JAMMU: To maintain the highest standards of agricultural practices and ensure the welfare of farmers, Director Agriculture Jammu, Arvinder Singh Reen conducted a surprise inspection of sale outlets to assess the quality of Plant Protection material in the R S Pura subdivision market.
Accompanied by a team of officers comprising Plant Protection Officer Madan Lal; Assistant Director Law Enforcement; Kuldeep Singh and SDAO RS Pura Surinder Gupta, the visit was aimed at verifying the adherence to quality standards in the distribution of Plant Protection materials in the area.
Samples of pesticides were systematically collected on spot and dispatched for rigorous quality analysis at the departmental regional pesticides testing laboratory in Jammu.
Concurrently, the available stock of PP Chemicals with the retailers was also verified with respect to the Principal Certificate provided by the respective companies or manufacturers.
The Dealers found to have stocked materials not registered in the enclosed list of their licenses were served notices, mandating rectification within the stipulated time frame. Failure to comply would result in the initiation of legal proceedings under rules against the defaulters.
The Director highlighted the importance of quality PP Chemicals in the agriculture sector and instructed them to ensure the supply of good quality plant protection material to the farmers. He stressed on display of price lists and to fulfill all other necessary parameters entrusted in the Insecticide Act.
The Plant Protection officer Jammu instructed the dealers and distributors to ensure timely filing of monthly sale returns as per format and avoid supply of products without quality test reports from the manufacturers.
All dealers of Jammu Division are warned and directed by Assistant Director Law Enforcement to sell quality inputs to the farming community at genuine rates failing which legal action will be initiated against the defaulter.
The Director impressed on the Law Enforcement agency for regular inspections, especially during the peak season and sampling of PP Chemicals from the market to ensure tracing of fake/spurious pesticides for achieving the production of disease free crops.