Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, August 30, 2024: The Punjab government has issued directions to ban the sale and use of certain pesticides that are hampering the export of Basmati rice. These directions have been issued in the interest of farmers to improve the quality of Basmati rice.
Chief Agriculture Officer, SAS Nagar while sharing this information to all the farmers and pesticide dealers/sellers of the district said that the use of pesticides like Acefate, Propiconazole, Thiamethoxam, Buprofagin, Prophenofos, Imidacloprid, Carbidizam, Chlorpyrifos, Hexaconazole, Tricyclazole has been banned.
He said that these pesticides have been banned in Punjab for a period of 60 days so that good quality Basmati rice can be produced without any residue. He said that according to experts, there is a risk of using these agrochemicals in Basmati rice in quantities higher than the prescribed 'Maximum Residue Level' (MRL). Therefore, to save this heritage Basmati crop and to ensure export of Basmati rice to other countries, these agrochemicals have been banned so that farmers can get higher value for their produce and increase their income.
Dr Gurmail Singh appealed to the pesticide sellers and Basmati growers not to sell/use these pesticides for Basmati crop. If any farmer demands these pesticides, he should be given alternative chemicals recommended by PAU Ludhiana.