NEW DELHI, 10 September 2025: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), through its National Council on Agri Inputs & Farming Practices, organised a Roundtable Dialogue on Spurious and Counterfeit Products in Agriculture to address the growing challenge of fake farm inputs in India. The event focused on ensuring that quality pesticides, fertilizers, and bio-inputs reach farmers, thereby improving productivity, safeguarding crops, and strengthening the country’s agricultural economy.
Speaking at the event, N.K. Agarwal, Co-Chairman of the Council, stressed the urgency of reforms in the agri-inputs sector.
“Agriculture forms the backbone of our economy, with 65% of India’s population dependent on it for livelihood. Farmers must have access to genuine and quality inputs, especially pesticides and fertilizers, which are critical to crop protection and higher yields,” Agarwal said. He added that stricter regulatory mechanisms were vital to curb counterfeit products and build farmer confidence.
Delivering the government perspective, Dr. Praveen Kumar Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, highlighted ongoing initiatives to tackle the issue.
“The government is committed to facilitating good-quality farm inputs and is working towards introducing comprehensive regulations that will effectively eliminate the production and distribution of spurious agricultural items,” he said.
Krishan Bir Chaudhary, President, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, urged stronger ground-level vigilance. He recommended regular surprise sampling by the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC) to verify product quality and safeguard crop health. He also suggested setting up district-level committees comprising farmers, dealers, industry representatives, and officials to address complaints transparently.
The roundtable concluded with a consensus on actionable outcomes, including:
- Strengthening testing infrastructure
- Improving localized monitoring systems
- Promoting collaboration between government, industry, and farmers
ASSOCHAM reaffirmed its commitment to building a farmer-centric ecosystem that ensures access to safe, trusted, and sustainable agricultural inputs, thereby boosting farm productivity and contributing to India’s long-term food security.
Image credit: cgiar.org
