AGRICULTURE Department has registered FIRs against two fertiliser dealers in the district for indulging in black marketing, unauthorised trading and selling fertilisers above the governmentapproved rates. According to Deputy Director of Agriculture Umesh Katare, a team comprising Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Manisha Patel and Senior Agriculture Development Officer-cumFertiliser Inspector Jaipal Singh Rathore recently inspected M/s New Goswami Krishi Kendra at Majhgawan in Sihora. During the inspection, proprietor, Rakesh Goswami, was found procuring fertilisers from unauthorised sources and conducting business in violation of the conditions of his fertiliser licence. In a separate case, Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer Pratibha Gaur, Senior Agriculture Development Officer-cumFertiliser Inspector Rashmi Parsai, Agriculture Extension Officers Sonam Jain and Prajapati inspected Janaki Krishi Kendra at Kaladehi, Bargi, following complaints from farmers.

 

The inspection revealed that the proprietor, Baliram Chouksey, was selling fertilisers at prices higher than the government-prescribed rates. Officials also found that the mandatory price list was not displayed at the outlet. During the inquiry, farmer Krishna Kumar Chadhar informed that he had purchased 10 bags of DAP fertiliser on July 9 at Rs 1,600 per bag, paying a total of Rs 16,000 through an online transaction. Another farmer, Prem Chand Kurmi, charged that although a fertiliser token had been issued in the name of his son, Raj Kurmi, the dealer demanded Rs 1,600 per bag, significantly higher than the prescribed rate. Considering the seriousness of the violations, the Agriculture Department has lodged FIRs against the proprietors of both establishments at Bargi and Majhgawan police stations under the provisions of the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 and Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and further investigation is underway