Farmers worried as fertilizer prices continue to rise

Farmers are worried as fertilizer prices continue to rise.

Farmers are worried about the continuously rising price of fertilizers - Photo: NP

Mr. Van Viet Thanh's family in Hai Lang commune owns 6 sao (approximately 0.6 hectares) of rice paddies. While this area may not seem large to many farmers, it is the main source of income for him to support his family and raise his two children who are of school age. However, after the recent Typhoon No. 1, all of his family's rice crop was destroyed. The worry of restoring production and replanting rice in time for the next season has not yet subsided, and now another worry has arisen as the prices of agricultural supplies such as fertilizers and pesticides continue to rise.

“The continuous increase in fertilizer prices is causing us farmers a lot of difficulties. Farming is a low-income profession, requiring 3-4 months of hard work from planting, tending, and harvesting. Even with a good harvest, we only barely make a profit. Now, the prices of agricultural supplies, especially nitrogen fertilizers, are skyrocketing, and farmers may even suffer losses if they have a bad harvest,” Mr. Thanh said sadly.

With over 196 hectares of rice and 60 hectares of other crops, after typhoon No. 1, all 470 members of Thien Tay Cooperative suffered significant losses. Mr. Nguyen Khuynh, from Dien Sanh commune, planted about 3 hectares of rice in the summer-autumn season. However, after typhoon No. 1, he had to mobilize relatives to invest 40-50 million VND to replant almost the entire rice area. Having been involved in farming for decades, Mr. Khuynh is deeply concerned about the rising prices of agricultural supplies, especially fertilizers, which have discouraged many farmers from continuing their work.

According to Mr. Khuynh, the increase in agricultural input prices has led to higher costs for land preparation, harvesting, transportation, etc., making the already low income of rice farmers even lower. “We are farmers, born and raised in the fields, so no matter how difficult things get, we don’t want to abandon our land. But besides the worries about pests, diseases, and storms damaging our crops, we now also have to worry about the price of supplies. We only hope that the prices of fertilizers and other agricultural supplies will stabilize soon so that people can feel secure and continue farming,” Mr. Khuynh said.

Fertilizers are a crucial input and account for a high proportion of agricultural production costs. Therefore, rising fertilizer prices have significantly impacted production, the competitiveness of agricultural products, and the livelihoods of farmers, especially in the context of difficulties caused by natural disasters.

According to our reporter's investigation, since the beginning of the season, the prices of agricultural supplies have changed several times, all in an upward direction. The price of Phu My urea fertilizer increased from 630,000 VND/50kg bag to 725,000 VND/bag; Phu My NPK 16-16-8 fertilizer is priced from 750,000 - 760,000 VND/bag.

According to agricultural supply businesses, the main reason for the upward trend in prices is the increase in processing costs and raw materials. In particular, from July 1, 2025, the VAT on fertilizers increased from 0% to 5%, coupled with increased operating, storage, and labor costs, leading to a significant increase in product prices. Compared to the same period last year, fertilizer prices have increased 1.5 times.

Speaking with reporters, Bui Phuoc Trang, Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, said that during a time when agricultural input prices, especially fertilizer prices, are soaring, the Quang Tri Provincial Department of Agriculture has directed efforts to strengthen propaganda and guidance for people to limit the use of inorganic fertilizers and maximize the use of organic fertilizers to increase soil fertility, looseness, and improve soil structure.

For households engaged in livestock farming, utilizing and applying manure correctly helps crops grow and develop well, contributing to increased productivity. “We encourage farmers to practice circular replanting, select suitable, short-term crop varieties, and adjust technical solutions accordingly; at the same time, we are establishing groups and strengthening inspections of businesses to prevent speculation and hoarding of fertilizers aimed at driving up prices,” Mr. Phuoc Trang informed.

The aforementioned temporary adaptation solutions are considered relatively effective in ensuring environmental protection and alleviating some of the difficulties faced by farmers in production, especially given the current lack of signs of price reductions for agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers. However, in the long term, the intervention of relevant authorities is crucial to stabilize fertilizer prices and ensure the legitimate rights of farmers.

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