The Rajasthan government, in a major crackdown on factories manufacturing fake fertilisers and substandard seeds, have exposed a vast network involved in the production and distribution of adulterated fertilisers not only in Rajasthan, but also in other states. The joint raids were conducted by the state’s Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Departments throughout the state.

ORaids were carried out at over 30 factories in Jaipur, Kishangarh, Sriganganagar, and other industrial hubs across Rajasthan. Officials discovered that the accused were allegedly mixing marble slurry, stone dust, soil, and coloured dyes to imitate legitimate fertiliser brands.

In Kishangarh and Ajmer’s Tilonia region, officials uncovered tonnes of fake IFFCO-labelled fertiliser being manufactured using industrial waste such as marble cutting slurry. The mixture was heated, granulated to resemble original fertilisers and coloured using dyes. These products were then packaged and falsely sold as branded fertilisers.

One factory, Atishi Agrotech, was found stocked with massive quantities of marble powder and sand, generally used in manufacturing fake fertilisers.

Investigations revealed that these units were supplying over two lakh bags of fake fertilisers daily to states including Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. The adulterated products, harmful to both crops and soil health, were being passed off as organic or high-quality fertilisers, deceiving thousands of unsuspecting farmers.

While the raids have exposed a deep-rooted scam, concerns have also been raised about official negligence. As per sources, some officials responsible for monitoring these operations were complicit, leading to delays in enforcement and leniency in taking action.

Speaking to India Today, the Additional Director of Rajasthan’s Agriculture Department confirmed, “We had received credible information. Samples have been collected, and further investigation is ongoing.”

The state government is now preparing for stringent legal action against the offenders, aiming to dismantle the counterfeit fertiliser network and safeguard the interests of farmers nationwide.