• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Rajesh Ahuja

Chandigarh , Aug. 20

THE Haryana Agriculture Department has decided to develop bio-villages by encouraging farmers to use only bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides, according to the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu.

Mr Sandhu was interacting with representatives of the Crop Care Federation of India, the Northern India Pesticide Manufacturers' Association, the Haryana Pesticide Manufacturers' Association, the Fertilisers Association of India, International Pennacea Ltd and senior officers of the State Government to ensure the supply of quality fertilisers and pesticides to the farmers in the State.

He appealed to manufacturers to encourage the use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides.

He pointed out that indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides had given rise to pollution in soil, water bodies and environment. Not only this, residue of chemicals had been found even in foodstuffs. He also sought the cooperation of the industry to ensure that only quality fertilisers and pesticides were supplied to farmers.

The Haryana Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Mr K.S. Bhoria, said that the laboratories for fertilisers and pesticides were being strengthened by

equipping them with modern equipments to ensure quality.

Steps had also been taken to bring transparency in sampling of various inputs and their testing.

The Director Agriculture, Mr Rajeev Arora, disclosed that special raids had been conducted at Fatehabad, Sirsa and Cheeka to check the quality of agricultural inputs. Spurious material was confiscated at these places and first information reports were also

lodged. Unauthorised material was also seized in Uklana. Such raids would continue in the future also, he warned. He also appealed to the industry representatives to provide information on spurious stocks, if any, so that these could be checked.

More Stories on : Bio-tech & Genetics | Other States

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
El Nino, if at all, will benefit India: IMD

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line