Crackdown launched on counterfeit agricultural inputs

5,318 bags of fake products seized, suspicious samples sent to lab for analysis

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has launched a major crackdown against sellers of counterfeit agricultural medicines and fertilisers in Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Golarchi, and Sajawal, seizing 5,318 bags of fake products.

On directives of Sindh Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, the provincial team of the Agriculture Department conducted raids and collected 59 suspicious samples of agricultural medicines and fertilisers from various districts, which were then sent to the laboratory for analysis. According to a spokesperson for the department, these operations are meant to protect farmers from the harmful effects of fake and substandard agricultural products.

The spokesperson reported that 400 bags of Hapo Granules and 68 bags of Vertaco agricultural products were seized from an unregistered dealer's shop in Sajawal. Meanwhile, in Golarchi, thousands of suspicious bags from FMC United Private Limited were confiscated, including 1,000 bags of counterfeit Fertira Granules. Further, spokesperson for the Agriculture Department, Imran Ali, stated that over 40 samples of fertilisers and pesticides were collected from Sanghar and Shaheed Benazirabad, and sent to the laboratory for testing. He revealed that all the seized counterfeit agricultural medicines were intended for use in rice crops to eliminate pests.

Minister Mahar emphasised that strict legal action is being taken against those involved in the sale of fake and substandard agricultural products, to ensure economic protection of the province's farmers.