Shops selling fertilisers, seeds checked in Kharar

Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 13

A team of the Agriculture Department raided shops selling seeds, pesticides and fertilisers to ensure that farmers would get quality products.

The team instructed shopkeepers not to sell expired products at any cost, otherwise a strict action would be initiated.

Dr Jaswinder Singh, Agriculture Development Officer, said farmers should avoid the use of highly-toxic pesticides and prefer those pesticides which did not leave a long-lasting effect on crops, especially on vegetables.

Team members said: “Farmers must use the pesticides recommended by Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, and fertilisers should be used strictly as per requirement. Before the use of fertilisers, soil test is also necessary. Excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides reduce the fertility of the soil and also results in environmental pollution.”

They said if any crop was affected by any disease, then the farmer concerned must approach the Agriculture Department for advice.

Officials said the underground water level was declining continuously and taking a serious note of the same the state government had instructed the farmers that they should not plant paddy before June 20. If any farmer would not follow the instructions of the government, then a legal action would be taken.