Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has called for a stringent crackdown on the proliferation of substandard pesticides within Kashmir, urging the government to bolster inspections at the Qazigund entry point for all agricultural inputs, including fertilizers and hybrid plant varieties, entering the Valley from outside. This demand follows recent incidents of premature fruit drop in Shopian district, where growers have attributed crop damage to the application of a fungicide containing Mancozeb. The issue has since reportedly spread to adjacent areas, prompting the Enforcement Wing to seek court sanction for prosecuting two pesticide dealers under the Insecticides Act of 1968.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the Shopian incident is not an isolated case, as enforcement actions against dealers of spurious pesticides and fertilizers have previously been conducted across several districts, including Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Budgam, and Srinagar. A comprehensive sampling exercise conducted in 2025 revealed that a significant majority of non-standard agricultural samples originated from the Kashmir division, as opposed to the Jammu region. Official data on enforcement activities indicates that 149 prosecutions have been initiated in connection with spurious pesticides and 110 over substandard fertilizer samples across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with fines totaling Rs 1.31 lakh recovered. These figures underscore the widespread nature of the problem, extending beyond any single district.
Tarigami emphasized the critical role of the Lower Munda check post at Qazigund in preventing the unauthorized movement of agricultural inputs into the Valley. He further stressed that all plant materials imported into Kashmir must undergo mandatory quarantine procedures at designated Post Entry Quarantine facilities before being released. The MLA underscored the necessity of rigorous enforcement of these protocols, particularly during the peak agricultural spraying seasons when the risk of diversion and the sale of unverified or substandard stocks escalates. He urged the Agriculture and Horticulture departments to intensify district-level sampling efforts and to fully leverage the capabilities of pesticide testing laboratories located in Kulgam, Srinagar, Jammu, and Baramulla, as well as the fertilizer testing laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar. This enhanced testing infrastructure, Tarigami stated, is crucial for ensuring prompt accountability for any violations and for facilitating timely compensation for affected growers who have suffered losses due to the use of substandard agricultural chemicals. The current situation highlights a critical need for enhanced regulatory oversight and enforcement to protect the livelihoods of farmers and the integrity of the region’s agricultural produce.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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