The Meghalaya government has intensified its crackdown on fertiliser black marketing, conducting 1,432 surprise inspections across the state and warning that retailers found overcharging or diverting stock could face licence cancellation, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma told the state Assembly on Thursday, 27 August. The enforcement drive is running parallel to the state's longer-term push to transition away from chemical fertilisers entirely.

Key Developments in the Assembly

Sangma was responding to a question raised by Voice of the People Party (VPP) president and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, who flagged complaints that farmers were being asked to pay ₹900 for a bag of Single Super Phosphate (SSP). The Chief Minister clarified that the subsidised price of SSP was ₹800 per bag, while urea was available at ₹266 per bag. He noted that the open-market price of SSP stood at around ₹1,200, with the state providing a 25 per cent subsidy to bring it within farmer reach.

Enforcement Machinery on the Ground

Agriculture Minister Timothy D. Shira said the state had deployed 129 inspectors to monitor retailers and ensure compliance. Retailers are required to prominently display notified prices and upload the details of every fertiliser transaction to the Integrated Fertiliser Management System (iFMS). 'This makes every sale traceable,' Shira said. The Directors of Agriculture and Horticulture have been authorised to conduct random checks at any time.

Shira also urged farmers facing overcharging to file complaints through the CM Connect grievance redressal system, offering a direct channel to flag violations.

Diversion to Other States and Bangladesh

Addressing concerns over fertiliser being diverted to neighbouring states and Bangladesh, Shira said consumption in Garo Hills was relatively low, partly because many farmers there continued to practise traditional natural farming. Sangma added that fertiliser movement was being monitored through relevant portals and permits, with use confined to notified areas to prevent cross-border diversion.

Meghalaya's Organic Farming Ambition

'We are in a transition mode,' Sangma said, stressing that the long-term objective was to move away from chemical fertilisers altogether. The state aims to emerge as the country's largest state in organic farming coverage and is already progressing towards greater organic certification. The government maintained that the enforcement measures were designed both to protect farmers from price exploitation and to accelerate Meghalaya's broader shift towards sustainable agriculture.

With digital traceability now built into every fertiliser sale and a dedicated inspector network in place, the administration's next challenge will be sustaining enforcement momentum beyond the current legislative spotlight.