Spurious spray oils worry apple growers

Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 21

Farmers have expressed concern over the sale of non-certified tree spray and horticultural oils, which are essential for the control of pests on apple trees.

The Ministry of Agriculture had written to the state government on May 2, 2013, stating pesticides, insecticides and spray oils could not be used unless manufacturers and dealers were registered and had the approval of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC). Several manufacturers and dealers have not informed the state Horticulture Department whether they have the approval of the CIBRC for the sale of these oils or not due to which farmers are unaware of the oils they are buying.

Farmers say they have no option but to use non-certified spray oils available in market.

According to global standards, both tree spray oils and horticultural oils should be 92 per cent to 98 per cent pure for effective control of pests and fungi. Experts say the spray oils are made from the complex mixture of petroleum hydrocarbon produced from paraffinic crude oil. Horticultural oil is 92 to 99 per cent pure and is effective in the control of powdery mildew, aphids, spider mites and various bugs that harm both trees and fruit, they say.

Bhuwan Sharma, general manager, HP Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation, said they would procure spray oils only when the Horticulture Department would recommend it on the spray schedule.