BREAKING: Soybean Crops Damaged Due to Fake Herbicide Chlorimuron-ethyl; FIR Registered in Madhya Pradesh

20 August 2025, New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered strict action after receiving multiple complaints regarding crop damage from the use of Chlorimuron-ethyl, a herbicide widely used for weed control in soybean fields. Farmers across Madhya Pradesh reported large-scale losses after applying the product, raising serious concerns over the circulation of spurious agrochemicals in the market.

Following the minister’s directive, the Agriculture Department conducted immediate inspections and seized samples of the herbicide from various markets. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the seized Chlorimuron-ethyl samples were substandard and failed to meet the required quality standards.

As a result, FIRs have been registered against defaulting companies in three districts of Madhya Pradesh – Vidisha, Dewas, and Dhar. The authorities have also suspended the licenses of dealers who sold the faulty herbicide in the affected regions. To prevent further damage, state governments have been instructed to suspend licenses of distributors and retailers until the test results of seized consignments are finalized.

The government has also imposed a ban on the sale of remaining stocks of the herbicide manufactured or supplied by the companies under investigation. Farmers have been advised not to use Chlorimuron-ethyl until further notice to safeguard their crops from potential losses.

This action marks a strong step towards curbing the menace of counterfeit pesticides and herbicides in India’s agri-input market, which continues to pose a major threat to farmers’ livelihoods and national food security.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said that addressing farmers’ grievances promptly and effectively is the government’s top priority. No negligence will be tolerated in cases of fake fertilizers, seeds, or pesticides, and strict action will be taken against defaulters. Farmers’ satisfaction is our foremost goal, as only then can their trust be strengthened. Every complaint received through ministry portals and call centers will be reviewed seriously to ensure farmers receive timely solutions.

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