Sub-standard pesticides and fertilisers in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 17: Concerned over the reports about the sale of sub-standard fertilisers and pesticides to farmers in the Kashmir Valley, the Enforcement Wing (EW) of Department of Agriculture has launched a vigorous campaign against the dealers indulging in such trade.

An official spokesman said today the EW raided three fertilisers dealers at Safapora and Sumbal in north Kashmir and sealed their shops.

In addition, the department has banned five dealers of Sumbal for sale of any sort of agriculture seeds, fertilisers or pesticides.

The team during its inspection at Pulwama and Shopian in south Kashmir banned sale of pesticides worth Rs 3 lakh and seized expired agriculture pesticides and confiscated pesticides worth Rs 60,000.

He said the EW collected samples of TRUCOP, batch number PTR007 manufactured by Indofil from Srinagar and Diathene M 45 (Mancozeb-75%WP) under batch number WB-29 XXXX BO from Pulwama, which have been found ''misbranded'' after analysis.

The farmers have been asked not to use these chemicals in their orchards.

UNI