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Bhubaneswar: Reacting on the allegations that spurious pesticides are responsible for crop loss due to pest attack in Odisha, Panchayati Raj Minister Pradeep Maharathy today said that action should be taken against the persons responsible.
"The persons selling the pesticide and the concerned authorities should be arrested, if it is found spurious, and they should be made to march on roads prior to being jailed," said Maharathy.
Questions have been raised on the quality of the pesticides after a huge crop loss in State due to pest attack. Farmers had alleged spurious pesticides being sold at many places.
The government had conducted raids based on the allegations and pesticide samples have been sent for examination to Central Insecticides Laboratory in Faridabad.
However, OUAT vice chancellor Surendranath Pasupalak said as the farmers are using same pesticide regularly, the pests are turning pesticide-resistant.
"The pesticide would not have worked as the pests may have turned resistant to it in a similar way we develop resistance after taking an antibiotic" said Pasupalak.
On the other hand, a 6-member BJP team led by MP Om Prakash Yadav will visit Odisha on Friday to analyse the crop loss situation in the State. BJP Kisan Morcha's State Secretary Surath Biswal informed that the team will prepare a report on the crop loss due to drought and pest attack by visiting seven districts of Odisha within four days.
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The team will prepare a report after a tour of Bargarh, Subarnapur, Nuapada, Boudh, Balangir, Ganjam and Nayagarh districts.
"The team will investigate the circumstances that forced the farmers to buy spurious pesticide. A list of State BJP leaders have been prepared to assist the Central team. After the visit they will hold a Press meet and later will submit their report to Amit Shah," said Biswal.
Union Minister Jual Oram also questioned the availability of spurious pesticides in State and demanded a probe to find out the persons responsible for it. He alleged involvement of Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout and suspected Percentage Commission (PC) activities behind the supply of the pesticides.
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“Who provided spurious seeds and pesticides and how the agriculture department was unaware about the loss. If they were aware what corrective measures they have taken till date. Who has sold spurious pesticide, who is the supplier, who has certified it, who is the distributor should be probed. I suspect there must be some Percentage Commission (PC) activities behind it,” said Oram.
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