Pesticide labs await administrative approval in Kashmir

The establishment of two state-of-the-art pesticide testing labs in North and South Kashmir that were announced last year to curb the menace of spurious chemicals is awaiting administrative approval.

The absence of the labs is causing an undue delay in reports as authorities depend on laboratories outside the Valley. The growers claimed that the reports of samples come after spraying season leaving the crop vulnerable to several diseases.

“The reports should be available before the spraying season so that the farmers opt for the best quality pesticides and save their crop,” an apple grower said, the reports arrive towards the end of the season after damages are done.

The Government announced the setting up of the labs following a clamor from the farmers last year. The growers claimed substandard pesticides failed to stop the spread of scab infection, affecting 40% of their crop last year. “The pesticide dealers took full advantage of lockdown last year and sold substandard pesticides that were ineffective in controlling the diseases,” an apple grower said.

They said the scrupulous persons are selling spurious pesticides and fertilizers to the growers. “Pesticides and fertilizers of hundreds of companies bearing different names and price tags have become available in the Valley. They are selling the worst chemicals and no one is stopping them,” Younis Ahmed, grower said, adding substandard pesticides are destroying the crops.

They said that the pesticides and fungicides should be checked before entering Kashmir. “The product should be checked before they are available in the market,” Basit Ahmad, an apple grower said, adding that the disease affected nearly 60% of the crop last year, causing a huge loss.

Kashmir is the biggest apple-producing region of India. It produces 23 to 24 lakh metric tonnes of apples every year. It is followed by Himachal Pradesh, which produces about 8 lakh metric tonnes of apple, while Uttarakhand is at the third position with about 4 lakh metric tonnes of apple production.

Director Horticulture, Aijaz Ahmad, told Excelsior that they have sent a detailed project report for the setting up of labs to the Government “We are awaiting approval. Once approval is granted, the work will start,” he said.

He added that they have already identified land for the projects. “We even have a building in North Kashmir which can be used for the purpose,” he said.

He, however, suggested since the bulk of pesticides in Kashmir is used by the horticulture industry, the department should be made licensing authority.