Waris Fayaz
Srinagar, Jan 3: Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal on Wednesday warned of stringent measures against those selling spurious fertilizers in the valley, urging people to report such elements.
The director said the department said the department is committed to protecting the agriculture industry’s interests and would not allow such elements to deceive innocent growers and farmers.
“We will take tough action against them,” he said, adding that the “battle” against duplicate spurious fertilizers will continue.
Encouraging community members and farmers to report any suspicious activities related to fertilizer sales, Iqbal reiterated the commitment to ensuring the availability of genuine inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, seeds) to the farmers of Kashmir.
“We encourage details about suppliers or dealers suspected of dealing in duplicate or spurious fertilizers. Confidentiality will be maintained to ensure the safety of those reporting,” the Director Agriculture assured.
The department recently confiscated around 620 bags of duplicate spurious fertilizers in Sopore and Kulgam during raids. Choudhary Iqbal said they traced the consignment from Rajasthan and successfully seized it, particularly referencing the Sopore seizure.
Speaking on the recent raids, the President of the Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, Fayaz Ahmed Malik, called for robust action against dealers involved in the sale of spurious fertilizers.
Expressing deep concern over the detrimental impact on the agricultural sector, he said these unscrupulous individuals threaten to undermine Kashmir’s vital industry.
Malik, who heads Asia’s second-largest Fruit Mandi in Sopore, said the agriculture industry is the backbone of the economy, and compromising its integrity by selling spurious fertilizers is disheartening. “There is a need for immediate and decisive action, including the implementation of the Public Safety Act (PSA) against those found guilty of distributing counterfeit fertilizers,” he said.
“We are actively collaborating with authorities to identify and penalize those responsible, as the Public Safety Act will act as a strong deterrent against the elements involved in illicit activities in the agriculture sector,” Fayaz added.
