The rising prices of fertilizers in Negros Occidental has raised concern among retailers, Hinigaran Vice Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo, who is also in the fertilizer retail business, said.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Arceo told the DAILY STAR that there has been an unreasonable increase in the prices of fertilizers in the recent months, adversely affecting farmers, particularly those planting sugarcane, who have to deal with low sugar prices.

Based on the figures he provided, the retail price of major fertilizer grade, 18-46-0, has risen from only P1,370 per sack in October last year to P1,850 this February. In January, the cost was P1,750 per sack.

He also said prices of the said potassium increased from P870 in December, to P1,000 in January, and to P1,100 in February.

Arceo said the Department of Trade and Industry should look into the series of increases in fertilizer prices because there are reports that distributors have agreed to band together in selling fertilizers at uniform costs.

He said the increase is unreasonable and does not seems right.*NLG

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