Mir Asif
Shopian, July 07 (GNS): The Enforcement Wing of the Agriculture Department, Kashmir, has seized a large quantity of a suspected spurious product marketed under the brand name “Hiss” during raids in Shopian and along the Shopian–Kulgam border, officials said on Tuesday.
In a handout to GNS, a official spokesman said that the product was labelled and marketed as a bio-supplement/fertilizer but was allegedly being sold and recommended to fruit growers as an insecticide without mandatory registrations, approvals, and authenticated laboratory test reports required for such use.
The first raid was carried out at Rishipora Hermain in Shopian, where officials seized a substantial quantity of the product for further investigation and legal action under the relevant provisions of law.
Acting on specific intelligence, the Enforcement Wing subsequently conducted another operation along the Shopian–Kulgam border after receiving information that the dealer had supplied the same product to another retailer. During the raid, another large consignment of the suspected product allegedly being marketed as an insecticide was recovered.
Officials said the department has intensified its campaign against the sale and distribution of unapproved agricultural products. Recent enforcement drives have led to the seizure of significant quantities of suspected illegal pesticides and related products.
“The timely action prevented the questionable product from reaching growers, thereby protecting them from potential crop losses and financial damage,” an official said.
The department has urged farmers and orchardists to remain vigilant while purchasing pesticides and insecticides. Growers have been advised to verify batch numbers, registration details, laboratory test reports and statutory approvals before using any product, and to purchase agricultural inputs only from authorised dealers.
Members of the farming community welcomed the enforcement action, calling it a significant step towards safeguarding the horticulture sector. They also demanded continued strict action against dealers involved in the sale of unapproved or misleading agricultural products, reads the statement. (GNS)
