Tarigami calls for strict action against spurious pesticide dealers
CPM leader and Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to crack down on the sale of substandard pesticides in the Valley. He demanded strengthened inspections at the Qazigund check post for all pesticides, fertilisers and hybrid plants entering Kashmir from outside.
Premature fruit drop in Shopian linked to fungicide
Tarigami highlighted that incidents of premature fruit drop were reported last month in Sugu, Sugu Handhama and Kachdoora villages of Shopian district. Growers alleged that apples fell from trees within days of spraying a fungicide containing Mancozeb. Complaints later spread to adjoining areas, prompting the Enforcement Wing to approach the District Court, Shopian, seeking sanction to prosecute two dealers under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Problem widespread across Kashmir division
According to Tarigami, the Shopian incident is not an isolated case. Enforcement drives against spurious pesticide and fertiliser dealers had earlier been conducted in Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Budgam and Srinagar districts. A 2025 sampling exercise found that the overwhelming majority of non-standard samples originated from Kashmir division rather than Jammu.
Official data shows scale of issue
Citing official enforcement data, Tarigami said 149 prosecutions had been registered in connection with spurious pesticides and 110 over substandard fertiliser samples across Jammu and Kashmir, with Rs 1.31 lakh recovered in fines. He stated that these figures indicated the problem was widespread and not confined to a single district.
Strengthen quarantine and testing infrastructure
Tarigami noted that the Lower Munda check post at Qazigund was established to intercept the unauthorised movement of agricultural inputs into the Valley. Plant material brought from outside must undergo quarantine at Post Entry Quarantine facilities before release. He stressed that this system should be enforced rigorously, particularly during the peak spraying season when the risk of diversion and sale of unverified stock increases.
Utilise existing testing labs fully
The CPM leader urged the Agriculture and Horticulture departments to intensify district-level sampling and fully utilise pesticide testing laboratories at Kulgam, Srinagar, Jammu and Baramulla, along with fertiliser testing laboratories at Jammu and Srinagar. This would ensure prompt accountability and compensation for affected growers.
