Punjab Government on Wednesday launched helpline numbers for the state farmers to report any pesticide dealers who tag other products with di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) or other fertilizers. Farmers can also report issues such as excessive pricing, illegal hoarding, or black marketing of DAP fertilizer.
Sharing the details, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian informed that farmers can call the helpline number 1100 or send a WhatsApp message to the contact number — 98555-01076 — to lodge complaints against pesticide dealers engaged in corrupt practices.
Reiterating the state government’s commitment for welfare of the farmers, he stated that tagging other unnecessary chemicals with fertilizers or selling fertilizers at inflated prices, or engaging in the black market of fertilizers a legal offence and the strict action will be taken under the provisions of the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, who found indulged in this malpractice.
Meanwhile, the Minister also urged the farmers to follow the suggestion of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts regarding use of alternative fertilizers including NPK (12:32:16), Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), and Single Super Phosphate (SSP), which can be used as alternate sources of Phosphorus.
