Vietnamese To Clamp Down On Fake Fertiliser And Feed
Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has pledged to punish businesses producing and distributing counterfeit fertilisers, feed and pesticides.
The use of low-quality and fake agricultural materials is rife in Vietnam accounting for almost 30 per cent of domestic supplies in Tien Giang Province, 48 per cent in Hai Duong Province and 38 per cent in Lam Dong Province.
The current fine for marketing these products at just VND200,000-500,000 (US$12.5-31.25) for each offence, provides little deterrent for the companies and individuals involved.
As farmers often cannot avoid using counterfeit agricultural materials, this affects not only the productivity of their crops and livestock but also land and water resources, according to farmer Nguyen Thi Toan from Ha Noi City’s Thach That District.
"It is our responsibility that our farmers have to use the bad-quality and counterfeit fertilisers, pesticides and feed," said Phat.
Phat suggested applying stricter punishments like withdrawing business licences, suspending operations, publicising their names or even criminal charges.
Businesses caught producing and selling these materials should not only be fined but punished to a point that stops them from continuing the illegal practice, said Luong Le Phuong, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development.
The use of low-quality and fake agricultural materials is rife in Vietnam accounting for almost 30 per cent of domestic supplies in Tien Giang Province, 48 per cent in Hai Duong Province and 38 per cent in Lam Dong Province.
The current fine for marketing these products at just VND200,000-500,000 (US$12.5-31.25) for each offence, provides little deterrent for the companies and individuals involved.
As farmers often cannot avoid using counterfeit agricultural materials, this affects not only the productivity of their crops and livestock but also land and water resources, according to farmer Nguyen Thi Toan from Ha Noi City’s Thach That District.
"It is our responsibility that our farmers have to use the bad-quality and counterfeit fertilisers, pesticides and feed," said Phat.
Phat suggested applying stricter punishments like withdrawing business licences, suspending operations, publicising their names or even criminal charges.
Businesses caught producing and selling these materials should not only be fined but punished to a point that stops them from continuing the illegal practice, said Luong Le Phuong, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development.