Srinagar, Jan 2: The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGCD) has raised a red flag over the recent surge in sales of substandard fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and chemicals in the Valley. The Srinagar-based association fears this unscrupulous practice could wreak havoc on the region’s agriculture and horticulture industries.
In a press release iasued to Ziraat Times, the KVFGCD expressed grave concern about the potentially devastating consequences of substandard agricultural products. They highlighted two recent incidents – the seizure of a truckload of substandard fertilizer in Sopore on January 1 and another in Kulgam on January 2 – as alarming indicators of a wider problem. The association suspects a nefarious “mafia” of dealers is deliberately bringing in these spurious products to undermine the agricultural sector.
“The sale of substandard of these products are performed in the entire Valley causing heavy losses in fruit orchards of the Valley,” the press release states.
“The Valley Based Fruit Growers/Dealers, who have already suffered heavy losses since last several years due to one or the other reason, are now extremely worried knowing the situation of arrival of Substandard/Spurious Fertilizers in the Valley”, the growers further said.
The KVFGCD commended the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments’ enforcement wings for their efforts in seizing substandard products across the Valley. However, they believe stricter measures are necessary to curb the sale of these harmful goods. They propose two key solutions:
Strengthening enforcement wings: The association urges the authorities to bolster the manpower and resources of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments’ enforcement wings. This would enable them to conduct more frequent and comprehensive surprise inspections, thereby deterring the sale of substandard products.
Establishing testing labs: The KVFGCD emphasizes the urgent need for setting up testing laboratories at Qazigund and Banihal. These labs would meticulously examine fertilizer, pesticide, insecticide, fungicide, and chemical consignments before they enter the Valley, ensuring only high-quality products reach farmers.
“The Establishment of Testing Laboratories at Qazigund/Banihal are also essentially required so that the consignment of Pesticides, Insecticides, Fungicides and Fertilizers are formally tested before its entering in the Valley,” the press release asserts.
