Srinagar, Mar 21: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said that a strict monitoring system is in place to check the supply of sub-standard pesticides and fertilizers to farmers across the Union Territory.
In a written reply to MLA Hilal Akbar Lone’s question in the Legislative Assembly, the Agriculture Production Department said that it has outlined the mechanisms to ensure quality control and legal action against violators.
The government said that fertilizers are tested at the Udhampur Rack, where samples from each batch are analyzed at the Quality Control Lab in Jammu before they are transported to the Kashmir Valley. The consignment is allowed to proceed only after passing quality tests. A checkpoint at Lower Munda also verifies documents and notifies district inspectors for further sampling and testing. Sale is permitted only after the samples meet the required standards.
For pesticides, a similar process is followed to ensure quality before they reach farmers. Random samples are collected from wholesalers and retailers for testing. If any sample fails the test, legal action is taken against the seller as per the Insecticide Act, 1968, and the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.
The Agriculture Department has established an Enforcement Directorate at the UT level and law enforcement agencies at the district level to monitor pesticide and fertilizer quality. The department has also notified designated testing laboratories for quality assurance.
Providing data on inspections conducted during the 2024-25 financial year (until February 2025), the government said that 3,010 pesticide samples were drawn and sent for analysis, out of which results for 2,037 samples have been received. While 1,654 samples met quality standards, 58 were still under review, and 910 samples were found to be sub-standard. Legal proceedings have been initiated in 32 cases, with fines amounting to Rs 55,000 already recovered.
For fertilizers, a total of 1,065 samples were collected and analyzed, with 875 meeting the required standards, 28 still pending results, and 138 identified as sub-standard. So far, 26 legal cases have been filed, one conviction has been secured, and a fine of Rs 3,000 has been imposed.
The government assured that regular sampling, inspections, and strict legal actions will continue to prevent the distribution of sub-standard agricultural products. It reiterated that any complaints from farmers regarding low-quality pesticides or fertilizers will be dealt with promptly to protect agricultural productivity and farmer interests.
