Baramulla, Oct 18: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar on Saturday acknowledged the presence of spurious pesticides and fertilisers in the market and announced that the government will establish a separate enforcement wing to effectively tackle the menace.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Kissan Mela, the minister said that there have been increasing reports about the sale of counterfeit pesticides in the market.
“It is important to have a dedicated enforcement mechanism so that the issue of spurious pesticides is addressed effectively,” Dar said. ” We are planning to create a separate enforcement wing to ensure that the use and sale of spurious pesticides are curbed,”
He said another growing concern is the use of artificial coloring on fruits, especially apples, before their natural ripening period. “This illegal practice not only affects the natural quality of the fruit but also damages its market reputation,” he said. He informed that the government is preparing a plan to decongest and expand the Sopore Fruit Mandi.
