Districts allocated to teams to carry out regular checks & sampling, says Gurmeet Singh Khudian
Chandigarh, December 17:
In order to save the farmers from financial exploitation by ensuring supply of quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers welfare department has set up five teams of Flying Squad for Rabi season. These teams will visit retail/wholesale dealers shop, manufacturing/marketing units of seeds, fertilisers & pesticides besides carrying out regular checks and sampling for quality as well as rates at which the goods are sold to the farmers.
Revealing this here today, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Mr Gurmeet Singh Khudian informed that four to five districts have been allocated to one team of the flying squad and the flying squad teams, headed by Joint Directors and Chief Agriculture Officers of the department, will closely monitor the sale of seeds, pesticides and fertilisers in the interest of farmers, besides keeping a watch over the demand and supply of goods to farmers.
Urging the farmers to demand a ‘bill’ for each purchase from the vendor and ensure they only pay the amount mentioned on the bills, the Agriculture Minister categorically said that If the bills are not given by vendors then farmers should raise a complaint with the concerned officer and strict action will be followed.
Reiterating the commitment of the Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government for the welfare of the farmers, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian warned that no one will be allowed to exploit the ‘Anndata’ by selling spurious seeds, pesticides and fertilisers. He also made it clear to the Flying Squad teams that any negligence or laxity on their part won’t be tolerated.
