, spurious fertilizers, and counterfeit pesticides as not just an economic offense, but a “direct betrayal of farmers’ trust” and a “curse” that destroys entire livelihoods. This field-level intervention signals a shift toward zero tolerance for anti-social elements that exploit the vulnerability of the farming community.
Key Initiatives for Legal and Technical Protection To institutionalize this crackdown, the government is moving forward with several strategic initiatives:
New Agricultural Laws: The Centre will soon introduce comprehensive legislation in Parliament to provide a strong legal shield for farmers, specifically targeting the manufacturing and distribution of spurious farm inputs.
Proposed Seed Act, 2026: This specific act aims to bring sweeping reforms to ensure transparency across the seed supply chain and eliminate substandard varieties.
Quality Assurance Campaigns: Directives have been issued to State Governments to intensify monitoring, conduct regular sampling/testing, and register FIRs against violators under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.
Technological Vigilance: The Digital Agriculture Mission and drone technology are being leveraged for real-time crop monitoring and cost reduction, while new equipment is being developed to identify counterfeit agro-products on-site.
Engagement and Empowerment The visit also highlighted the “Farm to Consumer” model, which seeks to reduce the role of intermediaries and maximize profits for farmers by enabling direct sales. Chouhan urged agricultural scientists to “step out of labs and into the fields” to advise farmers on crop diversification—such as moving from paddy to horticulture—which has been shown to significantly raise incomes.
What is the “Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme” (DRAP) framework applied to agriculture? While DRAP primarily focuses on urban waste, its “5P Model” (Political Leadership, Public Finance, Partnerships, People’s Participation, and Project Management) is being adapted for agricultural input vigilance. Under this framework, senior leaders “adopt” regions to oversee the implementation of the new Seed and Fertilizer laws, ensuring that public finance (subsidies) reaches farmers without being diverted by suppliers of spurious products. This model ensures that enforcement is not just a bureaucratic exercise but a partnership-driven effort involving farmer feedback groups.
Policy Relevance
The initiatives announced by Minister Chouhan represent a significant hardening of India’s regulatory governance in the primary sector.
Institutional Deterrence: By promising strict punitive action and factory sealings, the government is moving to create a permanent fear of law among fraudsters, thereby stabilizing the input supply chain.
Boosting Market Trust: Strengthening the legal framework for seeds and fertilizers is essential for maintaining the institutional credibility of India’s agricultural exports in global markets.
Resilience to Climate and Fraud: Encouraging crop diversification and horticulture alongside strict input laws builds “Strategic Resilience” for farmers, protecting them from both environmental shocks and fraudulent “medicines” that destroy crops.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Ministry of Agriculture integrate the proposed “Seed Act 2026” with the “Digital Farmer ID” system to create an end-to-end traceable supply chain that prevents counterfeit inputs from entering the market?
Follow the full news here: Direct Crackdown on Those Tampering with Farmers’ Crops