Patna: Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on July 20 said the state has sufficient stocks of fertilisers and that the government is committed to ensuring farmers receive quality agricultural inputs on time. He said no district in Bihar is facing a shortage of fertilisers and protecting farmers’ interests remains the government’s highest priority.
The minister also reaffirmed the Agriculture Department’s zero-tolerance policy against black marketing, hoarding and the sale of fertilisers above government-prescribed prices. He said strict action would continue against those found violating the rules.
Adequate Fertiliser Stocks Across the State
According to the Agriculture Department, Bihar had adequate fertiliser stocks as of July 20, 2026. The available inventory includes 4.55 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 1.38 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, 2.54 lakh metric tonnes of NPK, 0.69 lakh metric tonnes of MOP, and 1.29 lakh metric tonnes of SSP.
Sinha said officials have been directed to allocate fertilisers at the block level based on local demand and crop coverage to prevent artificial shortages. He also instructed the department to expand awareness campaigns promoting balanced and scientific fertiliser use among farmers.
Action Against Black Marketing
The minister said the government would not tolerate black marketing, hoarding or overpricing of fertilisers under any circumstances.
He said that during the 2026–27 financial year, up to July 20, FIRs had been registered against 44 fertiliser establishments over irregularities, while the fertiliser authorisation licences of 265 establishments had been cancelled.
Officials have also been directed to regularly verify physical stock at fertiliser outlets against quantities recorded through Point of Sale (PoS) machines. Any discrepancies found during inspections will invite immediate action.
Inspection Drives Intensified
Sinha said the headquarters-level flying squad is conducting inspections and raids based on complaints related to fertilisers and seeds. District-level Agriculture Department teams are also carrying out regular inspections of fertiliser and seed outlets.
He added that senior officials, including the Director of Agriculture, will periodically visit districts to review fertiliser availability, distribution and the progress of enforcement drives.
Promoting Scientific Fertiliser Use
The minister urged farmers to adopt balanced and need-based fertiliser application, saying scientific farming practices improve crop productivity while preserving soil fertility.
He said the department is running awareness campaigns to encourage farmers to use fertilisers according to crop requirements and avoid unnecessary expenditure.
Subsidy and Complaint Mechanism
Highlighting the government’s fertiliser subsidy, Sinha said the total cost of one bag of urea is about Rs 2,232, of which the government provides a subsidy of around Rs 1,966. As a result, farmers can purchase urea at the fixed retail price of Rs 266.50 per bag.
He appealed to farmers to purchase fertilisers only at prescribed rates and report any irregularities to the department. Officials have been instructed to act on every complaint received through the farmer helpline and control room within 24 hours, while ensuring the confidentiality of complainants.
The Agriculture Department has also established a headquarters-level control room to address complaints related to agricultural inputs, fertilisers and seeds. Farmers can register complaints by calling 0612-22335555 or sending a message on WhatsApp to 7766085888.
