Punjab CM bans sale of 9 agrochemicals

CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered a ban on the sale and use of nine agro-chemicals after the agriculture department found these were still being used by farmers despite being detrimental to the quality of paddy crop.

The CM, who also holds the Agriculture portfolio, has approved the ban of acephate, triazophos, thiamethoxam, carbendazim, tricyclazole, buprofezin, carbofuron, propiconazole and thiophinate methyl, under Section 27 of the Insecticides Act.

Under the orders, sale, stocking, distribution and use of these insecticides on rice crop has been prohibited. The CM has asked secretary agriculture KS Pannu to issue detailed guidelines to director agriculture to ensure enforcement of the ban, issued after state government labs conducted sample testing.