Pune: The Agriculture Department has recently undertaken a significant relocation of its key testing laboratories due to the hazardous condition of the Krishi Bhavan building, which is slated for demolition.
These laboratories, which play a crucial role in quality control, include the Seed Testing Laboratory, Fertilizer Control Laboratory, Pesticide Testing Laboratory, Pesticide Residue Testing Laboratory, and Soil Testing Laboratory.
Previously housed within the increasingly dangerous Krishi Bhavan, these essential laboratories have now been moved to new locations to ensure the safety of staff and uninterrupted service to the agriculture sector.
The relocation was crucial as the operations at the new Agriculture Complex have begun, and the Krishi Bhavan building is set to be demolished soon.
Most offices that were operating in the Krishi Bhavan had already been relocated to private premises, and their functions had resumed. With the laboratories’ relocation now complete, all testing services have resumed at the new locations.
The newly designated sites include the District Superintendent Agriculture Office, located adjacent to Krishi Bhavan and next to the Sugar Complex. The Seed Testing and Fertilizer Control Laboratories have been moved here, where they are now fully operational.
The Pesticide Testing Laboratory has been relocated to a nearby barrack, providing the necessary space and security for its functions. The Pesticide Residue Testing Laboratory is now situated in the government quarters of the Public Works Department in Shastri Nagar.
Additionally, the Soil Testing Laboratory has been shifted to the Water Resources Department’s building in Dapodi.
Agricultural Commissioner Ravindra Binwade, Agriculture Director (Inputs and Quality Control) Vikas Patil, and Pune Divisional Agriculture Joint Director Rafiq Naikwadi played pivotal roles in guiding the relocation process, ensuring that each laboratory was moved efficiently and that operations resumed without delay.
This relocation became necessary because private spaces lacked the required infrastructure for these specialized laboratories. Recognizing this challenge, the Agriculture Commissioner's Office made a strategic decision to shift the laboratories to available government premises, which could better accommodate the needs of such facilities.
Farmers, input manufacturers, and distributors are now requested to send their samples to the new laboratory addresses for testing.
This transition aims to maintain the high standards of testing and quality control essential for agricultural inputs, supporting the farming community and the agriculture sector at large.