Ensure availability of quality Spray Oils to fruit growers: Basharat

Jammu: Taking cognizance of the lack of easy accessibility of Petroleum Derived Tree Spray Oils (TSO) to the orchardists/farmers, Minister for Horticulture Syed  Basharat  Ahmed  Bukhari Tuesday reviewed feedback obtained from the representatives of the oil companies regarding this concern.
This feedback was obtained during a meeting convened by the Secretary, Horticulture Department with the representatives of the Oil Companies to discuss the availability/supply of Petroleum Derived Tree Spray Oil (TSO) for the ensuing season.
Director, Horticulture, Jammu, Managing Director, J&K HPMC Ltd, Director Law Enforcement, J&K, President Kashmir Apple Growers and Dealers Association, Representative of HPCL, Representative of BPCL, Representative of IOCL, Representative of TOTAL Oil India Pvt. Ltd, Representative of PETROSTAR, were present in the meeting.
The Minister taking note of the meeting’s observations said this concern of the farmers/orchardists should be resolved on priority so that the fruit growers do not face any difficulty for want of standard spray oils for their orchards.
The Minister was apprised by Secretary Horticulture Manzoor Ahmad Lone about the detailed deliberations, decisions taken in the meeting which
Secretary Horticulture Manzoor Ahmad Lone informed the Minister that the Oil Companies have been asked to furnish a list of their authorized distributors with their contact numbers and physical address to the Director Law Enforcement, J&K with a copy to the Director Horticulture, Jammu/Kashmir by November 30, 2017.  Further Director Law Enforcement, J&K has been asked to communicate this list of distributors to the In-charge Check post Lakhanpur once the Spray schedule is finalized so that none other than authorized distributors import their products (spray oil).
It was also informed that Director Law Enforcement has also been asked to collect the list of Oil Companies from Central Insecticides Board (CIB) who have applied for registration in the Central Insecticides Board (CIB) upto 31.10.2017 and share the same with the SKUAST and Director Horticulture Jammu/Kashmir so that only those Oil Companies are notified in the Spray Schedule who have applied for approval of their product with CIB.
Secretary added that the oil companies have been directed to provide the notified rates of their products to Horticulture Department, Director Law Enforcement, Director Horticulture Jammu and Director Horticulture Kashmir latest by 30th November, 2017. In case they fail to provide the same, they will not be allowed to sell their product in the State, he added.
Secretary informed the Minister that Oil Companies viz. IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Total Oil India, Pvt. Ltd, PETROSTAR and Raj Petro Specialties Pvt. Ltd, are being considered for supplying their Products (Petroleum Derived Tree Spray Oil) in the State for the year 2018, subject to submission of documented proof for registration of their products CIB, Faridabad.