The district agriculture department has filed FIRs against 29 fertiliser and pesticide dealers, as laboratory tests revealed that products from 46 companies were fake. This action followed the destruction of wheat crops on 2,173 acres in Narowal district, leading to an estimated loss of over Rs300 million for affected farmers.
Out of a total of 458,000 acres of agricultural land in Narowal district, wheat was cultivated on 315,680 acres in 2024. Farmers faced a shortage of DAP and urea fertilisers, forcing them to buy these products at inflated prices from dealers operating in the black market. Despite efforts to protect their crops with timely pesticide application, the use of fake agricultural inputs resulted in poor grain formation.
Many farmers, including Muhammad Abrar from Chak Amro Tehsil, Shakargarh, and Kulsoom Bibi from Noonar Town, Narowal, suffered substantial losses. Muhammad Sharif from Kot Nainan had borrowed money for wheat cultivation, only to see his crop destroyed by fake fertilisers and pesticides, leaving him and others in significant debt.
Muhammad Tanveer, deputy director of agriculture in Narowal, stated that the department has taken legal action against the companies whose products were found to be fake in laboratory tests. The affected farmers are urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to intervene and provide assistance.
