SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 30: The government has taken serious cognizance of premature and extraordinary fruit fall reported in apple orchards of Zainapora and other areas of Shopian district and certain areas of Anantnag district.
This was stated by Minister for Agriculture Production, Javid Ahmad Dar, while replying to a Calling Attention Notice raised by MLA Showkat Hussain Ganai regarding premature fruit fall in orchards of Zainapora.
The Minister said the issue has caused substantial losses and hardship to fruit growers. He informed that a Joint Enquiry Committee comprising Director Horticulture Kashmir and Director Law Enforcement, J&K, has been constituted to examine the matter from scientific, regulatory, enforcement and crop-damage perspectives. The Committee submitted its status report to the government on September 21, 2026 while the complete report is awaited.
As part of the scientific investigation, Javid Dar said multidisciplinary teams from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) conducted field inspections in the affected areas on June 18, June 29 and July 3, 2026. During the inspections, 37 villages and 61 farmers/orchards were surveyed and premature fruit drop was observed in all 61 orchards. Of these, 20 growers had reportedly used the fungicide marketed as “Super M-45” alone while 41 had used it in combination with other agro-chemicals.
The Minister said the extent of fruit fall in several orchards increased progressively from around 30 percent during the initial inspection to nearly 70 percent during the second visit and close to 90 percent in certain cases during the third visit. Simultaneously, the Law Enforcement Wing of the Agriculture Department undertook verification of the manufacture, distribution and sale of the product. Twelve licensed dealers dealing with Batch No. SP-1902 were identified while 238 kilograms of the said batch were seized in District Shopian.
The enquiry, he said, has revealed serious discrepancies concerning regulatory particulars and provenance of the batch. Discrepancies were noticed in the QR code, registration number, manufacturing licence particulars, approved label, manufacturing date and Certificate of Analysis (COA).
Javid Dar informed the House that the QR code printed on the package reportedly corresponded to a different registered entity besides discrepancies in manufacturing licence particulars and other regulatory documents.
“Legal and police action has already been initiated. Proceedings under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971 are underway in connection with the alleged misbranding. In view of discrepancies relating the identity of the manufacturer, registration, licence, label and other regulatory particulars, the matter was also referred for police investigation. Accordingly, FIR No. 0200 dated September 23, 2026 has been registered at Police Station Shopian against the suspected persons. The investigation will establish the actual source of manufacture and packaging of the batch, trace its supply chain and determine responsibility in accordance with law,” said the Minister.
The Minister said the government has also undertaken orchard-wise assessment of crop losses. In District Shopian, the consolidated assessment covers five Horticulture Zones of Kachdora, Keller, Shopian, Imamsahib/Kaprin and Sadipora.
“As per assessment presently available, 6,593 trees spread over 335.75 kanals have been reported affected, with an estimated production loss of approximately 10,72,258 kilograms and assessed financial loss of around ₹4.42 crore. The assessment of affected areas in District Anantnag is also being consolidated,” he informed.
Javid Dar said he has personally reviewed the matter with the concerned officers and directed that investigation be completed expeditiously and taken to its logical conclusion.
The Minister said, “Officers have been directed to pursue the pending laboratory report on priority, undertake cross-validation of the seized material, preserve and sample the seized stock strictly in accordance with law and complete the remaining orchard-wise assessment. They have also been directed to establish the entire supply chain and actual source of manufacture of Batch No. SP-1902 and pursue proceedings under the Insecticides Act as well as police investigation in a time-bound manner.”
The Minister said field functionaries of the Horticulture Department have simultaneously been directed to provide necessary orchard-management and plant-protection advisories to the affected growers.
On compensation and financial assistance, Javid Dar said the government is fully conscious of the hardship faced by the affected fruit growers. He said loss assessment is being completed and verified and after conclusion of scientific investigation, verification of losses and determination of responsibility, the matter regarding admissible relief/financial assistance shall be examined under applicable rules and schemes.
The Minister assured the House that the government is pursuing the matter on scientific, regulatory, enforcement, legal and crop-loss assessment fronts simultaneously and responsibility, wherever established based on evidence, shall be fixed strictly in accordance with law. He reiterated that FIR has already been registered and investigation is underway, and upon completion of all requisite scientific, technical and legal proceedings, appropriate action shall be taken against those found responsible.
