Patna: Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has sought to reassure farmers that there is no shortage of fertilisers in the state, saying stocks of key nutrients currently exceed projected requirements for the ongoing agricultural season.
Speaking at a review meeting on fertiliser availability at the Agriculture Department’s headquarters in Mithapur, Sinha said adequate quantities of urea, DAP, NPK and SSP were available across all districts.
According to official figures presented at the meeting, Bihar is expected to require 2.40 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 1 lakh metric tonne of DAP, 1.25 lakh metric tonnes of NPK and 0.55 lakh metric tonne of SSP by June 30. As of June 3, available stocks stood at 3.76 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 1.54 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, 2.38 lakh metric tonnes of NPK and 1.17 lakh metric tonnes of SSP.
Government Promotes Balanced Fertiliser Use
The minister said awareness campaigns were also being conducted to encourage farmers to apply fertilisers in balanced quantities based on crop and soil requirements.
Officials said the initiative is intended to improve agricultural productivity while reducing unnecessary fertiliser use.
Sinha noted that ensuring timely availability of agricultural inputs remained a priority for the state government, particularly ahead of the kharif cultivation season.
Crackdown On Black Marketing And Hoarding
The Agriculture Minister said the government was maintaining strict vigilance against black marketing, hoarding and overpricing of fertilisers.
Regular inspections of fertiliser retailers are being carried out, and enforcement teams are conducting raids whenever complaints of irregularities are received.
According to the department, FIRs have been registered against 29 fertiliser establishments across Bihar so far this year, while the licences of 208 dealers have been cancelled over alleged violations.
A headquarters-level flying squad has also been tasked with investigating complaints and recommending action against erring businesses.
Sinha directed officials to ensure block-wise allocation of fertilisers based on local demand and to regularly verify physical stock levels against inventories recorded on Point of Sale (POS) systems.
He warned that any discrepancies would be dealt with under a zero-tolerance policy.
Special Monitoring In Border Districts
The government has also launched a special surveillance drive in districts bordering Nepal to prevent the illegal diversion of fertilisers.
Officials said the operation is being conducted in coordination with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), with increased monitoring of fertiliser movement and distribution networks.
Hundreds Of Shops Found Violating Rules
The minister shared district-wise details of recent enforcement actions.
In East Champaran, inspections of 323 fertiliser shops reportedly found irregularities at 18 establishments. Authorities registered FIRs against eight dealers and cancelled five licences.
In West Champaran, irregularities were detected at 25 of the 343 shops inspected, leading to one FIR and the cancellation of three licences.
In Sitamarhi, inspections of 590 shops uncovered irregularities at 46 establishments. Authorities registered two FIRs and revoked seven licences.
Across Bihar’s seven border districts, officials inspected 2,573 fertiliser outlets and identified irregularities at 275 establishments. As a result, 19 FIRs were filed, 123 licences were cancelled and explanations were sought from 85 dealers.
Farmers’ Interests A Priority
Sinha said the government’s primary objective was to protect farmers’ interests by ensuring uninterrupted access to fertilisers at regulated prices.
He added that strict monitoring and enforcement would continue throughout the agricultural season to ensure that fertiliser supplies reach farmers without disruption and that malpractice within the distribution system is effectively checked.
