AGARTALA, June 6 (TIWN): In a peculiar decision, the Govt of India has instructed states to notify the pesticides businessmen that they can not have their license for business if they do not have a degree in agriculture. Huge resentment brewed among the businessmen as they are in this business since decades and never thought they will be asked for degrees. Also across Tripura there are roadside pesticide and fertilizer sellers but along with other states Tripura Govt has also asked the businessmen to take their license if they have any degree. On being asked, the agriculture passed out students have rejected to open shops as all they want jobs. Govt may face critical situation with this decision. In Govt side, it has been said that the decision was taken to help boost agricultural sector, the State government has decided to award licences to fertiliser and pesticide traders only if they possess a degree in any relevant subject.

As per the government direction, traders who want to obtain license to sell pesticides or fertilisers must have a degree in Agriculture, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Botany or Zoology.

For applying a new licence, the traders should produce their certificates. As a result, old as well as new traders are now searching for degree holders to engage them on contract basis.

According to officials, degree has been made mandatory to run pesticide shops as farmers do not have proper knowledge on type of seeds to sow in particular soil and type and quantity and time to spray pesticides.

These new traders would be able to guide the farmers in these issues, they said. Most of the farmers follow traders’ guidelines rather than agriculture officials.