Agricultural chemicals: Minister directs officials to expedite crackdown

Strict action will be taken against those found making or selling spurious agricultural medicines

FAISALABAD/ LAHORE: Agriculture Minister Farrukh Javed instructed all DCOs, department officials and pesticide and fertiliser inspectors on Sunday to expedite a crackdown on adulterated substances.

The minister made the remarks at a meeting convened to review the progress of a crackdown on spurious agricultural medicines. The minister directed officials to take strict action against those involved in adulterating the substances. He said adulteration of pesticides would be eradicated in accordance with the vision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Those present on the occasion were told that plant protection teams had been striving to ensure the provision of quality pesticides and fertilisers to farmers. They were informed that strict action was being taken against those involved in the business of manufacturing and supplying spurious and substandard pesticides and fertilisers. Those present on the occasion were told that agricultural medicines worth over Rs10 million had been confiscated on this account from various districts. They were informed that department teams accompanied by district authorities had recovered a great number of agricultural medicines during raids conducted in Sialkot, Gujranwala and Faisalabad. Those present on the occasion were told that elements involved in the activity had been nabbed.

They were informed that 620 bottles of spurious liquid fertiliser worth Rs80 million had been confiscated from Paragon Enterprises in Sialkot. They were told that an FIR had been lodged against Syed Tanvir Shah, the regional manager of the company. Those present on the occasion were informed that industrial unit involved in producing various substandard fertilisers had been sealed in Faisalabad. They were told that five people had also been arrested from there. Those present on the occasion were told that department teams had sent samples of spurious agricultural medicines seized in the raids to a laboratory for tests. Javed praised the work of department officials and directed them to keep on striving against those involved in the trade.

CM concerned over proliferation of adulterated agri inputs

Agriculture Planning Additional Secretary Hussain Sardar said on Sunday that the CM had expressed great concern over complaints regarding the proliferation of adulterated agricultural inputs.

Sardar was speaking at a meeting organised at the DCO’s office in Faisalabad. He said Sharif had constituted a committee under the chief secretary to monitor a crackdown on adulterated pesticides and fertilisers. Sardar said he had asked the committee to present a report regarding progress on the account every week. He said the initiative had been taken to ensure that the province was rid of the scourge.

Sardar said all DCOs had been instructed to supervise the conduct of the crackdown in their jurisdictions and ensure that action was taken against those involved in the business.

He said the CM had also announced a cash prize for those who revealed information regarding places where spurious agricultural medicines were being manufactured. Sardar said adulterators were akin to a tumour in the nation’s social fabric.

He said strict action would be taken against them. The DCO and the Agriculture EDO also spoke at the meeting and shed light on steps taken against those involved in the activity in Faisalabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2015.