In the wake of white-fly destroying the standing cotton crop in several parts of south-west Punjab, state Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday warned of strict action against those supplying spurious pesticides to farmers.
The Chief Minister, who visited the affected areas in Mansa district of Punjab on Friday, said that if Agriculture Department officials were found guilty of any lapses, they too would be punished.
Amarinder urged farmers to use only the varieties recommended by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to protect their cotton crops from white-fly.
Interacting with farmers during the visit, the Chief Minister said: "Those responsible for the supply of spurious insecticides will not be spared and strict action will be taken against them."
He announced that he would convene a meeting next week to discuss ways and means of tackling the situation in the backdrop of inadequate rain, since dry and humid conditions breed white-fly.
The Chief Minister also appealed to farmers not to resort to suicide, asserting that the loan waiver announced by his government was in the process of being implemented. He also reassured farmers of uninterrupted power supply for the four months of cultivation.
"Farmers should not buy cheap and unbranded seeds coming from Gujarat," he said, expressing concern over poor germination of seeds in some areas due to poor quality seeds.
Amarinder also assured farmers that the Agriculture Department would assess the damage and a decision on compensation would be taken soon.
--IANS
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