Major Crackdown on Fertiliser Trade Violations Across Pune, Ahilyanagar, Solapur; Agriculture Department Suspends 107 Licences, Six Cancelled

Pune, 20th June 2026: The Agriculture Department has intensified inspections of fertiliser retail outlets across Pune, Ahilyanagar and Solapur districts to ensure that farmers receive quality fertilisers at fair prices.

As part of the drive, stringent action has been taken against dealers found violating regulations. Till April 2026, a total of 107 fertiliser sale licences have been suspended, six licences cancelled, and seven FIRs registered against erring centres, Divisional Joint Director of Agriculture Babasaheb Jejurkar said.

Under the special inspection campaign, officials inspected 2,576 licensed fertiliser outlets across the Pune division. The inspections revealed 281 cases of irregularities and alleged black marketing, following which show-cause notices were issued to 277 centres.

In Pune district, 650 fertiliser outlets were inspected, with irregularities detected in 71 cases. The department suspended 27 licences in the district. In Ahilyanagar, inspections were carried out at 812 centres, resulting in the suspension of 16 fertiliser sale licences and cancellation of two licences. FIRs were also registered against three centres.

Solapur district recorded the highest number of inspections, with 1,129 centres examined. Fertiliser samples collected from 18 cases were found to be substandard. The department suspended 64 licences and cancelled four licences in the district, while FIRs were lodged against four centres.

The department has also stepped up efforts to prevent the diversion of subsidised urea for industrial purposes. As part of this exercise, officials visited 42 industrial units across the division.

Jejurkar warned that strict action would continue against traders involved in black marketing, artificial shortages, hoarding and overpricing of fertilisers. He appealed to farmers to purchase fertilisers only from authorised agricultural centres and to report any irregularities to the nearest Agriculture Department office.

Superintendent Agriculture Officer Vijaykumar Raut, Technical Officer Nilesh Gadhari and Divisional Quality Control Inspector Atul Jadhav, among others, were present during the enforcement drive.