Port Blair, Oct 4: The lush farmlands of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands face a hidden threat — not from pests or weather, but from rogue fertiliser consignments slipping in through Kolkata and Chennai ports. These sub-standard supplies are putting farmers’ livelihoods, soil health, and even public safety at serious risk. Authorities have sounded the alarm over an illegal inflow of sub-standard fertilisers into the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, warning that the shadow trade is endangering crops, contaminating soil, and fleecing unsuspecting farmers.
According to officials, unauthorised consignments are being smuggled in via Kolkata and Chennai ports and sold in the Islands by unlicensed agents at attractive prices, luring farmers into what experts call a dangerous gamble. Investigations into earlier seizures revealed that the fertilisers were grossly below prescribed standards, raising fears of toxic heavy metals, poor nutrient content, and lasting soil damage.
“This is not just a case of cheating farmers financially; it’s an assault on our agricultural ecosystem and food security,” an Agriculture Department source said, adding that contaminated or adulterated fertilisers could reduce crop yields and even harm public health.
The Department of Agriculture has issued a red alert to the farming community, urging them to buy fertilisers only from licensed and authorised dealers. Farmers have been reminded to check every bag for batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, MRP, sealed packaging, and proper labelling before purchase. “Suspicious consignments should be reported immediately to the nearest Zonal Agriculture Office or through the Kisan Call Centre (03192-243434 / 1800-345-1145),” the advisory stated.
Officials fear that continued use of such illegal fertilisers could undo years of soil-fertility efforts and inflict long-term economic loss on the island’s farmers. For now, the call is for vigilance, strict enforcement at entry points, and a united front by the authorities and farming community to weed out this growing menace before it cripples local agriculture.
