Check sale of spurious pesticides, seeds: CM

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

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.