The North News
Chandigarh, April 4
Punjab’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has seized banned and expired agricultural products during surprise raids at two firms in Hoshiarpur district, in an ongoing drive to root out substandard inputs across the state. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that a special enforcement team, led by Joint Director (Extension and Training) Dilbagh Singh, inspected M/s Janak Raj Narinder Kumar in the New Grain Market area of Hoshiarpur.
During the inspection, the team discovered 99 packets (100 grams each) of the banned pesticide Ammonium Salt of Glyphosate 71% SG. The product, manufactured by Iprochem Agri Care based in Panchkula, Haryana, is prohibited under existing regulations.
Additionally, the department recovered a significant quantity of expired and non-compliant pesticides, including Pendimethalin, Profenophos+Cypermethrin, Thiamethoxam, Carbendazim, Clodinafop Propargyl, Atrazine, Metalaxyl+Mancozeb, and Mancozeb.
An FIR has been registered at Model Town Police Station in Hoshiarpur under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and Rules, 1971. Samples from the seized products were also collected for further testing.
In a separate raid at M/s Vij Traders in the same market, the team found the firm was selling pesticides and seeds without proper licence endorsements. Sales at the outlet were halted immediately, and samples were collected for investigation.
Minister Khudian urged farmers to purchase inputs only from authorised dealers and to always demand a bill to ensure authenticity.
Dr Basant Garg, Administrative Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, said that all Chief Agriculture Officers across Punjab have been directed to maintain strict oversight of agri-input dealers, manufacturers, and marketers.
“This crackdown is part of our commitment to safeguard farmers’ interests and ensure only quality agricultural inputs are available in the market,” Dr Garg added.
