SRINAGAR, Sept. 24 -- The Jammu and Kashmir government has intensified enforcement measures against spurious and substandard pesticides and is promoting safer pesticide use through regulatory action, farmer awareness programmes and scientific monitoring, Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para regarding concerns over rising cancer cases and alleged risks associated with spurious pesticides, the minister said the Agriculture Production Department has put in place a comprehensive mechanism under the Insecticides Act, 1968, to regulate pesticide sales and usage.

Dar said two Quality Control Laboratories, one each in Srinaga...