Recently, not only have prices increased, but the quality of fertilizers has also caused many concerns for farmers. To avoid affecting productivity, quality of agricultural products and causing losses to farmers, the provincial Department of Agriculture is coordinating with relevant forces and localities to tighten management, strengthen control of fertilizers on the market, and strictly handle violations in this field.
Many fertilizer samples were found to be of substandard quality.
Continuously from 2020 to 2022, domestic fertilizer prices have increased sharply, with some products reaching farmers exceeding 1.2 million VND/50 kg bag. Compared to 2019, fertilizer prices have increased by 50 - 70%. In 2023, prices have cooled down somewhat, but mainly for nitrogen fertilizers, while other groups such as phosphorus, potassium, etc. remain quite high. The high price of fertilizers has caused many people to take advantage of production and introduce fake and poor quality fertilizers to the market. As a result, farmers have fallen into a situation of "double" losses, having to suffer from the impact of high fertilizer prices and facing fake fertilizers that reduce crop yields and degrade the land.
Mr. Duong Van Mung (Quang Son commune, Tam Diep city) confided: It is very difficult for us farmers to distinguish between real and fake fertilizers. Only after using them for a while and seeing that they are ineffective do we know which is real and which is fake. However, at that time, there was no evidence to request compensation...
In the province, there are currently 10 fertilizer companies and factories and 466 establishments that have been granted certificates of eligibility for fertilizer trading (of which 463/466 establishments are in operation). Although every year, specialized agencies and functional forces carry out inspections and checks on fertilizer products, however, the situation of fake, poor quality, and expired fertilizers still exists in the market.
Typically, in the first months of 2023, the Inspectorate of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection inspected and examined 58 fertilizer trading establishments. In addition to checking records, business licenses, contracts, invoices for goods purchase and sale, etc., the units also took 17 samples of fertilizers being traded at the establishments to test their quality. The results found that 10/17 samples did not comply with the national technical regulations on fertilizer quality (QCVN 01-189: 2019/BNNPTNT). The inspection teams imposed administrative penalties on 2 organizations and 3 individuals with a total fine of nearly 70 million VND.
Resolutely handle violations
Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen, Chief Inspector (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) said: In order to avoid double losses for farmers, in the first 6 months of 2023, inspection and handling of violations in the fertilizer sector were more focused and drastic. As a result, many violations were discovered, including 2 organizations and 3 individuals who were administratively sanctioned with a total fine of nearly 70 million VND.
Thereby, it has contributed to raising awareness of law compliance of fertilizer production and trading units. At the same time, it protects legitimate businesses, creating fair and healthy competition.
However, the current difficulties and shortcomings in the inspection and testing of fertilizer quality are the large number of fertilizer businesses and the small scale while the inspection force is thin, the budget for sampling and testing to handle violations is limited. Moreover, the testing process takes a lot of time. Therefore, the punishment for violations is delayed, affecting the rights of consumers if while waiting for handling, substandard products are still circulating on the market.
To continue to rectify production and business activities in this field, in the coming time, the Department of Agriculture will strengthen propaganda and training on fertilizer knowledge to raise awareness for production and business establishments and fertilizer users in the province. At the same time, the Department Inspectorate will coordinate with relevant units and agencies to continue to inspect and examine, especially increase surprise inspections. Along with that, step up quality control through sampling for appraisal, and strictly handle violations.
In addition to the efforts of the agricultural sector, localities also need to step up propaganda to raise people's awareness in choosing the right fertilizer, the right type of crop, the right dosage, the right way, the right time, and following the instructions for use. Actively fight against, prevent, denounce crimes, condemn acts of smuggling, trading in fake and poor quality goods. If there are suspicions about cases of production and trading in fake and poor quality fertilizers, it is necessary to contact the nearest professional agency for timely investigation and verification.
Article and photos: Nguyen Luu
Source link
Comment (0)