Farmers in Can Tho and across the Mekong Delta (ĐBSCL) are in distress due to the rampant sale of fake fertilizers and counterfeit pesticides. They are urging authorities to act swiftly to curb this problem so they can produce crops with peace of mind.
Farmers Can’t Tell Real from Fake
In Can Tho’s Co Do, Thoi Lai, Phong Dien, and Vinh Thanh districts, farmers worry because the market is flooded with fertilizer brands, making it nearly impossible to distinguish genuine products from fakes. Only after applying the fertilizer—when their crops show no response—do they realize they’ve bought fake or substandard products, but by then the damage is done and all they can do is complain in frustration.
According to fertilizer producers and distributors, over 50% of NPK 20-20-15 fertilizer on the market in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta is of poor quality. Sources say that most of this substandard fertilizer is produced by first-tier dealers who set up their own small-scale, manual production facilities to cut costs and offer highly competitive prices.
At present, Binh Dien Fertilizer Company’s NPK 20-20-15+TE remains the most expensive at 710,000 VND per bag, while similar products from many first-tier dealers sell for only 560,000 VND per bag. Because demand in the region is so high, monitoring and enforcement are extremely difficult.
Calls for Stronger Action
Agricultural management officials propose that the authorities impose heavier administrative penalties on facilities and dealers that produce low-quality fertilizer. But, they note, to enforce such penalties effectively, in addition to the existing decree on administrative sanctions for fertilizer-related offenses, agencies need clear and detailed guidelines.
Dr. Le Van Banh, Director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, has repeatedly urged authorities to intensify inspections to clearly identify fake and substandard agrochemicals to prevent farmer losses.
At the review meeting for the 2012–2013 winter-spring rice crop and the launch of the 2013 summer-autumn crop, after provinces reported widespread fake fertilizers and pesticides, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam advised that for the 2013 summer-autumn and autumn-winter crops, provincial agriculture departments in the Mekong Delta must work closely with relevant agencies to tightly manage the quality of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. This will ensure product quality and help farmers feel secure, aiming for higher profits in rice production.
He also instructed the Department of Crop Production to oversee seed variety planning and technical measures while simultaneously focusing on controlling the quality of agricultural inputs. Although related ministries and agencies have already issued directives on seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, enforcement remains limited. Therefore, localities must work harder to strengthen inspections and strictly punish violations to protect farmers and improve agricultural productivity.