Odisha Steps Up Crackdown On Fertiliser Black Marketing, Raids 11,684 Shops

(MENAFN- IANS) Bhubaneswar, Sep 3 (IANS) The Odisha government has intensified its crackdown on black marketing and hoarding of fertilisers during the ongoing Kharif 2026-27 season, conducting over 11,600 raids and taking penal action against hundreds of corrupt dealers across the state, said an official.

The state government, in an official statement on Wednesday, said Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who also holds the Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment portfolio, has laid out a zero-tolerance strategy to deal with black marketing and diversion of fertilisers.

The officials also said district-level and block-level Enforcement Squads have been constituted to prevent unfair practices such as black marketing, hoarding, and the supply of substandard fertilisers.

“Inspection teams and flying squads comprising senior officers from the Revenue Department, Agriculture Department, and Police Department have been constituted in the field, and regular raids are being conducted at different wholesale and retail fertiliser shops with the order of Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav,” the officials said.

Wherever any irregularity is detected, immediate action is being taken under the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The state government revealed that during the current financial year, raids have been conducted at 11,684 fertiliser shops across various districts of Odisha.

Meanwhile, show-cause notices have been issued to 2,774 persons, while fertiliser sales by 321 dealers have been temporarily suspended. In addition, the licenses of 170 dealers have been suspended for allegedly resorting to unfair practices, while the licenses of 96 dealers have been cancelled.

Further, fertiliser stocks belonging to 12 erring dealers have been seized, and criminal cases have been registered against seven of them. Last year, in 2025-26, raids were carried out at 9,017 fertiliser shops. Show-cause notices were sent to 2,373 individuals, sales by 48 dealers were halted, and licenses of 53 dealers were suspended or revoked. Additionally, fertiliser stocks from 15 dealers were seized due to serious allegations, and legal cases were filed against nine people.

“Adequate quantity of fertilisers is available in each selling point, and there is no cause for panic. The government is committed to effectively regulating the supply of fertilisers this Kharif season and is closely monitoring the situation. Farmers are advised not to panic over rumours and to buy fertilisers only from authorised shops at controlled prices,” the state government emphasised.

The officials also highlighted major raids conducted at fertiliser shops and penal action taken against errant traders in different parts of the state during the last couple of days.

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