SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday informed the Legislative Assembly that it has ordered a detailed investigation into the premature and large-scale fruit fall reported in apple orchards of Shopian and parts of Anantnag districts, with an FIR already registered in the case.
Replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by Zainapora MLA Showkat Hussain Ganai, Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar said the government had taken serious note of the losses suffered by apple growers and constituted a Joint Enquiry Committee comprising the Director Horticulture Kashmir and Director Law Enforcement, J&K, to investigate the matter.
The committee submitted a status report to the government on September 21, while its final report is awaited, he said.
Dar informed the House that multidisciplinary teams from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) conducted field inspections on June 18, June 29 and July 3 across affected areas.
During the inspections, 37 villages and 61 orchards were surveyed, with premature fruit drop observed in all orchards. Of the affected growers, 20 had reportedly used the fungicide marketed as “Super M-45” alone, while 41 had used it in combination with other agrochemicals.
According to the minister, fruit loss increased significantly over time, rising from around 30 per cent during the initial inspection to nearly 70 per cent during the second visit and up to 90 per cent in some orchards during the third inspection.
The Law Enforcement Wing of the Agriculture Department also conducted an investigation into the manufacture, distribution and sale of the fungicide. Twelve licensed dealers dealing with Batch No. SP-1902 were identified, and 238 kilograms of the batch were seized in Shopian district.
Dar said preliminary investigations had revealed discrepancies related to the product’s QR code, registration number, manufacturing licence details, approved label, manufacturing date and certificate of analysis.
He told the House that the QR code printed on the product packaging reportedly corresponded to a different registered entity, raising questions about the authenticity of the batch.
Legal proceedings under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Insecticides Rules, 1971, have been initiated in connection with the alleged misbranding of the product, the minister said.
He further informed the Assembly that FIR No. 0200, dated September 23, 2026, had been registered at Police Station Shopian against suspected persons. The investigation, he said, would seek to identify the actual manufacturer, trace the supply chain and determine responsibility.
The minister said an orchard-wise assessment of losses had also been carried out. In Shopian district, covering the horticulture zones of Kachdora, Keller, Shopian, Imamsahib-Kaprin and Sadipora, a total of 6,593 apple trees spread over 335.75 kanals were reported affected.
The preliminary assessment estimates production losses of about 10.72 lakh kilograms of apples, with financial losses assessed at approximately ₹4.42 crore. Assessment of affected orchards in Anantnag district is also underway.
Dar said he had directed officials to expedite the investigation, obtain pending laboratory reports, complete cross-verification of seized samples and establish the entire supply chain linked to Batch No. SP-1902.
He added that horticulture officials had been instructed to provide technical guidance and plant-protection advisories to affected growers.
On compensation, the minister said the government was aware of the hardship faced by orchardists and that the issue of relief or financial assistance would be examined under applicable rules and schemes after completion of scientific investigations and verification of losses.
He assured the House that responsibility would be fixed strictly in accordance with law once the investigation and related scientific and legal processes are completed.
