Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 12: Hundreds of farmers today protested in South Kashmir’s apple town of Shopian against the supply of substandard fertilizers and pesticides by some companies.
The protesters alleged “for past few years’ scores of un-registered pesticides and fertilizers have ruined thousands of apple trees and also damaged the quality of this cash crop. “For past few years substandard fertilizers and pesticides are openly sold in market and authorities are watching all this as mute spectators,” Mohammad Ashraf Shah, Vice President Traders Federation.
Fruit Association Shopian said that there are some dealers in the town who purchase these pesticides and fertilizers in winter months. “There is no quality checking team available in the area and an illiterate farmer has to bear the brunt,” G N Turey, Traders Federation president said.
The protesters marched in the main town and submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Shopian.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said: “Farmers brought this serious matter to my notice at the right time by submitting a memorandum. I will bring the same into the notice of higher authorities, so that the farmers get relief from today onwards”.
DC also said the administration would frame a special checking squad in the area to monitor the genuine quality of pesticides and fertilizers.
Earlier, District Horticulture Officer (DHO), Shopian, Farooq Ahmad Mirza said that the root rot and collar rot, which is the infection of the scion portion of the trunk near the graft union, have damaged hundreds of tress in the area and advised the farmers to use organic manures to reduce the diseases in the trees. “We are recommending the farmers to use more organic manures and fewer chemicals and other fertilizers,” he said.
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