FPA seizes unregistered agri supplies in N. Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Employees and staff of the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority (FPA) confiscated 91 liters of un-registered agricultural products from seven supply stores in at least five towns in the province since they launched their cleanup drive in January.

Aletha Bornea, FPA Cotabato provincial coordinator, identified some of the brands they confiscated as Apex Crop Booster; Field Grow; Crop Booster; Inducer Miracle; Growth Hormone; and a pesticide with a brand name, "Insecticide."

Bornea said the products are not registered under the FPA and are reportedly being sold in the towns of Libungan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Matalam, and in Kidapawan City.

As this developed, two farmers sought help from the Municipal Agriculture Office in Pikit town and the FPA Cotabato after they bought last week 65 sacks of fake corn seeds from an agricultural supply store in a public market in Poblacion, Pikit.

Bornea said the farmers identified as Alberto Libo-on and Romeo Casonete are bent on filing charges against the store owner. She found out the store owner, whom they refused to identify pending further investigation, is not accredited by the FPA.

The products are placed under the custody of the FPA while charges are being readied against the store owners.

The "cleanup drive," which they intensified in January, is part of the FPA’s campaign to rid the province of un-registered fertilizers and pesticides, she said.