In a bid to provide genuine pesticides and quality agriculture-inputs to the farmers in the state, the Agriculture Department has launched a special drive to undertake vigorous inspection of pesticide and fertilizer shops/god-owns on mass level from over past 10 days to prevent sale of spurious agri-inputs.Divulging about the special drive, Secretary Agriculture KS Pannu said that the state-wide raids have been conducted on 410 shops and subsequently 207 samples have been drawn from various pesticides and fertilizers and further sent for examination. Consequently, out of the results received so far, five samples found misbranded. FIR has been registered in one case and another a complaint has been filed with the Police for appropriate action in this regard besides seizure of stock at four places.He further stated that the checking of pesticide shops would continue till the massive drive against unscrupulous dealers reaches its logical end as the sole aim of this move was to prevent them from selling or supplying spurious pesticides in the State.Secretary Agriculture pointed out that several flying squads have been pressed into service for inter-district checking. Three teams have already been assigned their duties to inspect railway stations in Mansa district, suspected to be transporting spurious pesticides from neighbouring states.
Two unauthorized god-owns have been raided at Nangal in Ropar district from where huge quantity of pesticides and other agri-products have been seized without license and bill. Apart from these, another shop have also been raided from where unauthorized 25 pesticides have been seized. Out of these god-owns, 76 samples of pesticides and 11 of fertilizers have been taken and sent for analysis. One sample of Bio liquid pest controller was drawn and found chemical pesticide in this bio liquid, which is commonly named duplicate coragen pesticide and further action legal action is being taken.At Guru Harsahai in district Ferozepur, a god-own was raided, where packing of pesticides and bio-fertilizers was being done. Three samples were taken and sent for test. One sample found misbranded having 2.5% against 10% of active ingredient. Store seized and complaint lodged against the concerned person.A vehicle was caught with 10 quintals of pesticide at Malerkotla in Sangrur district where sample of cartap hydrochloride was taken and found misbranded having zero percent age against 4%. Material seized and FIR Lodged in this regard. A supplier of this material has been arrested by police from Sangrur and another from Delhi who were supplying such type of spurious pesticides.From a Karyana store located at Harike in Tarn Taran district, 15 unauthorized and 8 expired pesticides have been found. Material seized and sample drawn and sent for analysis and action to be taken is under process.Similarly, 9 litres of banned pesticide Glyphosate has been seized in Bathinda District.