Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 06 October 2025
The Department of Agriculture has raised concerns over the illegal transportation of fertilisers from Kolkata and Chennai Ports into the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Such unauthorised consignments, often of sub-standard quality, are reportedly misleading farmers, causing financial losses, and exposing crops to serious risks.
Past instances of these consignments have shown that the fertilisers were grossly below prescribed standards, raising fears of contamination, reduced efficacy, and possible heavy metal presence—posing a threat to public health, soil fertility, and farmer welfare.
Farmers have been advised not to buy fertilisers from unauthorised sellers. Only licensed and authorised dealers should be approached, ensuring that products carry batch numbers, manufacturing and expiry dates, maximum retail price, and are properly sealed and labelled.
The Department has requested farmers to report any suspicious consignments immediately to the nearest Zonal Agriculture Office or via the Kisan Call Centre at 03192-243434 / 1800 345 1145 for prompt action.
