Watermelon farmers upset over huge losses
1/9/2004 16:45
A group of watermelon farmers in Qingpu District complained yesterday that
they expect to suffer a loss of 2 million yuan (US$240,964) because the plastic
film that covered their land broke into pieces.
Since the planters claim the
plastic film, produced by Shanghai Bozhi Plastic Products Co Ltd, had serious
quality problems, the district's consumers' association and quality inspection
department are working to solve the problem.
At the end of last December, 22
watermelon farmers in Zhujiajiao Town, a water town in the district, entrusted
the town's agrotechnical station to order plastic film for their 37 hectares of
land from Bozhi. The plastic film cost about 220,000 yuan.
Some of the
plastic film broke into pieces in the early August, however. This seriously
damaged the watermelons because the inside temperature couldn't be kept
stable.
"The watermelon planters are anxious these days because the last
batch of watermelons will be harvested this November. But now they can't be sold
any more due to their poor quality," said the station's manager surnamed
Ding.
Representatives from Bozhi inspected the watermelon land yesterday.
They agreed to replace the broken plastic film free of charge but refused to pay
any compensation.
"Now that the consumers' association has joined to deal
with the dispute, we will respect the association's decision," said Bozhi's
director who only gave his surname, Shen.
The district's Consumers'
Association and Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau have sent samples of
the plastic film to the inspection center of plastic products for a quality
check.
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