New Delhi: The Department of Posts and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed a sample logistics MoU on Tuesday to create a nationwide system for transporting pesticide, seed, and fertiliser samples to laboratories.
The two departments signed the agreement in New Delhi in the presence of Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The MoU aims to ensure secure, traceable, and time-bound movement of samples across the country.
Speaking at the event, Scindia said the Department of Posts had evolved into one of the world’s most extensive logistics networks. He noted that India Post operated more than 1.60 lakh post offices nationwide. Moreover, nearly 1.40 lakh of these offices served rural areas. As a result, the network connected even remote regions efficiently.
He added that the postal department handled lakhs of deliveries every day. During peak festive seasons, it delivered close to six lakh parcels daily. Therefore, he said the department had the operational strength to support critical national programmes.
The sample logistics MoU forms part of the PAN-India Online Pesticide, Seed and Fertiliser Quality Management System. The Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance is developing this digital platform. The system seeks to improve transparency, strengthen quality control, and speed up laboratory testing.
Sample logistics MoU to cut testing time for farm inputs
Under the sample logistics MoU, the Department of Posts will provide end-to-end logistics support for agricultural samples. Inspectors will collect the samples, while India Post will ensure their safe and timely delivery to designated laboratories.
In addition, the agreement covers specialised handling and packaging for sensitive materials. It also includes designated booking and consolidation points. Furthermore, the system will use QR code-based address masking and digital tracking to maintain confidentiality and traceability. For certain samples, authorities will digitally monitor temperature conditions as well.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said fake and substandard farm inputs caused serious financial losses to farmers. Therefore, he said faster and reliable testing remained essential to protect farmer interests. He added that the new logistics system would strengthen enforcement and curb the spread of spurious products.
He further said that samples earlier took 10 to 15 days to reach laboratories. Now, however, the new system would deliver them within 48 to 72 hours. Consequently, authorities could take quicker corrective action and restore farmer confidence in input quality.
Officials said the partnership reflected the government’s focus on institutional coordination. Moreover, it highlighted the use of India Post’s logistics strength to support agriculture. Overall, the initiative is expected to improve regulatory oversight and safeguard farmers from losses caused by fake inputs.
आज, नई दिल्ली में माननीय केंद्रीय कृषि मंत्री श्री @ChouhanShivraj जी के साथ मिलकर मेरे @IndiaPostOffice और केंद्रीय कृषि एवं ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय के बीच दो महत्त्वपूर्ण MoUs पर हस्ताक्षर हुए।
ये MoUs हमारे लाखों-करोड़ों लाभार्थी किसान भाइयों की सुरक्षा को मज़बूत करेंगे और… pic.twitter.com/4DKgn3jHou
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) January 7, 2026
