The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal today inaugurated an awareness programme for the fertilizer, pesticides companies of central Kashmir’s Budgam, Ganderbal and Srinagar districts at Agriculture Complex Lalmandi Srinagar.
The programme was organised by the Law Enforcement Wing Srinagar and was attended by Deputy Director Law Enforcement Wing, Mujtaba Yahyah; Assistant Director Law Enforcement, Feroz Ahmad Shapoo; District Law Enforcement Officer South Kashmir, Sheikh Imran; District Law Enforcement Officer North Kashmir, Dr Amarjeet Singh, fertilizer/pesticides dealers/ distributors of central Kashmir districts, representatives of fertilizer, pesticides companies operating in central Kashmir and other concerned officers.
In his address, Director Agriculture reiterated the department's commitment to uphold the farmers’ interests. He impressed upon the participants (fertilizers, pesticides dealers) to ensure that only the genuine, quality inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) are provided to the farming community of the region.He said that any violation of fertilizer control order (1985) and insecticides act (1968) would not be tolerated and the action as per law will be initiated against the erring parties/ individuals.
Iqbal directed the officers of the enforcement wing of the department to accelerate the frequency of visits by marketing checking squads so that only the quality fertilizers, pesticides reach the consumers. He marked the importance of a coordinated approach among the stakeholders, in order to safeguard the economic interests of the farming community.
He said the poor quality inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) is not only an economic burden to the farmers but is environmentally a disaster for the region. He concluded that all the stakeholders including department, fertilizer/ pesticides dealers must collaborate for the well being of the farming community. Director Agriculture also interacted with the fertilizer, pesticides dealers and representatives of concerned companies and conveyed his assurance of full support and cooperation in their efforts towards the benefit of farmers.