‘Sue adulterated fertiliser sellers’

The agriculture ministry has instructed field-level officials to sue sellers of adulterated and substandard fertilisers and pesticides.

In an order issued by its Fertiliser Management and Monitoring Wing deputy chief Sheikh Badiul Alam, the ministry also asked the officials to step up fertiliser market supervision and monitoring to combat unscrupulous businessmen.

The order, sent to the director general of Department of Agriculture Extension and district deputy commissioners on Wednesday, said dishonest traders were cheating farmers by selling spurious and substandard fertilisers and pesticides at low prices.

Besides duping farmers, these dubious inputs might negatively impact agricultural production, it said.

The ministry asked the officials to file criminal cases against fraudulent traders and ensure their punishment through mobile courts held by Upazila executive officers, if necessary.