Check sale of spurious pesticides, seeds: CM

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday told the agriculture department to impose a crackdown on the sale of spurious pesticides and seeds to cotton farmers. The department has been directed to ensure that only 33 approved varieties of seeds are sold in the state at monitored prices to prevent loss of crop on this account.

The CM, who chaired a review meeting of the department here, instructed the officials to coordinate with Haryana to ensure that the same quality seeds are available and sown in the region. The department was also asked to explore the possibility of tying up with an existing commodities exchange or set up their own exchange for future trading of commodities like potato and cotton to ensure guaranteed sale of these products and save the farmers from distress selling.

The CM expressed concern over the declining ‘white gold’ yields in the state as a result of whitefly infections, and suggested to the PAU to explore possibilities of introducing better quality Egyptian and Australian cotton varieties to enhance the profitability of farmers and told the officials to initiate a programme to raise awareness about PAU-approved pesticides and recognised seeds.

Punjab and Haryana high court has put Punjab on notice on a plea seeking relief as recommended by justice Zora Singh (retd) Commission, which probed the sacrilege and Behbal Kalan police firing incidents, which left two persons dead.

The petitioners, Sadhu Singh and Sukhraj Singh, both residents of Faridkot, had argued that despite the panel recommending ₹25 lakh and a government job for a family member of those killed, nothing was done.

The petitioners had told the court that in the Behbal Kalan firing, son of Sadhu Singh had died while second petitioner, Sukhraj Singh, had lost his father. They had also demanded action against then Moga SSP Charanjit Singh, who was controlling the police party that opened fired on protesters. The response has been sought by May 10.

AGRICULTURE DEPT TOLD TO ENSURE ONLY 33 APPROVED VARIETIES OF SEEDS ARE SOLD TO COTTON FARMERS