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Written by: Bilal Bashir Bhat

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 26 April 2020

The Chemical industry is critical for the economic development of any country, providing products and enabling technical solutions in virtually all sectors of the economy. Agrochemicals are an important input for the agriculture sector used to improve crop performance. With increasing population, demand for food grains is increasing at a faster pace as compared to its production.

In jammu and Kashmir agriculture and horticulture is facing a serious challange Of maintaining food and nutrition security for the burgeoning population. The aim of food Security can be achieved by increasing the farm yield considerably and hence crop protection, chemicals play an important role.  As per the requirement, there is a need to increase the total yield of food grains, vegebales, fruits in J&K, which is possible only with the crop protection Chemicals to protect the growth of the Plants and Crops. One of the key challenges faced by farmers  is the presence of counterfeit/spurious pesticides in the market.

The Growing threat of Substandard pesticides/fungicide/fertilizers in the market is in  peak, A farmer spends his money as well as health in growing the fruits, vegetables, and other Food items for the burgeoning population. For this he blindly choose fertilizers and pesticides for his orchids from the market, as he thinks that responsible agencies checked these items, but many times his crops were damaged by these substandard pesticides available in the market. It is a double whammy for farmers as they suffer double loss. Their crop wilts away and the money is wasted on substandard pesticides. These substandard pesticides and fertilizers are not Only harmful for crops, health but soil, environment and biodiversity..

Horticulture and agriculture involve more that one million people directly or indirectly in Jammu and Kashmir; where 3.5 lakh hectares is under various crops.

In 2014-15, 796 samples were collected, which was the highest number of samples drawn in five years. Of all, 70 samples tested fake and substandard, which contaminated soil, reduced crop yield and put both food security and health at risk.The products of some companies failed quality check many a time in five years, but the authorities concerned did not cancel the licences of these manufacturers .Barring last year, it will be sixth year when dominating percentage of apple production is expected to be of B and C grade as orchardists will have no option except to use substandard pesticides and fertilizers in their orchards and ultimately it will result in huge loss to Orchardists.

(Fake pesticides are a serious threat to the Kashmir apple industry which is worth Rs. 4,000 Crore (USD 750 million).

In absence of a pesticides regulatory board agriculture experts said that department of agriculture despite willingness cannot curb sale and supply of substandard pesticides and fertilizers to state due to some legal bindings.They said that pesticides and fertilizers available in markets cannot be tested in Laboratories of state as these does not fall in line with insecticide act of India 1968. Director Agriculture Kashmir said that they will make sure complete ban on sale and supply of substandard pesticides and fertilizers across Kashmir and people involved in this business will be dealt with strict punishment, but still many mafias in the market are selling these substandard pesticides, fertilizers to farmers. Today 26/ 2020 during a quality check expired pesticides worth lakhs were seized from a North Kashmir dealer. Last year many brands of pesticides were failed in quality check and SKUAST updated the list, but then it was too late, People used all sprays of these brands In their orchids.  More distressing is the fact that the pesticides manufacturing units that failed quality check were allowed to sell their products in open market without any punitive action even when their chemicals were found be substandard twice.

Fake pesticides: These products are often sold in simple packs (white bottles) with minimal information on the label about their use and no mention of any health or environmental precautions.

Counterfeit of genuine branded products" These are sophisticated copies of legitimate branded products usually with high quality of labelling and packaging. Most contain a copy of the original active substance. This way, the counterfeiters put substandard ingredients into the bottle and resell it.

Illegal Parallel imports: These are legitimate parallel traded products substituted with illegal generic copies, repackaged and sold as legitimate products.

Difficulty in identification of fake products: In J&K, majority of the farmers are illiterate and there exists a lack of education and awareness at the farmer level. Only 25-30 per cent of farmers are aware of the correct use of farmers are aware of the correct use of pesticides. Farmers usually take advice from Seller and not from the experts or Scientists. Many do not ask for specified chemicals or brands and often ignore if specific details are not available on the products. Farmers rely on the visual appeal and can only check the quality of products with the marking of ISI/AGMARK. However, with the advancement in digital technology, it has become easy for unethical manufacturers to produce fake ISI/AGMARK product as well.

Identification

At the point of scale via mobile app: Consumers can check the originality of the product with a smartphone. For that they have to scan the QR code and follow the instructions.

Via Missed call / SMS: Farmers can check the authenicity of the product by giving a missed call or SMS at 1800-180-1551( Government Kisan Call Centre) toll free. According to the Indian Government, nearly 70 lakh farmers across the country are registered with the KISAN SMS Portal.

Same shoukd be done in J&K, While as KVK’s, SKUAST branches and concerned departments should establish whatsapp groups  of progressive farmers , so that information can reach the farmers with short span of time. Young & qualified farmers be preferred in these groups. They can act as contact or approach farmers..

Via internet: The product label can be verified via website which can open in ever browser.

The only best and practical option to stops these substandard pesticides in the market, is that Agriculture department of Jammu and Kashmir, should take responsibility and should sell these  pesticides in their own office outlets, there should be their own dealers in every district, tehsil and in every village. Before selling these pesticides to farmers, these pesticide should be checked in the lab and the presently disfunct labs should  be made  functional and after passing the quality  tests they should sell them to farmers. Another way of crying these fake pesticides is to stress on organic farming. Agriculture department should update their Old spray schedule yearly and should visit the effected areas and recommended them what they use, else there are be no option to crub the menace of spurious pesticides from the market....