Govt to ensure adequate availability of high-quality fertilizers: Farooq Khan

Srinagar, Dec 11: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Farooq Khan Saturday said that government is keeping an eye to ensure adequate availability of high-quality fertilizers and pesticides for growers and farmers in Jammu and Kashmir.
He made these remarks while chairing a meeting here at Lal Mandi, Srinagar to discuss the future road map for the benefit of farmers and to stop the supply of the substandard fertilizers. The meeting was attended by Director Agriculture Kashmir, Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director General Horticulture Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, representatives of fertilizer companies.
Advisor said that government is taking several initiatives in order to further improve the system to ensure that sub-standard fertilizers and pesticides are not supplied to the end users.
He directed the fertilizer companies to ensure that only quality fertilizers are sold in the market and any wrongdoing by the companies will be dealt with strongly. He said that any company found indulging in misbranding or supplying spurious fertilizers will be blacklisted. He said that the government doesn’t want to police the dealers but it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that our farmer gets quality fertilizers and the fertilizer companies have a responsibility to perform.
The Advisor also directed concerned officers and the Fertilizer Supplying Companies to adhere to the guidelines and deadlines to bring transparency in the fertilizer business and to ensure timely supply of quality fertilizers to the farmers. He further asked them to monitor the correct data entry regarding fertilizer stocks and sale records by the Wholesalers and Retailers in their respective areas, besides stressing on the need to increase enforcement drives to check the supply of sub – standard fertilizers.
Regarding the delay in testing of samples, Advisor said that government is working on increasing testing capacity so that sampling is done on quick basis.
Stressing on the importance of inculcating sustainable and organic agricultural practices in farmers, the Advisor said that indiscriminate and un-judicious use of Chemical Fertilizers is harmful for the health of humans as well as animals. He said that we have to start working for the future requirements and actively promote use of organic/bio-fertilizers in JK.
Earlier the representatives of the fertilizer companies apprised the Advisor of the problems being faced in the fertilizer movement, the need for augmenting current infrastructure and other issues.
Advisor gave a patient hearing to all the issues raised by them and said that all the issues will be resolved on merit basis.