Avoid sprays for speedy paddy ripening

Amritsar, September 14

The Agriculture Department has advised against the use of chemicals by some farmers who want their paddy crop to ripen at the earliest to be able sow vegetable crops.

Officials stated that the use of such chemicals was a wasteful expenditure and harmed soil as well as human health. It has been reported that pesticide dealers are selling chemicals promising that it would help in early ripening of paddy.

Chief Agricultural Officer Dalbir Singh Chinna said some farmers used paraquat dichloride on the advice of pesticide sellers. He said farmers should harvest the paddy only after it was fully ripened or they would have to face problems while selling it.

Grain with more moisture content may not fetch the best price, he said. — TNS