Popis: |
In response to numerous reports and claims of poor quality or fake fertilizer that were extensively reported by farmers, fertilizer dealers, and government officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) over the past three years, the World Bank, in support of the Royal Government of Cambodia and in response to the food crisis through the smallholder agricultural and social protection support development policy operation (DPO) engaged the international fertilizer development center (IFDC) to perform a rapid appraisal of fertilizer quality in Cambodia. A total of 103 samples of fertilizer were collected for analysis of quality from 26 fertilizer dealers and three importers. Six Cambodian farmers were interviewed and three fertilizer manufacturers were visited and interviewed in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. The field investigations involved extensive interviews and discussions with public and private stakeholders and site visits to fertilizer dealer shops and warehouse locations. It is essential that the Department of Agricultural Legislation in Cambodia and the field inspectors have access to reliable and fast fertilizer analytical services as visual inspections cannot detect product adulteration or below-guarantee analysis. |