Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, February 04, 2025: The district level team of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, SAS Nagar conducted surprise inspection of dealers of fertilizers, seeds and pesticides by teams of Kharar, Majri and Derabassi blocks of the district to provide high quality seeds and agricultural inputs to the farmers.
During the inspection, the stock of dealers of Pioneer, Bayer, Shri Seeds, Nijuvidu, Kaveri and other seed companies was specially checked, who provide seeds especially for maize crop.
Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Gurmel Singh said that seed dealers have adequate stock of Basant maize. In the market, farmers are mostly demanding a special variety of Basant maize, due to which farmers are expressing apprehension of not getting seeds. In this regard, when the agriculture officers talked to the company representatives, they were told that the supply of the demanded seeds is being done from the southern states and after 10th February, the dealers will have the required stock of the said variety.
Dr. Gurmel Singh said that the department is promoting the cultivation of maize crop during Kharif under agricultural diversification. On this occasion, he told that as per the recommendations of Punjab Agricultural University, farmers should give priority to sowing of Kharif maize crop instead of spring maize cultivation so that the prevention of fall armyworm can be ensured. He said that Kharif maize crop is estimated to be cultivated in about 5000 hectares of area in the district and proper arrangements of necessary seeds are being made.
He gave strict instructions to the dealers that Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has issued strict orders that if any shopkeeper sells any kind of duplicate/low priced agricultural input, then strict action should be taken against him. Dr. Shubkaran Singh A.O. was present on the occasion. Kharar told the dealers that priority should be given to selling seeds, fertilizers and pesticides recommended by PAU Ludhiana.
On this occasion, he also appealed to the farmers to take the bill of the agricultural inputs purchased, if any shopkeeper does not give the bill then contact the Agriculture Department office. On this occasion, Dr. Gurdayal Kumar, Dr. Jaswinder Singh and Dr. Jaspreet Singh were present along with the Chief Agriculture Officer.