Srinagar: Director Agriculture Kashmir (Controller Insecticides) Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal today reviewed the functioning of enforcement/plant protection wing of the Department. In a meeting of concerned officers of Kashmir Division Director Agriculture took stock of various activities performed by the enforcement/plant protection wing of the Department in Kashmir Division.
While addressing the meeting, Director Agriculture reiterated the Department’s commitment to ensure the availability of quality agriculture inputs (seed, pesticide, fertilisers etc) to the farming community. He said the Department’s drive against sub standard pesticides and fertilisers will continue and any one found guilty of violating the Insecticide Act 1968 would be dealt with as per set law.
Director Agriculture passed on instructions to the concerned officers to constitute district-wise internal vigilance teams for monitoring the stock, supply and distribution of quality agriculture inputs. He said a multi level monitoring mechanism is needed to check irregularities, if any and to ensure that the consumer’s interests are served at all the levels in an effective manner.
Chowdhary Iqbal while reviewing the functioning of plant protection wing asked the concerned divisional officers to increase the awareness among educated youth regarding the online application process for obtaining the Licence of Pesticides, Seeds and Fertilisers. He said the process should be simplified and based on the single window clearance concept. Plant Protection Officer was directed to clear the pending cases of issue of licence (as per set guidelines) in a speedy manner.
Director Agriculture marked the fact that agriculture is a very large sector and therefore it has a big role viz a viz employment generation. He asked the officers to put in efforts to constitute multi dimensional modals of agriculture development so that more and more educated youth could be attracted towards this sector.
The meeting was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Extension Sheikh Shahid Iqbal, Joint Director Farms Dr. Syed Waseem Ahmad Shah, Joint Director Apiculture and Mushrooms Mohammad Syeed Peer, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Deputy Director Law Enforcement Kashmir Mr. Javed Iqbal Samoon and other senior officers of the Department.
Earlier, Director Agriculture visited the hi-tech poly houses (grow-out section) of Seed Quality Control Laboratory at Lalmandi. He visited some sub ordinate offices also where he interacted with the officers/officials.

KR Desk