In a move aimed at strengthening quality control of agricultural inputs, the Department of Posts (DoP) and the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) on Wednesday 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 India.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Speaking at the event, Scindia said that guided by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat”, the Department of Posts has evolved into one of the world’s most comprehensive logistics and distribution networks. He highlighted that India Post operates more than 1.60 lakh post offices, nearly 1.40 lakh of them in rural areas, and handles lakhs of deliveries every day, including around six lakh parcel deliveries during peak festive periods, underlining its unmatched reach and operational strength.
The collaboration is 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 technology-driven system aims to improve transparency, strengthen quality control and ensure timely testing of agricultural inputs through an integrated digital workflow.
Under the MoU, India Post 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, the Department of Posts will ensure reliable transportation of samples across the country.
The services will include 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, Chouhan said that fake and substandard pesticides, seeds and fertilisers cause significant financial losses and distress to farmers. He said the MoU would help protect farmers by ensuring faster and more dependable testing of agricultural inputs and strengthening enforcement mechanisms against spurious products.
According to the ministry, the improved logistics and digital tracking system will significantly cut transit time, with samples that earlier took 10–15 days to reach laboratories now expected to be delivered within 48 to 72 hours. This will enable quicker testing, timely corrective action and greater confidence among farmers in the quality of inputs supplied to them.
The Ministry said that the partnership underscores the government’s focus on inter-departmental coordination and on leveraging India Post’s logistics capabilities to support national programmes. The initiative is expected to enhance regulatory oversight, improve quality assurance in the agriculture sector and safeguard farmers from losses caused by fake agricultural inputs.
