Tightening the noose around unscrupulous seed, fertilizer and pesticide dealers those dupe gullible farmers of the State, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has debarred the sale operations of seven dealers in the Gurdaspur district. These seven dealers had violated the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.
Revealing about the action against the dealers, Punjab Agriculture and Family Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Wednesday said that as many as 10 teams have conducted a surprise visit to 79 dealers across the district.
The teams have collected 23 samples of fertilizer, 18 samples of pesticides, and one sample of seed and these samples have been sent to the laboratory for further investigations.
Giving strict warning, Khuddian categorically said that their licences would be cancelled whoever found indulged in the malpractices and nobody will be allowed to exploit farmers at any cost.
He informed that Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has pressed seven flying squads into service for inter-district checking to ensure supply of quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to the farmers while reiterating that the State Government is committed to welfare of the farmers and no one will be spared who found indulged in selling spurious seeds, pesticides and fertilizers.
He also directed the Agriculture Department officials to continue the drive of checking of pesticide and fertilizer shops to prevent sale or supply of spurious pesticides and other Agriculture-inputs in the State.