Fake fertilizer 'manufacturing' unit unearthed in Haryana

Fatehabad, Oct 17 (UNI) The Haryana agriculture department today unearthed a fake fertiliser and seed-manufacturing unit at the local Batra colony here.

The authorities recovered a large number of bags containing spurious fertilisers and seeds besides equipment used to seal bags and pouches. The department has sealed the factory and taken samples of various brands of seed and fertilisers found there.

Deputy Director, Agriculture R S Poonia told mediapersons that a team of agriculture department officers raided the fake factory a tipoff. The team found a large number of bags of DAP fertiliser purported to be manufactured by IFFCO.

The team found that the labourers working in the unit were filling bags with IFFCO label with the material drawn from bags of fertilisers manufactured by some Bijnor based local unit. While the labels of DAP manufactured by the Bijnor firm claimed 10 per cent nitrogen content and 15 per cent potassium contents, the labels of IFFCO, in which the material was being packed contained 18 per cent nitrogen and 46 percent potassium.

The authorities also found pouches of Proagro brand of bajra and rice seeds purported to have been manufactured by Bayer, a multinational company.

The authorities have recovered 817 bags of DAP fertiliser purported to have been manufactured by IFFCO, Shriram and IPL, 313 bags of Zinc Sulphate fertiliser, 185 bags of seed purported to have been manufactured by Sarva Shaktimaan, 595 bags of Single Super Phosphate fertiliser, 355 bags of chemical dust and 780 bags of dusting powder from the unit.

The authorities have also recovered a bag-stitching machine and a pouch-sealing machine from the factory. The agriculture department has reported the matter to the police and a police party has been posted outside the unit. The authorities have taken samples of various items recovered from the unit.

UNI XC HS SAM RN2021