In a significant crackdown on spurious agricultural inputs, the Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department conducted a raid on a residential property in Faridkot, uncovering an illegal fertiliser and pesticide packaging unit operating without any licence or permission. The operation was based on reliable intelligence and carried out in the presence of local police.
Details of the Raid
The raid took place in the Narain Nagar locality of Faridkot. The property owner, Rajinder Sethi, was found running a packaging unit for fertilisers and pesticides. Investigations revealed that Sethi was sourcing agricultural inputs from a company based in Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, which is now under the department's scrutiny. An FIR has been registered at Faridkot City Police Station against Sethi under the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985, the Essential Commodities (EC) Act, 1955, the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
Expired and Illegal Products Seized
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated that further investigations revealed Sethi's retail fertiliser licence for Faridkot district had expired, yet commercial activity was ongoing in violation of the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985. The department team collected 18 fertiliser samples from the premises for testing. Additionally, two batches of expired fertiliser and eight batches of expired pesticides were found at the site. Formal samples of the expired stock were not drawn as the products were visibly degraded, unusable, and in clear violation of shelf-life norms.
The team also discovered that Sethi was operating a packaging unit from his residence without any statutory approval or licence. During the raid, unmarked and open bags containing suspected spurious fertiliser were recovered, along with sewing and sealing equipment used for repackaging.
Government's Stance
Urging farmers across the state to report any suspicious fertiliser or pesticide outlets to the department, Minister Khudian said, "This is a clear case of criminal negligence and deliberate cheating with the farmers. Operating an illegal packaging unit from a residential area, storing expired pesticides, and running the business without a valid licence is unforgivable. The government will investigate the entire supply chain, including the Himachal Pradesh-based firm. No one involved in selling spurious or expired agri-inputs to Punjab's farmers will be spared."
The department has urged farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to agricultural inputs to ensure the safety and integrity of the farming community.
