PRAYAGRAJ, Aug. 15 -- In a bid to ensure timely and adequate fertiliser supply to farmers during the ongoing Kharif season, a major enforcement drive targeting hoarders and sellers of counterfeit fertilisers is underway across the Prayagraj division. Acting joint director (agriculture), Prayagraj division, Shipra (who goes by single name) informed that raids have been conducted across 785 fertiliser centres between June 1 and August 13, 2025, following directives from the state government. Among the districts, Prayagraj recorded the highest number of inspections with 241 raids, followed by 235 in Pratapgarh, 212 in Fatehpur, and 89 in Kaushambi. During these operations, a total of 319 samples were collected for testing, she shared. As a result of the inspections, 44 sales centres were found non-compliant and had their licences either suspended or revoked including 13 in Prayagraj, 5 in Kaushambi, 7 in Fatehpur and 19 in Pratapgarh. An additional 137 centers were served warning notices including 42 in Prayagraj, 12 in Kaushambi, 27 in Fatehpur and 56 in Pratapgarh, she added. Taking strict action against serious violations, the agriculture department sealed two sales centres and lodged FIRs in both cases. According to Pawan Kumar Vishwakarma, deputy director (agriculture), Prayagraj division, both FIRs pertain to centres located in the Prayagraj district. In one case, a raid at a centre in Koraon uncovered 490 bags of counterfeit fertiliser. These bags, falsely labeled under the "Chambal Fertilizers" brand, were filled with substances resembling MOP (Muriate of Potash), but were actually composed of salt or sand-like materials. The warehouse was also found to be missing 4,000 bags of urea, raising suspicions of black marketing. Samples were collected from the entire stock, and in the presence of police, the facility was sealed and an FIR filed. The second case involved a fertiliser sales center in Janghai, under Pratappur tehsil. During inspection, it was discovered that over 2,000 bags of fertiliser had been sold irregularly to unauthorised individuals. The district agriculture officer sealed the premises and filed an FIR against the proprietor....