Posers raised on dots connecting fertilizer and poppy plantation
Registration of one dealer suspended
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03 2025: Even as Manipur has been engulfed in a series of crises since May 3, 2023, with poppy plantation and illegal immigration largely claimed to be contributing factors, a question has emerged as to whether a fertilizer syndicate is operating in Manipur to support poppy plantations in large tracts of hills by supplying urea fertilizers and banned insecticides.

There is suspicion that some fertilizer dealers are working hand-in-glove with those involved in poppy plantations and diverting fertilizers meant for legitimate farming to poppy cultivation, as per a report received by The Sangai Express from a well-placed source.

The source alleged that these dealers are suspected of diverting urea fertilizers as it yields higher profits.

Posers raised on dots connecting fertilizer and poppy plantation

This development comes as the Agriculture Department is working to ensure adequate fertilizer supply for genuine agricultural purposes during the Kharif season.

It has also come to light that Agriculture Director Peter Salam has suspended the registration certificate of M/S Karan Agency, Kalapahar, Senapati, a fertilizer dealer, under Clause 31 of the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.The suspension order issued on July 21, 2025 cited that M/S Karan Agency misappropriated urea fertilizer stock meant for farmers in Senapati, engaged in activities detrimental to public interest, misused allocated fertilizer stock, failed to maintain proper records, and contravened the conditions stipulated in the registration certificate.

The order had directed the fertilizer dealer to cease all fertilizer related transactions with immediate effect, submit complete details of the remaining stock and return its registration certificate to the department without delay.

Copies of the order were also forwarded to the Principal Secretary (Agriculture); District Agriculture Officer, Senapati; Proprietor of M/S Karan Agency and regional managers of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL); Indian Potash Limited (IPL); Indorama and Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) .

Anjali Chettri, a resident of Chingmeirong Nepali Basti, is the proprietor of the M/S Karan Agency while her husband Deepak Bhattarai is the proprietor of "Deepak Kumar Enterprise" based in Imphal East which sells fertilizers and insecticides.

Their son Karan, on the other hand, is the proprietor of another fertilizer dealer named Krishi.

Manipur police apprehended Karan Chettri for engaging in fraudulent fertilizer sales, yesterday The charges against him include selling fertilizers beyond the jurisdiction allocated to his agency.

The source stated that urea fertilizers continue to be widely used for poppy cultivation in the hill districts, despite efforts to regulate their use.

It further alleged that poppy cultivators are also using strong chemicals banned by the Government to clear grasses, compromising soil health, and that these chemicals are being supplied by fertilizer dealers.

Expressing suspicion that individuals in positions of power may be involved in misusing urea fertilizers for poppy cultivation, generating crores of rupees over the years, the source, recalling past instances, noted that police had in the past detained truckloads of fertilizers heading towards areas in hill districts such as Moreh, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal without valid reasons, fuelling concerns about the fertilizer supply chain.

The continuation of suspected fraudulent urea fertilizer supply, allegedly involving individuals in power, even after keeping the State Assembly under suspended animation, has raised concerns among the public, the source said.

As per the source, M/S Karan Agency had already lifted several bags of urea fertilizers meant for the Kharif season, supposedly for farmers in Senapati district.

Further inputs from another credible source revealed that the agency had lifted around 29,000 bags of urea fertilizers for this year's Kharif season.

Instead of storing the fertilizers at Senapati for distribution to local farmers, M/S Karan Agency stockpiled them at various other locations, the source further alleged.