Stricter fertilizer sale norms spark farmers’ concerns in Telangana

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has directed District Agriculture Officers to enforce stricter norms for fertiliser sales, mandating biometric authentication and PoS receipts. Farmers, however, complain about difficulties in accessing smartphones and scanners due to worn fingerprints and ageing skin.

Hyderabad: Ignoring the farmers’ appeals over hardships being faced in obtaining urea bags, especially over urea app bookings and other norms, stricter norms are being introduced for sale of fertilizers.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has issued an advisory for the District Agriculture Officers (DAOs) on the process to follow for sale of urea. It has directed the State governments to ensure fair distribution of fertilizers and strict adherence to the advisory.

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Accordingly, the DAOs have been instructed that no sale of fertilizers without prior biometric authentication of farmers at the Point of Sale (PoS). This is even after the farmers complaining about lack of access to smartphones and being unable to upload their biometrics like fingerprints.

In most cases, farmers complained that their fingerprints wear down due to constant interaction with rough materials, soil and tools. This apart, due to ageing their skin also loses elasticity, making it difficult for scanners to capture images.

The DAOs have also been asked that no sale of fertilizer without handing over PoS paper receipt of sale to the farmers. They have been asked to check that there is no mismatch between stock shown in the PoS machine and actual availability of fertilizers in the godown.

Similarly, orders have been issued to ensure that no godown was maintained by the wholesaler in the districts other than the district of the licensing authority. Tagging of any product to the farmer visiting the retail shop for purchasing fertilizers is not permitted.

For implementation of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) scheme, the Department of Fertilizers had conducted inspections of distribution of subsidized fertilizers through PoS machines in 86 shops across the country between May and September 2025.

Stating that inspections have revealed gaps in the usage of PoS machines. Such gaps have potential to lead to diversion, black marketing and overpricing of fertilizers.

Accordingly, to ensure fair and transparent distribution of fertilizers, the Ministry issued a few Dos and Don’t’s to be followed by the DAOs.