HYDERABAD, April 6: Five agricultural pesticide products of different companies working in Sindh have been declared substandard after samples were tested in quality control and testing laboratories of the agriculture department.

A campaign against sale of substandard and fake pesticides was launched under directives of Naeem Ahmed, the director-general of the agriculture extension Sindh.

According to details given in a statement here on Thursday, the samples declared substandard pesticide are: Thiodan 35 per cent EC batch No.N-108 (V) 01 of M/S Bayer crop science drawn from the possessions of Fida Hussain chemist filling station, Korangi, Karachi; Mehamidophos 60 SL batch No.AGM/MET 001/2005 of M/s Agri Mark services from Mohammad Rafique, Al-Shahbaz pesticide agency Galla Mandi Kunri, Umerkot district; Mehamidophos 60 SL batch No.AUC/20050412 of M/s Ariga chemicals from Aftab Ahmed Shah, Galla Mandi Ghotki; Magamos 20 SL batch No. PC05005 AT of M/s Chawla International from Mohammad Ali Khwaja pesticide agency Talhar, Badin district; and Acetochlor 50 EC batch No.SLX /The/050107 of M/s Talha Javed enterprises from Hakim Ali Abro pesticide shop, Kolab Jial, Khairpur district.

The director plant protection directed the district officers/pesticide inspectors of districts concerned to lodge FIR against dealers concerned and seize their stock.

MEETING: The second meeting of the committee constituted by the agriculture adviser to Sindh chief minister, regarding preparation of awareness messages for cotton growers was held on Thursday under presidentship of its chairman and progressive grower, Syed Sharfuddin Shah in the office of the director general agriculture extension, Sindh.

The committee discussed and finalized various cotton messages for April and May as prepared by the director farms and major crops Sindh, Murad Dharejo and director, Pakistan Central Cotton Committee Sakrand.

These messages will be published in newspapers and telecast through local TV channels for current publicity campaign launched by the directorate of agriculture information through radio, TV and newspapers for the cotton growers.