Union Minister Urges States To Stop Forced Sale Of Nano-Fertilisers And Biostimulants With Subsidised Fertilisers

The Union Agriculture Minister has urged states to stop the forced sale of nano-fertilisers and biostimulants bundled with subsidised conventional fertilisers.

About Nano-Fertiliser and Biostimulants

Nano-fertilisers are nutrient formulations at the nanoscale (1–100 nm) designed to improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
- These are sprayed on crops and absorbed through leaves, reducing the need for bulk fertilisers.
Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to enhance crop growth, yield, and resistance to stress, without being traditional nutrients or pesticides.

Aspect	Fertilizers	Biostimulants
Primary Function	Supply essential nutrients (like N, P, K) to promote plant growth directly	Enhance plant growth and stress tolerance by stimulating natural processes
Mode of Action	Work by directly increasing soil or plant nutrient content	Act on plant physiology or soil microbiome without directly adding nutrients
Examples	Urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), MOP (Muriate of Potash)	Seaweed extracts, humic acids, beneficial microbes like Azospirillum, Rhizobium

Concerns Raised

Illegal Forced Sales: Retailers were allegedly forcing farmers to buy nano-fertilisers or biostimulants as a condition to access subsidised conventional fertilisers like urea and DAP.
- This practice violates the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955
- As per the order it is essential to provide quality fertilisers at the right time, at affordable prices, and of standard quality.
Quality and Efficacy Doubts: concerns over the performance of nano urea and biostimulants, citing inefficiency and questioning their usefulness during the 2025 Kharif Conference.

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