Punjab takes action against underperforming agriculture officials

Cracking the whip on underperforming officials, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian has directed departmental action against districts lagging behind in the quality control drive, with weekly reviews to be conducted to ensure accountability and improvement.

S. Khudian, along with Administrative Secretary of Agriculture department Dr. Basant Garg, reviewed the ongoing projects, schemes and Kharif season operations.

While reviewing the quality control drive outcomes, the Agriculture Minister took strict note of the underperforming districts lagging behind the targets. He ordered the Director Agriculture to initiate departmental action against defaulting officials and ensure a weekly review of the sampling of agricultural inputs.

S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian categorically said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government will not tolerate any compromise on quality control and officials found guilty of malpractice will face strict action. He emphasised that the State Government is committed to protecting farmers' interests.

To uphold quality control, Dr. Basant Garg instructed the Director Agriculture to ensure regular sampling of agri-inputs in accordance with district targets, while emphasising the need for consistent monitoring to maintain quality standards by timely interventions and corrective actions.

Director Agriculture Mr. Jaswant Singh apprised the Agriculture Minister that out of 826 pesticide samples, 16 were found misbranded. Among 737 fertiliser samples, 11 were substandard, leading to 2 FIRs. Additionally, 2,113 seed samples were tested, with 49 failing quality standards. He informed that these samples have been taken from April 1, 2025 to till date and the appropriate action has already been initiated against the dealers and firms.

The Director further informed that the Agriculture department has formed five Flying Squad teams to safeguarding farmers' interests by ensuring high-quality agricultural inputs to them. The meeting also reviewed the ongoing Kharif crop sowing operations in the state.