No Mercy for Sellers of Fake Fertilizers and Seeds: Shivraj Singh Formulates a Special 6-Point Plan for Farmers..

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been consistently speaking out against counterfeit fertilizers and pesticides. He has now announced that new laws pertaining to seeds and pesticides are nearly finalized and may be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament for enactment. Speaking at a regional agriculture conference for the northern states, the Agriculture Minister stated that the memorandum for the proposed ‘Seed Act’ and ‘Pesticide Act’ has already been circulated to solicit suggestions.

**Action Against Sellers of Counterfeit Fertilizers and Seeds**
The Agriculture Minister emphasized that the objective of these laws is to curb the sale of counterfeit and substandard agricultural products. He stated, “If any individual sells counterfeit or poor-quality seeds or pesticides, strict action will be taken against them.” He noted that, currently, the penalties are too lenient and lack effectiveness. He further informed that, with the cooperation of the state governments, a nationwide campaign will be launched to combat counterfeit fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state’s Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and representatives from other states were also present at the conference.

**India Becomes the Largest Rice Producer**
Shivraj Singh noted that the Central Government has shifted its strategy from holding a single national conference for both Rabi and Kharif crops to adopting a region-specific consultative approach, thereby enabling better planning tailored to diverse climatic and soil conditions. He further highlighted that the country possesses adequate food grain reserves and that India is no longer dependent on imports. He stated, “India has emerged as the world’s largest producer of rice and is also a major exporter of wheat.”

**Focus on a 6-Point Strategy**
Prioritizing food security, enhancing farmers' incomes, and ensuring access to nutritious diets, the Agriculture Minister outlined a six-point strategy. This strategy encompasses increasing production, reducing input costs, ensuring fair market prices, compensating for crop losses, and promoting crop diversification. He specifically expressed concern regarding the rising consumption of fertilizers in Uttar Pradesh, warning that their indiscriminate use could compromise soil health. He advocated for the promotion of natural farming, as well as horticulture and medicinal crops. 

Focus on Connecting Farmers to Government Benefits
Citing forecasts of below-normal rainfall due to 'El Niño,' the Agriculture Minister emphasized the need to formulate plans while keeping the potential risk of a water crisis in mind. He also urged states to develop agricultural roadmaps tailored to local conditions and to bring more farmers under the ambit of the 'Farmer Identity Card' and the Kisan Credit Card schemes.

Provision for Low-Interest Loans for Farmers
Calling upon states to expedite the issuance of Farmer Identity Cards, Shivraj Singh stated that these cards would provide access to 17 different types of benefits. He remarked, "While 75 million credit cards have been issued across the country, the total number of farmers stands at 130 million. State governments should launch campaigns to address this gap. If we can establish a system to provide loans at low interest rates, it will prove highly beneficial for small-scale farmers."

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