Chinese government inspectors ferreted out fake farming materials and equipment worth an estimated 341 million yuan (US$43.7 million) in the first three months of the year, according to sources with the Ministry of Agriculture.

The materials included 10.5 million kilograms of poor-quality seeds, pesticides and fertilizers as well as 17,040 shoddy pieces of farming equipment.

A total of 8,029 cases ended in prosecution and 496 clandestine workshops were smashed.

The campaign covered 167,000 producers of farming materials and tools and 58,660 local markets.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)