Spring ploughing is coming, but domestic production and transportation of fertilizers were both affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Hence, 16 departments including the National Development and Reform Commission, etc. jointly issued a notice to ensure production and supply of fertilizers for spring ploughing.
Fertilizer industry is important for a country. While sparing no effort to stop the spread of the virus, local governments are required to help producers of fertilizers, raw and auxiliary materials resume normal production and solve problems in transportation. Producers of raw materials (e.g. coal, natural gas, etc.) are to give priority to supplying products to fertilizer manufacturers to increase fertilizer output before spring ploughing. Other measures include increasing fertilizer reserves, importing based on actual situations, etc.
Farmers no longer stock up on fertilizers, and purchase when they need. Hence, supply and marketing cooperatives are to prepare more fertilizers, improve offline distribution networks, and establish emergency distribution mechanisms. Different departments are to shoulder different responsibilities – some provide stronger credit support, some guide farmers to utilize fertilizers efficiently, some supervise prices of fertilizers, and some crack down on illegal activities such as price fraud/pushing.