Sopore, Jan 11: President, Sopore Fruit Mandi – Asia’s second-largest fruit market – has announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for those providing crucial information about the sale of counterfeit fertilizers in the market. This comes in the wake of growing concerns about the rise of spurious fertilizers affecting crop yields in the valley.
Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Fayaz Ahmed Malik expressed dismay at unscrupulous dealers compromising the integrity of the agriculture industry by selling fake fertilizers. “Farmers are the backbone of our community and it is our collective responsibility to safeguard their interests,” he said.
Malik said the cash reward initiative aims to encourage locals to come forward with information that can assist authorities in identifying and curbing the circulation of duplicate fertilizers.
Expressing deep concern for the welfare of farmers and the agriculture industry, he said such actions not only jeopardize the livelihoods of hardworking farmers but also pose a threat to the overall economic stability of the region.
“The generous cash reward is intended to motivate individuals to play an active role in maintaining the integrity of agricultural practices in the region. People are encouraged to provide details about suppliers or dealers suspected of dealing in duplicate or spurious fertilizers. Confidentiality will be maintained to ensure the safety of those reporting,” Fayaz added.
Calling for immediate and decisive action, including the implementation of the Public Safety Act (PSA) against those found guilty of distributing counterfeit fertilizers, Malik reiterated his commitment to eradicating this issue.
The Department of Agriculture, Kashmir, recently seized around 620 bags of duplicate spurious fertilizers in Sopore and Kulgam districts during raids. The director warned of stringent action against those selling counterfeit fertilizers in the valley and urged people to report any such activities. —(KNO)
