Tribune India: Jammu: Tuesday, August 28, 2018.
In five years, 70 samples have failed quality test; no action taken against defaulting units
More than 70 samples of pesticides being used in agriculture in the state have been found to be substandard in the past five years.
More distressing is the fact that the pesticides manufacturing units that failed quality check were allowed to sell their products in open market without any punitive action even when their chemicals were found be substandard twice.
“Over 3,100 samples of pesticides and insecticides were collected in the Jammu region for quality check from 2014 to July this year. In 2014-15, 796 samples were collected, which was the highest number of samples drawn in five years,” the state agriculture department said. Of all, 70 samples tested fake and substandard, which contaminated soil, reduced crop yield and put both food security and health at risk.
The information was shared by the department in response to an RTI application sought by Rohit Choudhary, national president, Kisan Welfare Organisation.
A thorough study of the documents suggested that the manufacturing companies and influential dealers in small towns peddled fake products to gullible farmers.
The products of some companies failed quality check many a time in five years, but the authorities concerned did not cancel the licences of these manufacturers.
The products of M/s HPM Chemicals and Fertz Ltd IGC, Samba, failed the quality check in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 and 2018-19. Similarly, the samples of products manufactured by M/s Bharat Insecticides Ltd SIDCO, Kathua, tested misbranded and substandard in 2014-15 and 2018-19.
The department said it received no complaint regarding fake pesticides and insecticides. It initiated action against those manufacturers whose samples were decla- red misbranded under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
“It is a double whammy for farmers as they suffer double loss. Their crop wilts away and the money is wasted on substandard pesticides. Most of these manufacturing units belong to influential people and the authorities are reluctant to initiate legal action against them,” Rohit said.
RL Bhagat, joint director, agriculture (extension), Jammu, admitted the economical loss to farmers and ill-effects on human health due to the overuse of substandard pesticides, but claimed that the defaulters were always booked as per law.
.JPG)
.JPG)
