Minister V S Sunilkumar for strict control on pesticide sale

Kochi: The retailing of pesticides and insecticides in the state will be controlled strictly as part of the efforts by the government to bring down the use of such materials in the state, said agriculture minister V.S. Sunilkumar on Saturday. The government has taken such an initiative after realising the excessive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides, he said speaking after inaugurating a meeting on agriculture technology at Kuruppampady near Perumbavoor. The government is also mulling cancellation of licenses of retail vendors supplying pesticides without the certificate of agriculture officers. The minister has also expressed concern over the sharp fall in the ground water resources of the state.