Punjab Minister for Agriculture Arshad Khan Lodi has said that government would start crackdown against the elements engaged in the sale of substandard or spurious fertilisers and pesticides.
The task force has been directed to conduct surprise raids on the outlets to collect samples and cancel the registration of such traders as were dealing in fake Agri inputs.
He was presiding over a meeting held to review the working of taskforce. The minister said in clear terms that no one involved in such practices would be spared. The concerned stakeholders of the sector also attended the meeting.
Lodhi said that no one would be allowed to undermine the interests of farmers for selfish ends.
He added that genuine fertilisers, pesticides and quality seeds play a very important role in getting optimum per acre yield and any sub standard practice would deter the growth of agriculture sector development, he pointed.
He asked those companies, which were running their business honestly, and dedicatedly to point out such black sheep, who were not only earning bad name for the entire business community but were also causing loss to the farming community in general.