Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): The Haryana government has launched a free pesticide residue testing service for horticulture producers across the state to boost farmer incomes, improve crop standards, and ensure public food safety, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana announced on Friday. The rollout fulfills an earlier policy announcement by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini aimed at providing accessible laboratory testing for fruit and vegetable crops grown within the state.
The complimentary testing facilities are operational at the Department of Horticulture’s quality control laboratories situated in Sirsa and Gharaunda in Karnal district. Accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), these specialized centres allow growers to submit samples of horticultural produce, soil, and agricultural water free of cost. The facilities deploy advanced diagnostic tools to accurately analyze residues for 10 major chemical pesticides: Metribuzin, Metalaxyl, Chlorpyrifos, Dicofol, Pendimethalin, Penconazole, Profenofos, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Permethrin, and Deltamethrin.
Urging local cultivators to take full advantage of the initiative, Rana stated that farmers can register for tests by providing their Meri Fasal-Mera Byora details, valid government identification—such as a PAN card, voter ID, or national identity card—along with their contact phone number and email address. Producers can coordinate with their respective District Horticulture Officer offices to facilitate sample collection and complete the necessary procedural formalities.
The primary objective of the program is to educate farmers on regulated pesticide management, helping them prevent excessive chemical application and align local production with national food safety benchmarks. Rana noted that providing free scientific testing will not only enhance the market competitiveness of Haryana’s agricultural yield but also protect consumers from harmful residues in everyday produce.
