Sirsa: Farmers in Haryana’s Sirsa district have exposed shopkeepers who have been dealing in fake pesticides, zinc and other products useful for agriculture for the past several years. After the complaint was sent to the higher officials of the state government, the agriculture department officials are busy raiding the shops, taking samples of fake medicines and other products and sealing them. This action being taken by the department on Tuesday has created panic not only in Sirsa but also in other districts of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Sirsa is the place where the maximum amount of pesticides and fertilizers are used in the state.
Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh, national president of the farmers’ organization Bhartiya Kisan Ekta, said that for the last several years, the farmers’ crops are getting ruined day by day. The pesticide and seed mafia has taken over, they are looting the farmers. In Sirsa alone, the pesticide market is worth Rs 280 crores, Haryana has a market worth more than Rs 1800 crores. The zinc market in Sirsa is of 1700 tonnes. Here, 300-350 tonnes of companies’ zinc is sold, while 1300 tonnes of sub-standard companies’ zinc is sold.
He said that complaints were coming from farmers in villages for a long time. Various companies give expired goods to shopkeepers, shopkeepers are changing the date and selling it to farmers. ‘Gandband’ campaign is being run in Haryana. Efforts are being made to run it in the entire country.
The fraud being done with the farmers in Sirsa has been reported to the Director and Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department of the State Government. Zinc is being counterfeited, its factory is in Narwana. Kisan, Raja, the third brand is Dhartiputra, these are fake, there is zero percent. The rate of this zinc is between 12 to 15 rupees per kg. Whereas this zinc is being sold to fake farmers at the rate of 300 to 350 rupees per bag. The rate of real zinc is between 75 to 95 rupees per kg. The product of Congrat Agrotech Company comes in the name of Bhimtal, the expiry is of 2022 whereas the bill is being sold by misprinting in 2024 i.e. changing the date. A Bathinda company is also doing the same. He said that the Government of India and the State Government should pay attention to the farmers. Such people should be reined in. Zinc has come to Sirsa from a company in Hisar, this zinc is named Uttam. Such factories have been set up in Sirsa, Hisar and Bathinda. Farmers are fighting to save the farmers and honest traders. He appealed to the farmers to return the low quality pesticides and zinc purchased from any shop. The Deputy Director of Agriculture Department is not participating in the investigation despite repeated requests.
