The Chamber of Industry of Guatemala (CIG) warned this Tuesday, June 23, about the increase in fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and other counterfeit agricultural inputs circulating in different municipalities of the country, a situation that, according to the organization, represents a threat to national production and the economy of thousands of families dedicated to agriculture.
In a public statement, the entity pointed out that the falsification of agricultural inputs puts crops at risk because many of these products are marketed without registration, contain incorrect doses or are made with raw materials that lack essential nutrients for the development of crops.
According to the warning, the use of adulterated products can cause economic losses to producers, reduce crop yields and compromise the investment made during agricultural cycles.
The organization indicated that the problem already affects peasant families in the departments of Quiché, Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Alta Verapaz, Jutiapa and Chiquimula, and assured that the situation is beginning to spread to other regions of the country.
Call to verify products
Given this scenario, the CIG called on farmers to carefully verify inputs before purchasing them.
Among the recommendations issued is checking that the products have registration from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) and that the batch number is legible. They also suggest checking that the packaging is sealed, without spelling errors or blurry labels.
Likewise, they advise purchasing products only from authorized distributors and avoiding street sales. In addition, they recommend requiring an invoice and keeping the empty packaging as a backup in case it is necessary to file a complaint or claim.
The entity warned that the purchase of low-cost products of dubious origin can lead to losses for farmers during subsequent harvests.
They request to strengthen inspection
The organization also asked the competent authorities to maintain and reinforce inspection actions related to these events, as well as follow up on the corresponding criminal proceedings.
According to the statement, the increase in this type of crimes requires the rigorous application of the sanctions established in current legislation.
The CIG considers that the falsification of agricultural inputs not only affects producers, but also constitutes a threat to the rural economy, food sovereignty and the well-being of Guatemalan families.
Finally, the entity called to work together to combat these practices and protect national agricultural production.
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