SRINAGAR, JAN 24: Agriculture Department Kashmir today initiated a valley wide campaign to curb the inflow of unregistered insecticides in Kashmir Division.
In this connection, the Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, who is also Controller, Insecticides of J&K, reiterated the Department’s commitment against the sale of unregistered products (Insecticides).
Earlier, a team comprising of Deputy Director Law Enforcement, Assistant Director Law Enforcement, District Law Enforcement Inspector Pulwama along with the officials of Enforcement Wing inspected the godowns of M/S Himalaya Enterprises at Bus Stand Pulwama and seized 37,800 litres of unregistered Tree Spray Oil (TSO)/ Horticulture Mineral Oil (HMO), an official of Agriculture Department said.
Pertinently, J&K government has decided to allow only those companies to sell Horticulture Mineral Oils (HMOs) in J&K which are registered with the Central Insecticides Board (CIB).
This year, as per last reports available with Ziraat Times, the Central Insecticides Board (CIB) has authorized only one manufacturer, out of eleven, to supply Horticulture Mineral Oils (HMOs) to J&K. J&K government has also decided that the license to stock and supply tree oil in J&K could be granted to the companies only once they are registered with Central Insecticides Board of India.
This development comes after the CIB found only one supplier of HMOs meeting the established quality and other legal criteria. In the face of this situation, Jammu & Kashmir Horticulture Production, Marketing Corporation (JKHPMCL) has now been asked by the government to explore the possibility of importing HMOs from other feasible countries to avert any supply crisis in J&K, Ziraat Times has learnt.
Expressing his views, Iqbal instructed the concerned Enforcement Officers to ensure that no unregistered product shall be allowed for sale in Kashmir Division.
Director asked the Enforcement Wing of the department, Plant Protection Officer Kashmir and Agriculture Chemist Kashmir to work in close coordination so that the consumers (farmers) get quality products at their disposal. He impressed on the concerned officers to uphold the provisions of Insecticides Act 1968 and make sure that the Act is adopted and implemented in letter and spirit.
