The Odisha government has sharply escalated its campaign against fertiliser black marketing and hoarding during the Kharif 2026-27 season, conducting raids at 11,684 shops across the state and taking penal action against hundreds of dealers, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday, 3 September.

Scale of the Crackdown

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who also holds the Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment portfolio, has announced a zero-tolerance policy against the diversion and black marketing of fertilisers. District-level and block-level Enforcement Squads have been constituted specifically to prevent unfair trade practices, including the supply of substandard fertilisers.

Inspection teams and flying squads comprising senior officers from the Revenue Department, Agriculture Department, and Police Department are conducting regular raids at wholesale and retail fertiliser outlets on the orders of Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.

Penal Action Against Dealers

The scale of enforcement in the current financial year is significant. Show-cause notices have been issued to 2,774 persons. Fertiliser sales by 321 dealers have been temporarily suspended, while the licences of 170 dealers have been suspended for allegedly resorting to unfair practices. The licences of 96 dealers have been cancelled outright.

Additionally, fertiliser stocks belonging to 12 erring dealers have been seized, and criminal cases have been registered against seven of them. Action is being taken under the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 wherever irregularities are detected.

Year-on-Year Comparison

The current crackdown represents a marked intensification over the previous year. During 2025-26, raids were conducted at 9,017 fertiliser shops — roughly 23% fewer than the current season. Show-cause notices were sent to 2,373 individuals, sales by 48 dealers were halted, and licences of 53 dealers were suspended or revoked. Fertiliser stocks from 15 dealers were seized, and legal cases were filed against nine people. This year's numbers are notably higher across nearly every metric.

Message to Farmers

The state government has sought to reassure cultivators ahead of the critical Kharif sowing window. 'Adequate quantity of fertilisers is available in each selling point, and there is no cause for panic. Farmers are advised not to panic over rumours and to buy fertilisers only from authorised shops at controlled prices,' the government said in its official statement.

What Comes Next

Enforcement squads are continuing raids across districts, with major operations reported in the past few days. The government has indicated that monitoring will remain intensive through the remainder of the Kharif season. With criminal cases already filed and licence cancellations on the rise, the administration appears committed to sustaining pressure on errant dealers beyond routine inspections.