Six Arrested for Manufacturing Fake DAP Fertilizer in Telangana
Six individuals have been arrested for allegedly producing and distributing counterfeit DAP fertilizer. The Agriculture Minister has ordered an assessment of the spurious product's reach and compensation for affected farmers.
Key takeaways
- Six individuals have been arrested for manufacturing spurious DAP fertilizer.
- The Agriculture Minister has ordered officials to identify affected farmers and ensure compensation.
- The minister also discussed agricultural support schemes and crop procurement with the Union Agriculture Minister.
Authorities have arrested six individuals in connection with the manufacturing of fake Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao stated that the government will not tolerate actions that result in losses for farmers.
What Happened
During a review meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao announced the arrest of six people involved in producing spurious DAP fertilizer. He directed officials to quantify the amount of fake fertilizer manufactured and sold within the state and to identify farmers who purchased and applied it to their crops. The minister emphasized that those responsible for the counterfeit fertilizer production should provide compensation to the affected farmers.
Background
In a separate discussion, Minister Rao engaged virtually with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He requested the release of the second installment of funds under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Additionally, he urged the Union Minister to purchase all pulses grown in Telangana this season, citing El Niño conditions, and to include maize and other crops under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme to support farmers.
The minister also met with representatives from a Costa Rican firm focused on developing high-yield, pest-resistant oilpalm varieties suitable for Indian conditions. These short-statured varieties are noted for their suitability for mechanization and resistance to ganoderma pest attacks.
Further directives from the minister included instructing authorities to liaise with the Hare Krishna Charitable Trust to source vegetables from local farmers for school meal programs and to utilize Vijaya brand oil produced by Oilfed for cooking. He also ordered the construction of 65,000 tonnes of storage capacity in districts with significant paddy cultivation and instructed officials to register farmers cultivating the nine government-recommended paddy varieties.
Key Facts
- Six persons have been arrested for manufacturing spurious DAP fertilizer.
- The arrests were announced by Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao.
- An assessment of the quantity of spurious DAP and affected farmers is to be conducted.
- Compensation for affected farmers is to be sourced from those responsible for the counterfeit fertilizer.
- Minister Rao requested the release of the second tranche of RKVY funds from the Union Agriculture Minister.
- A request was made to procure all pulses from Telangana due to El Niño conditions.
- Inclusion of maize and other crops under the MSP scheme was urged.
- Representatives from a Costa Rican firm discussed oilpalm varieties.
- A directive was issued to source vegetables from local farmers for school meals.
- A directive was issued to use Vijaya brand oil for cooking school meals.
- Instructions were given to construct 65,000 tonnes of storage space.
- Farmers cultivating nine specific paddy varieties are to be registered.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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