Guwahati, September 23: In a decisive strike against the illegal diversion and hoarding of fertiliser, the Assam Agriculture Department, working in tandem with the Assam Police, has seized over 1.04 lakh kilograms of hoarded fertiliser from operations in Nalbari and Cachar districts. Five persons have been detained in connection with the cases, state Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Pijush Hazarika announced on Tuesday.
In a strongly worded social media post, the minister made it clear that the government will not tolerate any attempt to exploit Assam’s hardworking farmers. “No black market syndicate will siphon off what rightfully belongs to Assam’s hard-working farmers,” Hazarika wrote. “We mobilized our Agriculture Department alongside Assam Police to strike at illegal fertilizer diversion across Nalbari and Cachar, confiscating over 1,04,000 kg of hoarded supply and detaining five offenders.”
The minister underlined that farmers form the backbone of the state’s economy and that any effort to undermine their livelihoods would be met with the full force of the law. “Our farmers are the lifeblood of our state and any attempt to exploit their livelihoods will meet with the full force of the law. Diversion of public subsidy will not be tolerated,” he added.
The action comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over the diversion of subsidised fertiliser into the black market, a practice that creates artificial scarcity and forces genuine cultivators to pay higher prices. Fertiliser is treated as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act and is regulated under the Fertiliser Control Order. Subsidised stocks are meant strictly for agricultural use by eligible farmers. Illegal diversion and hoarding not only deprive farmers of inputs at controlled rates but also amount to a direct misuse of public subsidy.
Officials said the joint teams from the Agriculture Department and police conducted coordinated operations in the two districts after receiving specific intelligence inputs about large-scale stockpiling and unauthorised movement of fertiliser. The recovered stock, amounting to more than 104 metric tonnes, has been taken into custody. Investigations are under way to establish the source of the material, the intended destinations and the wider network involved in the diversion.
The crackdown forms part of a broader push by the Assam government to clean up the fertiliser distribution system. In recent months, the state has been rolling out the Framework for Fertilizer Sale (FFS) digital platform to bring greater transparency to the process. The system allows farmers to book fertiliser online, generate secure QR-based tokens and collect supplies after Aadhaar authentication, thereby reducing the scope for middlemen and black-marketing.
Minister Hazarika has repeatedly emphasised the need for adequate stocks, timely supply and strict action against overpricing and diversion. Earlier this year, he had chaired review meetings with fertiliser companies and department officials, directing them to ensure availability across the state, increase the number of rake points for faster transportation, and take stern action against violators.
Similar enforcement actions have been reported in other parts of Assam in recent weeks. In Cachar, police earlier seized consignments of urea and other fertilisers being transported without proper documentation, while in Nalbari, raids on suspected illegal storage points recovered large quantities of urea. These operations indicate a sustained drive rather than isolated incidents.
Farmers’ organisations and local agricultural officers have welcomed the latest seizures, noting that the availability of fertiliser at prescribed rates remains critical during the ongoing cultivation season. Artificial shortages created by hoarders not only raise input costs for small and marginal farmers but also disrupt the timing of application, affecting crop yields.
The government has reiterated that it will continue intensive monitoring of fertiliser distribution channels. Raids, stock verification and checking of transport documents will be intensified across districts. Those found involved in hoarding, black-marketing or diversion of subsidised fertiliser will face legal action under the relevant provisions of the law, including cancellation of licences and criminal prosecution where warranted.
With Assam’s agricultural economy dependent on timely and affordable access to quality inputs, the latest action sends a clear message: the state will not allow organised rackets to undermine the interests of its farmers. The recovery of more than a lakh kilograms of fertiliser and the detention of five persons mark a significant step in the ongoing effort to protect public subsidy and ensure that fertiliser reaches those for whom it is intended.
