Agri Dept conducts surprise checks of agro chemical outlets in Srinagar; traders raise eyebrows

Srinagar, March 1: Joint Director Apiculture and Mushroom Development Kashmir Farooq Ahmad Shah today conducted surprise inspection of various warehouses of Pesticide and Insecticide Dealers of district Srinagar. The Joint Director is the designated officer to check and monitor the flow and sale of insecticides in district Bandipora, Srinagar and Ganderbal, an official of the department told Ziraat Times.

Meanwhile, several agro chemicals retail and distribution busineses dealing with high quality agro chemicals told Ziraat Times that ‘despite conducting their business through valid voucher system, GST tax mechanics and clear information on the origin of manufacture of reputed branded companies, they feel they were being targeted for no valid reasons.’

“We do not understand why this sudden campaign has been launched to particularly target reputed national and multi-national brands in Kashmir, which otherwise have strict quality control mechanisms in place. After the abolition of the toll tax system, several more multi-national brands are aiming to start their operations in Kashmir”, Rafik Ahmed, a leading retailer of agro chemicial products told Ziraat Times.

“Everyone wants those brands to be in Kashmir so that there is no room for spurious and sub standard agro chemicals. Official quality control authorities must make sure not to fall in the trap of promoting particular brands only. Everything that is happening is in public knowledge”, he added.

Meanwhile, Joint Director Agriculture, has directed the officers to ensure that quality fertilizers/insecticide and other inputs is made available to the farmers through proper sale outlets and as well as sampling of all the inputs be done in time bound manner and accordingly should be sent to the Quality Control Laboratories concerned for analysis so that the pre-tested quality material be available in the market.

He also directed the Enforcement Inspector to take appropriate measures against dealer if found guilty of violating any provision of law. Accordingly, the Plant Protection Officer Kashmir be informed with the recommendations against the said dealer, he said in a statement to Ziraat Times.