Thane, April 11 An inspection of agricultural service centers in the Thane district has resulted in the recovery of several "non-compliant" samples of fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, an official said on Saturday.
A legal case has been filed against one seed company, while police cases have been registered against two fertilizer companies, and 305 metric tonnes of fertilizer stock was seized, he added.
These agricultural input vendors were checked three times this year by taluka-level quality inspectors, the official said.
"A total of 252 fertilizer samples, 420 seed samples, and 80 pesticide samples were collected and sent for laboratory analysis. One seed sample, 19 fertilizer samples, and 15 pesticide samples were found to be non-compliant. Police have taken action against three firms for selling pesticides without a license," the official said.
In addition, the sale of 52 products, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, has been stopped, and the licenses of six centers have been cancelled, while seven have been suspended and one center has been issued a warning, according to a release from the district administration.
"No shortage or diversion of fertilizers was reported in 2025 due to strict monitoring. Awareness drives helped reduce fertilizer usage by 14% compared to last year. Farmers have been urged to report any irregularities to the district grievance cell or local inspectors with evidence," the release said.