No forced sale of fertilisers with urea, violators will face action: Assam Minister
Guwahati, July 3
Assam Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika on Friday issued a stern warning to fertiliser dealers allegedly forcing farmers to purchase additional products along with urea, saying the state government would take strict legal action against those found indulging in such unfair trade practices.
Speaking to reporters, Hazarika said complaints had reached him that some fertiliser dealers in parts of the state were making it mandatory for farmers to buy three or four other products along with urea, even if the farmers neither required nor intended to use those items.
"It has come to my attention that certain fertiliser dealers are compelling farmers to purchase additional, unwanted products along with urea. This practice is wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated. If this is happening anywhere else, please report it. Strict action will be taken against those responsible," the minister said.
He asserted that such coercive practices amounted to exploitation of farmers and warned dealers to immediately stop the practice or face serious consequences.
Hazarika said he had received information about such incidents from a particular region and cautioned that if similar practices were continuing elsewhere in Assam, those involved should discontinue them with immediate effect.
"I am warning all fertiliser dealers that from this moment onwards, if anyone is found forcing farmers to purchase products they do not need along with urea, they should be prepared to face legal consequences, including imprisonment. This is an injustice to farmers, and the government will not compromise on this issue," he said.
The minister reiterated that the government remained committed to safeguarding the interests of the farming community and would not allow anyone to exploit cultivators through unfair business practices.
He also appealed to farmers to report such incidents to the authorities if they are pressured into purchasing unwanted fertilisers or agricultural inputs while buying urea.
Hazarika said the Agriculture Department would closely monitor fertiliser distribution across the state and initiate appropriate action against dealers violating government norms, ensuring that farmers receive essential agricultural inputs without coercion or unnecessary financial burden.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I worry about implementation. In my village near Tinsukia, small farmers are scared to complain because dealers are often local politicians or their relatives. The minister should set up an anonymous helpline or mobile app where complaints can be filed without fear. That would be more practical. 🧐
As a farmer from Dibrugarh, I can tell you this practice has been going on for years. Dealers say "take this weedicide or no urea". I lost thousands last year to useless products they forced on me. But let's see if this is just election talk or real action. We need the agriculture department to raid these shops. 🤨
While this is appreciated, the real issue is the corrupt distribution system. Many farmers in Assam still don't get the subsidised urea they're entitled to because dealers divert it to black market. This "forced products" problem is just the tip. We need complete transparency from warehouse to village. 🚜
Respect to Pijush Hazarika for this warning! But I'd like to see the government also educate farmers about their rights, especially in remote areas like Majuli or Dhemaji where illiteracy is higher. Many farmers don't even know they can complain. Awareness campaigns in Assamese and Bodo would help. Jai Kisan! 🙏
As someone who works in agri-economics, this forced bundling is a classic case of market failure. Urea is subsidised so dealers use it as a bait to offload expensive private products
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