Chennai, Aug 31 (IANS): The Tamil Nadu agriculture department has deployed flying squads to check whether fertilisers are being sold at much higher prices than stipulated to farmers.

The agriculture minister in a statement said that inspections have been carried out at shops selling fertilisers following reports that they were being sold at higher prices.

The agriculture department has also received complaints that many fertiliser shops have been forcing farmers to buy unnecessary fertiliser products.

According to the department, 374 flying squads inspected 6949 places. Of this, 6258 cooperative and private fertiliser selling centres were checked. The squads also conducted raids at 514 wholesale fertiliser shops and 108 fertiliser godowns. Inspections were also conducted at 38 fertiliser manufacturing units, 17 factories and 16 district check posts.

The squads found that there were huge discrepancies in the availability of fertiliser in these shops. 36 shops were found selling it without a license.

After the inspections, the flying squad officials cancelled the licenses of two shops permanently and suspended ninety two shops' licences.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has ordered the direct procurement centres of the corporation to pay the hiked procurement prices to the paddy farmers during the Kharif season commencing from September 1.