Unauthorized pesticides seized by Ministry of Agriculture Flying Squad in Punjab

The Department of Agriculture flying team seized bio-stimulants and illegal pesticide stockpiles from various locations in Bathinda on Wednesday, just a day after its establishment.

JPS Grewal, co-director of the department, said the team examined seven commercial facilities and seized 2,400 kg of organic manure, over 700 liters of humic acid and 190 liters of seaweed.

If sold to farmers, these materials could potentially threaten crops as they do not have a license authorizing their sale. For further legal action, a complaint has been lodged with the Bathinda Police Administration, he said. Grewal reported that investigators also found insecticides in another Bathinda godown. Samples of items of all sizes were taken for examination.

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the state agriculture minister, on Tuesday formed a three-man flying team to launch a campaign to launch a fake farming materials breeding campaign.

The minister reported on Tuesday that there had been complaints about the availability of fake and substandard agricultural chemicals, seeds and fertilizers following an assessment of the cotton crop in several regions.

He said the government will take strict action against violators who produce and sell the unauthorized products.

In Andhra Pradesh, two months ago, Vigilance and Enforcement (V&E) officers, along with Food Safety, Civil Supplies and Forensic Metrology staff, raided the shops of wholesale and retail selling edible oils, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides as part of efforts to control fake inventory and illegal hoarding of various products.

According to the additional managing director, V&E, Shankha Brata Bagchi, more than 30 teams carried out the raids in the state and filed complaints under Section 6A of the Essential Commodities Act in addition to filing criminal complaints.

First published: July 14, 2022, 01:03 IST