SRINAGAR: The Department of Agriculture Kashmir on Tuesday seized a consignment of spurious Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser in the Kakran area of Kulgam district, prompting a region-wide alert and enforcement action to safeguard farmers’ interests.
According to officials, a team of enforcement officers was immediately dispatched to verify reports of the suspected fertiliser. The team carried out an on-site inspection, collected samples, and sent them to the notified laboratory in Srinagar for analysis. Test results from the Quality Control Laboratory later confirmed that the material failed to meet the standards prescribed under the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO).
Upon receiving the report, Director Agriculture Kashmir, along with the Deputy Director (Law Enforcement) and other officers, visited the site and initiated legal proceedings against those responsible. The entire stock of the substandard fertiliser was seized on the spot.
The Director ordered strict punitive action against the defaulters and directed Chief Agriculture Officers and enforcement wings in all districts to remain vigilant and coordinate efforts to prevent the distribution of any spurious or misbranded fertilisers. He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring that only genuine agricultural inputs reach farmers.
Farmers have been advised to procure fertilisers solely from authorised dealers and to immediately report any suspected substandard products to the nearest Agriculture Office.
