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| Officials succumb to political muscles | | Smuggling of sub-standard fertilizers into valley | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | June 5
Notwithstanding the claims of state government to achieve considerable diversification of its economy through agriculture sector, the officials of Agriculture department in Kashmir valley, who have been entrusted the job of providing quality seeds and fertilizers to poor farmers, were allegedly stopped from analyzing hundreds of collected samples of "sub-standard" fertilizers.
Sources said that hundreds of private fertilizer and seed depots were opened in Kashmir valley during the PDP led coalition government regime, adding "Some of the depot owners in connivance with some ministers and officials of higher rungs in agriculture department have been smuggling poor and sub-standard quality fertilizers into Kashmir valley since long. The use of sub-standard fertilizers has degraded the agricultural land to considerable extent in valley."
Sources further informed that the poor farmers do not hesitate to use these fertilizers considering their lower costs or easy availability. "But these substandard products have far more capacities to degrade the lands, maintained sources.
"Though the officials of Agriculture department had launched a massive drive against the offenders and collected hundreds of samples of sub-standard fertilizers from private depots, the officials have not sent the collected samples for analysis," informed reliable sources.
Sources further informed, "Private depot owners have developed a nexus with some ministers and officials of higher rungs in Agriculture department. Even the lower rungs officials of the department have been directed by the concerned minister for not sending the collected samples for analysis."
Reports from different towns reveal that the fertility and productivity of agricultural lands has gone down to a considerable extent in valley after the use of sub-standard fertilizers. "Law enforcement activities against the entry of such fertilizers into the state need to be very rigorous and effective. There is no policy to regulate the use of such fertilizers in valley although the use of the same has been banned in many parts of the country. Government should make a comprehensive policy to control this menace," maintained sources.
When contacted, Minister for Agriculture Abdul Aziz Zargar was not available for comments. |
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