HYDERABAD, Aug 31: As many as 29 samples of chemical fertilizers were found sub-standard in laboratory testing during the the agriculture extension department’s recent campaign against sub-standard fertilizers in Sindh.

FIRs were lodged against 20 dealers of the above mentioned sub-standard fertilizer samples. The charges were framed against the seven dealers in the concerned courts of judicial magistrates and remaining cases are in process.

According to a report issued by the directorate of plant protection here on Saturday, the samples were of Urea (FFC), DAP (Suraj), Urea (Engro), DAP (FFC), DAP (Engro), NP (NFC), DAP (Niab), Urea (Kissan), DAP (Cheeta), DAP (Metocotts) and DAP (7-Star).

The report said that the samples were drawn from the stock of Macca Fertilizer Agency, Anwar Hussain, Naveed Ali, Mir Rizwan Fertilizer Agency, Sarwar Fertilizer Agency and A. Ghafoor Bhurgari, Badin district; Mohammad Ali Shaikh, Khair Mohammad Khokhar and Riasat Ali, Larkana; M/S Permanand, Ismail Jatoi and Iqbal Ahmed Memon, Thatta; Chola Ram, Ghulam Mustafa and Co, Ponilal, Mohammad Sarwar and Dewan Das, Mirpurkhas; Ghansham Das and Imran Ali Memon, Shikarpur; Mumtaz Ali and Meghan Mal, Hyderabad; Maha Dev, Suresh Kumar and M/S Nawabjan, Sanghar; M/S New Kissan Fertilizer Agency, Jacobabad, Khadim Hussain and Brothers, Khairpur; and Murad and Hamza Rajab Ali, Karachi.

Moreover, the samples of seven pesticides were also declared sub-standard by the agriculture chemist, the report said. It added that the samples of the products of Pak Saif Chemical, Mehran Agro, S-Essa, Mehdi Ltd and Universal Agro Chemicals were drawn from the shop of Mohammad Aijaz Pathan, Bhutta Road, Sukkur.

The FIR was lodged against the pesticide dealer.