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The Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), prepared a document to guide rural producers in the purchase, receipt and use of fertilizers, inoculants and correctives. The objective is to prevent the acquisition of adulterated products that can cause damage to equipment, economic losses and, mainly, inadequate development of crops.
The guidelines apply to mineral, organomineral or organic fertilizers, as well as inoculants, correctives (agricultural limestone), soil conditioners, remineralizers (rock dust), biofertilizers and plant substrates. For the coordinator of Fertilizers, Inoculants and Correctives of the Department of Plant Health and Agricultural Inputs of Mapa, Henrique Bley, the role of producers is fundamental in preventing fraud. “The Ministry monitors agricultural inputs to promote their quality. It is up to the producer to buy natural fertilizers to avoid losses.”
Regarding purchasing, CNA and Mapa recommend that producers look for a company that produces inputs or an established commercial representative, such as agricultural companies and cooperatives. If in doubt, check the companies' website or contact Customer Service (SAC) to find out which sales representatives are available in each region. Another important tip is to ask for the product's trademark, production company, guarantees (NPK formula) and product registration number with the Ministry of Agriculture.
CNA and Mapa also advise producers to avoid purchases via telephone, social networks, classified ads on the internet or from people who visit the rural property without prior references and guarantees of suitability.
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Furthermore, it is essential to require the product's invoice, issued by the producing company, reseller or cooperative, containing the establishment and product registration number on Mapa, nutrient guarantees, batch number and validity and additional information, such as the number of seals on the cargo or packaging, if applicable. CNA's Agricultural Production coordinator, Maciel Silva, reinforced the care taken at the time of receipt. “Being careful is essential, mainly, to prevent fraud that occurs between the dispatch of the product and its arrival at the property. Assessing the integrity and consistency with the Invoice is also an important point”, he said. Another warning concerns “sweeping” products, which can only be sold by fertilizer producing companies, that is, resale is prohibited. The sweeps do not have a nutrient guarantee standard and may contain excess dust and chemical incompatibility, causing a lack of application uniformity and clogging of application equipment. The guidelines were published by the CNA.Per: AGROLINK
