LAHORE: Agriculture authorities have assured the farming community that ample availability of farm inputs, including seed and fertiliser, will be ensured in the open market for the ongoing Rabi season.

Aspokesperson for the agriculture department says that fertilisers are available in abundance to meet the needs of Rabi 2023-24 crops, especially wheat, and there is no shortage of the compost fertilisers in Punjab province.

He says the supply of quality agricultural inputs, including fertilisers and seeds to farmers at fixed rates is the top priority of the government and exploitation of farmers will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

To ensure the supply of fertilisers at fixed rates, departmental teams under the supervision of the agricul-ture secretary are active and a zerotolerance policy is being implemented against those involved in black marketing and profiteering, the official says.

During the ongoing month, FIRs havebeen registered against 182 dealers involved in over-pricing and black marketing of fertilisers across the province and of them 92 handed over to the police, besides a sum of over Rs10.781 million has been recovered as fine. As many as 29,984 bags of fertilisers worth Rs10.08m have also been confiscated.

The spokesman says aggrieved farmers may lodge their complaints to their respective area`s assistant director, deputy director or director agriculture (extension) against prices of fertilisers higher than official rates.

Agriculture Helpline number 0800-17000 can also be used during office hours and action will be taken soon after receipt of a complaint.