Punjab Agri deptt intensifies quality control programme

Moga, Oct 4 (UNI) The Punjab Agriculture department, under the quality control programme to provide quality fertilisers, pesticides and seeds to the farmers, tested 1512 samples of fertilisers till September end, official sources said today.

As many as 39 of these fertiliser samples failed the quality test. A total of 3500 fertiliser samples are to be tested during this financial year.

Similarly, out of 5100 seed samples tested in this fiscal year, 147 were found sub-standard. Out of 1813 samples of pesticides, 99 tested negative.

During the year 2006-07, the department had tested 3420 samples of fertilisers, out of which 23 samples were found sub-standard during laboratory tests.

Likewise, out of 2512 samples of pesticides, 39 samples were found sub-standard and out of 16000 samples of seeds, 147 samples were found sub-standard in the last fiscal, state Agriculture Director Dr Gurdev Singh Gill said here.

Dr Gill said suitable legal action would be taken against those dealers whose samples were found sub-standard.

Referring to the Soil Health Programme, Dr Gill said within the next five years, fertility status of the land of each farmer would be determined. Accordingly, permanent soil cards would also be given to each farmer which would help in keeping track of the fertility of the soil.

Dr Gill, who was here in connection with the farmers training camp for the rabi crops, stressed the need to use water judiciously. Dr Gill suggested using sprinklers and drip irrigation system to avoid excessive and reckless use of water.

He also disclosed that an expert committee of the Union Government also visited Punjab recently to explore the latest methods of irrigation, keeping in view the declining water table.

UNI