Chandigarh, April 4: Amidst the ongoing intensified drive against substandard and illegal agricultural inputs as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has raided two firms in Hoshiarpur district, leading to seizure of banned pesticides and expired stocks.

Punjab Minister Reveals Seizure of Banned Glyphosate in Hoshiarpur”

Disclosing this here on Friday, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that a special team under the supervision of Joint Director (Extension & Training) Dilbagh Singh conducted surprise check at M/s Janak Raj Narinder Kumar in New Grain Market, Hoshiarpur.  The team has found 99 packets (100 grams each) of banned Ammonium Salt of Glyphosate 71% SG, manufactured and marketed by Iprochem Agri Care, Panchkula, Haryana, he said. The Agriculture Minister further informed that the raid has also led to recovery of large quantities of expired and non-addition pesticides. This includes 20 packs of Pendimethalin (1 litre) and 10 packs of Profenophos+Cypermethrin (1 litre). It also includes 40 packs of Thiamethoxam (250 gm) and five packs of Carbendazim (250 gm). Authorities recovered 75 packs of Clodinafop Propargyl (160 gm) and 23 packs of Atrazine (500 gm).. The raid also recovered five packs of Metalaxyl+Mancozeb (250 gm).Lastly, authorities recovered 10 packs of Mancozeb (1 litre).

Seizure of Banned pesticides : Crackdown on Illegal Agri-Input Dealers in Hoshiarpur

Officials have drawn samples and registered an FIR at Police Station Model Town, Hoshiarpur. In another action, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the team also inspected M/s Vij Traders in the same market. They collected two samples each of pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds. “The sale of pesticides and seeds has been stopped immediately. The firm was operating without proper license endorsements under relevant Acts,” the Minister added. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister urged farmers to purchase agricultural inputs only from authorised dealers and take bill of purchased products. Dr. Basant Garg, Administrative Secretary (Agriculture), stated that he gave the necessary directions to all Chief Agriculture Officers of the State. They must keep a regular check on Agri-inputs dealers, manufacturing, and marketing companies to ensure quality products to farmers.