Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has set up seven teams of Flying Squad to ensure supply of quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to the farmers of the state.
“These teams will also visit shops, manufacturing units of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides besides carrying out regular checks and sampling for quality as well as rates at which the goods are sold to the farmers,” said Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Sunday.
He further informed that the flying squad teams, headed by Joint Directors and Chief Agriculture Officers of the Department, will closely monitor the sale of seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers in the interest of farmers, besides keeping a watch over the demand and supply of goods to farmers. The one team of the flying squad has been set aside for three to four districts.
Urging the farmers to demand a ‘bill’ for each purchase from the vendor and ensure they only pay the amount mentioned on the bills, the Agriculture Minister categorically said that in case the bills are not given by vendors, the farmers should raise a complaint with the concerned officer and strict action will be followed.
Khuddian reiterated that the Punjab Government is committed to welfare of the farmers and no one will be allowed to exploit the ‘annadata’ by selling spurious seeds, pesticides and fertilizers.