Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the Department of Posts have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a nationwide logistics mechanism for the transportation of pesticide, seed and fertiliser samples to designated laboratories across the country.
The MoU was signed in the presence of the Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, and the Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Speaking on the occasion, Scindia highlighted that the Department of Posts, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of “Viksit Bharat”, has emerged as one of the world’s most comprehensive logistics and distribution networks. With over 1.60 lakh post offices, of which nearly 1.40 lakh are located in rural areas, India Post plays a critical role in connecting every citizen across the country.
He noted that the Department handles lakhs of deliveries daily, including nearly six lakh parcel deliveries during peak festive seasons, demonstrating its unmatched reach and operational capability.
The collaboration forms part of the pan-India online pesticide, seed and fertiliser quality management system being developed by the Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP). The system aims to strengthen quality control, improve transparency and ensure timely testing of agricultural inputs through a technology-enabled workflow.
Under the MoU, the Department of Posts will provide end-to-end logistics support for the secure, traceable and time-bound movement of samples collected by pesticide, seed and fertiliser inspectors. Leveraging its extensive postal network and last-mile connectivity, including in remote and rural regions, India Post will ensure reliable and efficient transportation of samples.
The scope of services includes designated booking and consolidation points, specialised handling and packaging protocols for sensitive samples, and QR code-based address masking with digital tracking to ensure confidentiality and end-to-end traceability. For select samples, temperature conditions required for preservation will also be digitally monitored.
Addressing the gathering, Chauhan emphasised that the menace of fake and substandard pesticides, seeds and fertilisers causes significant financial loss and distress to farmers. He stated that this MoU would play a crucial role in protecting farmers by ensuring faster and more reliable testing of agricultural inputs.
By reducing delays in the transportation of samples to laboratories, the initiative would strengthen enforcement mechanisms and help curb the circulation of spurious products in the market.
He further noted that with improved logistics and digital tracking, samples that earlier took 10–15 days to reach laboratories would now be delivered within 48 to 72 hours, enabling timely testing, quicker corrective action and enhanced confidence among farmers in the quality of inputs supplied to them.