The Andhra Pradesh government has intensified its crackdown on fertiliser irregularities across the State, suspending 80 dealer licences and cancelling one as part of a sustained enforcement drive ahead of the Kharif 2026 season .
Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu warned that the government would not tolerate illegal storage, diversion of fertilisers to industries or other States, or sale at inflated prices. He said the licences of dealers found guilty would be cancelled immediately and criminal cases registered against them .
Crackdown in numbers
According to the Minister, from May 4 to date, the Agriculture Department’s enforcement wing had issued 182 show-cause notices to fertiliser dealers for violations. Authorities suspended 80 fertiliser licences and cancelled one. One case was registered under Section 6-A, while 3,372 tonnes of fertilisers worth ₹7.07 crore were detained. Two tonnes of fertilisers valued at ₹5 lakh were also seized .
The crackdown is part of a broader regulatory push. In the Rabi 2025-26 season alone, the number of licences suspended rose from 14 in the previous year to 84, while licences cancelled increased from 1 to 18. Cases booked under Section 6A surged from 13 to 253, and criminal cases rose from 1 to 34 .
‘Zero tolerance’ for violations
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Atchannaidu said the government was taking a serious view of attempts to divert fertilisers for non-agricultural purposes or create artificial shortages affecting farmers .
He directed Agriculture Commissioner Manjeer Jilani to conduct special inspections at dealerships, warehouses and transport hubs across the State. Vigilance teams and enforcement squads have been asked to intensify surveillance on illegal movement and unauthorised sales .
The Minister also warned Agriculture Department officials against negligence in monitoring fertiliser distribution. He said inquiries would be conducted against officials if repeated violations or irregularities were reported within their jurisdiction. District Joint Directors were empowered to suspend officials immediately if necessary .
Mobile app to track fertiliser sales
In a major initiative to prevent diversion of subsidised fertilisers, the State government is set to launch a comprehensive mobile application to digitally monitor fertiliser sales and distribution. The platform is designed to provide end-to-end tracking of fertiliser movement from supply points to retail outlets .
The app will integrate multiple agricultural databases, including e-Crop, Webland and Crop Cultivator Rights Card records, enabling real-time verification of farmers and monitoring of fertiliser transactions. Once a farmer’s Aadhaar number is entered, details such as landholding extent, crops cultivated and cultivation history will be displayed automatically. Based on these details, the application will recommend suitable quantities and types of fertilisers, promoting scientific and balanced nutrient usage .
A key feature of the platform is its ability to track fertiliser purchases across the State. Attempts to purchase fertilisers repeatedly from multiple outlets beyond prescribed limits can be identified instantly .
Joint Director of Agriculture (Fertilisers) Krupadas said the State opted to develop its own integrated platform considering local agricultural conditions, particularly the needs of tenant farmers who form a sizeable section of the farming community .
Improved fertiliser efficiency
The crackdown has yielded results beyond enforcement. In the Rabi 2025-26 season, despite a 36 per cent increase in cropped area, urea consumption rose by just 3 per cent. The average urea usage dropped sharply from 513 kg per hectare over the past three years to 338 kg per hectare, marking a 34 per cent reduction .
Agriculture Director M. J. Samoon noted that the government was able to regulate supply more effectively through the e-Panta digital platform, curbing the earlier practice of accessing additional urea outside official records .
Farmer participation in e-Panta increased from 17.56 lakh to 35.51 lakh, while the mapped crop area rose from 46.07 lakh acres to 73.55 lakh acres, marking a 60 per cent increase. With most cultivators brought under a digital platform, fertiliser allocation became closely linked to recorded crop data, limiting the scope for excess or unaccounted purchases .
Urea card proposal and tenant farmer concerns
To bring greater transparency in urea distribution, the government plans to introduce a special urea card system, enabling farmers to access fertiliser based on actual requirements .
However, the proposal has drawn opposition from tenant farmer associations. The Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers’ Association alleged that the proposed system of issuing urea cards only to farmers possessing land ownership passbooks and e-Crop registration would severely affect tenant farmers, who cultivate nearly 70 to 80 per cent of agricultural land in the State .
The association warned that denying subsidised urea to tenant farmers would force them to buy fertilisers at higher prices in the open market, placing an unbearable financial burden on cultivators already struggling with debts and rising input costs .
Kharif requirements and stock position
AP has estimated a Kharif fertiliser requirement of 16.27 lakh MT. The Centre has allocated 18 lakh MT, providing a comfortable buffer. Of this, 9.91 lakh MT has already been earmarked for supply and 1.66 lakh MT distributed so far .
The Minister assured that adequate stocks of seeds and fertilisers were available across the State and that stringent monitoring mechanisms were in place to prevent any shortage of urea .
Looking ahead
Mr. Atchannaidu instructed officials to undertake daily monitoring of district-wise stocks to ensure timely availability of quality fertilisers to farmers. He added that vigilance surveillance and special enforcement operations were being strengthened further to curb illegal transportation and black marketing .
The State-developed mobile application will remain in use until a Central platform is implemented across Andhra Pradesh. It will be made available to fertiliser shops, dealers, sellers and Rythu Seva Kendras .
Reiterating the government’s commitment to protecting farmers’ interests, the Minister said the State administration remained fully alert to prevent any inconvenience to farmers during the agricultural season .
