Farmers told to cultivate pesticide-free basmati

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 1

To maximise the profit of basmati growers by ensuring the cultivation of pesticide-free basmati, the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department organised an awareness seminar under Tandarust Punjab Mission today to sensitise the farmers to not to use nine different pesticides on basmati crop, in Khaira Majja village of the district.

Addressing the farmers, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Naazar Singh said there was a demand for pesticide-free basmati across the globe, adding that the department has been registering the basmati growers on basmati portal (Basmati.in).

The Chief Agriculture Officer said nine pesticides including Acephate, Triazophos, Thiamethoxam 25 per cent WG, Carbendazim 50 per cent WP, Tricyclazole 75 percent WP, Buprofezin, Carbofuron, Propiconazole and Thipanate Methyl must not be used on the crops. He said: “These pesticides have also been banned by the government, adding that the basmati is a premier crop and having export potential.”

Dr Naazar Singh also told that the exports could only be ensured only if the quality of the crop was good and free from pesticides residue.

He said if these pesticides were sprayed on basmati its residue remains in basmati rice and many a time a whole lot of the basmati was returned during export back resulting in sheer wastage of time, money and energy.