India's minister directs states to combat fake fertilizers, aiming to protect farmers and the economy.

India's Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has directed state governments to take strict action against the sale of counterfeit and substandard fertilisers. This includes monitoring production and sales, conducting testing, and educating farmers on identifying genuine products. The sale of fake fertilisers is illegal under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985. Chouhan emphasized the need for quality fertilisers at affordable prices to support farmers and the economy. States are to develop systems involving farmers in monitoring and to launch campaigns to eliminate fake fertilisers.