China destroyed 250 million yuan (US$30 million) worth of fake and inferior farming materials in the first half of this year, said an official of the state quality watchdog Thursday.

"The materials include unqualified chemical fertilizer, pesticide and farming machines," said Liu Zhaobin, "spokesperson of the China's State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Fake and inferior chemical fertilizers are mostly found in 11 provinces with huge production, including eastern Shandong province and southwestern Sichuan Province, according to Liu.

The agency also made public a list of companies producing fake and inferior farming materials.

China destroyed 300 million yuan (US$36 million) worth of fake agricultural production materials in 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2005)