Deal sternly with traders found selling spurious pesticides: Dir Horti to officers

Srinagar: Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat Saturday impressed upon the concerned officers to keep strict watch on the pesticide traders to curb the practices of selling spurious/substandard pesticides as per the provisions of law.
The Director Horticulture said this during his meeting with Horticulture Development Officers (HDOs) organized to get updates regarding the reports about of sale of spurious/misbranded pesticides by some unscrupulous elements.
Horticulture Development officers have been designated as Insecticide Inspectors and vested with the powers under the Insecticide Act.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Joint Director Horticulture and Chief Horticulture Officer, Deputy Director Law Enforcement Kashmir, besides representatives from Fruit Growers Association also participated in the meeting.
The Director Horticulture impressed upon the concerned to keep strict watch on the pesticide trade and book such traders who are found selling spurious /substandard pesticides as per the provisions of Law. He also reviewed the enforcement of pesticide Act in the Kashmir Division.
Director Agriculture also sanitized the Horticulture development officers as well as representative of Horticulture fruit association about the sampling procedure. He urged the orchardists to report any unscrupulous elements dealing with the unethical trade to the authorities through telephone or written complaint which will be duly examined for appropriate action. He reiterated that tough action will be taken against the traders found selling misbranded products.
The Insecticide Inspectors were advised to deliver their legitimate duties to the best satisfaction of the department and the growers, as the issue is directly associated with employment generation and farming community which consists of one third of the population.