IT is something that often happens to farmers in the country. They are either conned into paying more for
certain products they buy or getting less for whatever produce they sell. Whatever it may be, it concerns
money and in the end farmers lose out because of the rip-off by either traders or individuals, be it sale or purchase. Like other things affecting a person's pocket, the purchase of herbicides for application on farms has a financial effect on farmers. Today, we take a look at the differing prices of herbicide that farmers buy for application on their farms and what they should do.
FARMERS contribute a lot to the country's economy but they are often duped.
It is often to do with the price they have to pay for certain things or the price they get for their produce.
One particular issue of concern to farmers is the price of herbicide they buy for application on their farms.
While the quantity and quality is the same, it has been revealed that there is a vast variation in the price.
Some farmers have raised their concern with the country's consumer watchdog, the Consumer Council of Fiji.
Council chief executive officer Premila Kumar said farmers have raised the question of how could the price of the same product with the same quantity and packaging be different.
Mrs Kumar said a farmer in Nausori was charged two different prices for two one-litre gallons of herbicide, namely Ametryne, he bought from a supermarket.
She said the consumer paid $21.81 for a one-litre Ametryne while paying $40.05 for another one-litre gallon.
"The consumer had made similar purchase weeks before and was charged $40.05 for the same one-litre Ametryne 500FL gallon," she said.
"It has been a loss to this farmer because he received only three litres of herbicide after paying $120.15 whereas he should have received six litres if the supermarket was honest.
"Whilst the consumer had brought the matter to the attention of the supermarket staff, no initiative was taken to address the wrongly-priced items and provide timely redress to the consumer."
Mrs Kumar said it was a shame that such things were being practiced by a renowned supermarket where consumers are tricked into spending unnecessary money.
She said the supermarket could not use the same excuse that its staff made an error.
"In commercial dealings there is no room for mistakes and it is for this reason consumer protection laws are in place to protect consumers."
Mrs Kumar said the council was aware of unscrupulous practices used by traders to make money under the guise of human errors.
"It is rather unfortunate that such traders dampen the government's initiative to revive commercial farming by cheating the farmers rather than assisting them."
She urged farmers to check their used containers of herbicide and receipts to ensure they were charged correctly for one-litre Ametryne.
"If they were not charged correctly, then they must come forward to the council to seek redress," she said.