The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has sent special teams to
inspect major fertilizer producers and traders in the country in
order to curb fertilizer prices and safeguard farmers'
interests.
The NDRC is examining six large fertilizer producers in
Liaoning,
Henan,
Shaanxi,
Fujian and
Shandong provinces, as well as three national fertilizer
traders including China National Chemicals Import and Export Corp.,
its sources announced on Friday.
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The NDRC is trying to find out whether the factory price of
fertilizer producers exceeds the maximum price limited by the
government, whether overcharging exists and whether the profit rate
of traders is too high.
The NDRC will punish those companies breaking rules so as to
firmly safeguard interest of farmers, it said.
The price of fertilizer directly affects the income of farmers
and grain production. By the end of 2005, the urea retail price
across the country had risen 31 percent from two years ago, and
insiders expect the fertilizer price to go up again during the
spring.
(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2006)