New Delhi, 11 Sep 2025 – The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), through its National Council on Agri Inputs & Farming Practices, organized a Roundtable Dialogue on Spurious and Counterfeit Products in Agriculture to deliberate on practical measures for strengthening the agri-inputs sector. The dialogue placed special focus on ensuring quality pesticides, fertilizers, and bio-inputs reach farmers, thereby improving productivity, safeguarding crops, and supporting India’s agricultural growth.
Mr. N K Agarwal, Co-Chairman, National Council on Agri Inputs & Farming Practices, ASSOCHAM, underscoring the urgency of sectoral reforms said, “Agriculture forms the backbone of our economy, with 65% of India’s population dependent on this sector for their livelihood . Farmers must have access to genuine and quality inputs, especially pesticides and fertilizers, which are critical to crop protection and higher yields. Strengthening strict regulatory mechanisms will help reduce spurious/counterfeit/fake products in the market and build farmer confidence.”
Providing the Government Perspective, Chief Guest Dr. Praveen Kumar Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, highlighted ongoing initiatives. “The government is committed towards facilitating good quality farm inputs and working towards introducing comprehensive regulations that will effectively eliminate the production and distribution of spurious agricultural items,” he stated.
Mr. Krishan Bir Chaudhary, President, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, emphasized the urgency of ground-level vigilance, urging the CIBRC to conduct surprise sampling regularly to verify the quality of inputs, particularly pesticides and biofertilizers, which directly impact crop health and soil sustainability. “We recommend creating district-level committees comprising farmers, industry representatives, dealers, and government officials to quickly address complaints and maintain transparency in the agri-inputs supply chain,” he suggested.
The Roundtable concluded with a strong consensus on actionable outcomes to mitigate the challenges of counterfeit farm inputs, improved testing infrastructure, localized monitoring, and collaborative action among government, industry, and farmers. ASSOCHAM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting safe, trusted, and sustainable farming solutions that empower India’s farmers and strengthen the agricultural economy.