A two-day training programme sponsored by Central Fertilizer Quality Control (CFQC) for Fertilizer Inspectors, Quality Control Research Officers and Agriculture Extension Officers commenced here today at Krishi Bhawan.Speaking at the inaugural session Sudesh Koul, Director Agriculture Jammu said that the purpose of such trainings is to train the officers to implement the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) in letter and spirit so that the fertilizer which reaches to the farmers meets all its quality standards. He said that Enforcement Inspectors are empowered by law to check the sale of sub standard fertilizers, checking the quality parameters and to stop the overcharging as well.The Director impressed upon the officers to keenly follow the training sessions during the training to refresh their knowledge about various clauses of FCO and the problems faced during implementation of its provisions.Director Law Enforcement, J & K, Susheel Sahni said that random sampling for fertilizer is being done from rake points to the retailers which are further sent to the quality control labs to check the quality parameters.
The Fertilizer Quality Control Lab at Lal Mandi, Srinagar has restarted its functioning for analysis of quality parameters for various plant nutrients including micro-nutrients from April 2016 after the floods in Kashmir, he added.Joint Director Agriculture Extension, A. K. Malhotra in his welcome address said that Enforcement Inspectors and Analyst Officers have great responsibility to check and contain the sale of spurious and sub-standard fertilizers. Such trainings equip them with the updated knowledge base about various regulations, procedures and amendments regarding Fertilizer Control Order.Dhanajay Singh, Assistant Director Law Enforcement, Central Fertilizer Quality Control Laboratory (CFQCL), Faridabad presented the key note address and later on gave technical lecture on Aims and Scope of Essential Commodity Act and Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985.The proceedings of the training were conducted by Arun Makhnotra, Programme Officer.