Working hard growing pennywort, thinking they could escape poverty, many households were "defaulted" on their money

Reflecting to Dan Tri newspaper, Mr. Luong Trong Tuan (residing in Dong Son ancient village, Ham Rong ward, Thanh Hoa city, Thanh Hoa province) said that 14 households growing pennywort in this locality are being "cheated" by a pennywort purchasing company.

According to Mr. Tuan, in August 2021, Thanh Hoa Agricultural and Forestry Cooperatives Joint Stock Company (now renamed Thanh Ngoc Xanh Group Joint Stock Company - abbreviated as Ngoc Xanh Company) signed a contract to consume the output of pennywort products in Dong Son ancient village of 14 households.

People in Dong Son ancient village have been selling vegetables all year round but have not received any money (Photo: Hanh Linh).

According to the contract, Ngoc Xanh company will purchase all gotu kola products (ancient gotu kola variety) from the fields, Dong Son ancient village, Ham Rong ward.

Gotu kola products under the contract must meet VIETGAP standards (good agricultural practices in Vietnam). The purchase price of gotu kola products is 12,000 VND/kg, and seedlings are 14,000 VND/kg. In the first contract (from August 2021 to February 2022), the company paid in full.

At the end of the contract, Ngoc Xanh Company asked Mr. Tuan to sign a new contract, but he did not agree. According to Mr. Tuan, although he did not sign a contract with the company, from February to August 2022, when the company had a need, his family still imported vegetables for the company. However, after receiving the vegetables, Ngoc Xanh Company did not pay.

"During the past 6 months, my family imported many batches of vegetables for the company. Currently, the company owes my family 20 million VND," Mr. Tuan was upset.

The purchasing company cited difficulties and delayed payment of 180 million VND (Photo: Provided by people).

According to Mr. Le Van Thanh, Director of Dong Son Ancient Village Branch, in response to the incident where the people growing pennywort here were "defaulted" on payment by the company, he represented the people and called the company many times to request that the company resolve the debt as soon as possible, but so far the matter is still stuck.

"As of February 20, Ngoc Xanh company owed the Dong Son ancient village branch more than 180 million VND in vegetable money," Mr. Thanh was indignant.

According to Mr. Thanh, after many meetings, Ngoc Xanh Company gave the reason for not paying the people because the business is facing difficulties. At the same time, the company representative also promised to pay on July 10. If the money is available early, payment will be made in advance.

Struggling to grow and sell many crops of vegetables, the people of Dong Son ancient village are distraught because the purchasing company does not pay them (Photo: Hanh Linh).

Mr. Duong Dinh Long, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ham Rong Ward, said that Ngoc Xanh Company currently owes 14 households growing pennywort in Dong Son ancient village more than 180 million VND.

Speaking with Dan Tri reporter, Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh - Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Head of the Legal and Administrative Department (Ngoc Xanh Company) - admitted that the company owed money for pennywort to the people in Dong Son ancient village.

However, Mr. Vinh said that people's debt for goods partly comes from the fact that the production does not meet the quality requirements.

Ms. Hoang Thi Lan Huong - Deputy General Director of Ngoc Xanh Company - said that according to Article 2 of the first contract, the company has made a request that households are not allowed to arbitrarily use chemical fertilizers, genetically modified stimulants, herbicides, and pesticides outside of regulations to ensure product safety for users.

Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh - Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Head of the Legal and Administrative Department of Ngoc Xanh Thanh Company (Photo: Hanh Linh).

All methods, techniques and fertilization processes must follow instructions from the company's technical department.

"After the first contract ended, the company offered to renew it, but the villagers did not agree. Even though they did not renew it, the company still bought vegetables from the villagers and also subjectively did not check the quality of the pennywort," said Ms. Huong.

According to Ms. Huong, the company has been having a difficult time in business recently. The company is restructuring its apparatus, and when it is stable and has money, it will return it to the households.

Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/lao-dong-viec-lam/nai-lung-trong-rau-ma-tuong-thoat-ngheo-nhieu-ho-dan-lai-bi-bung-tien-20230801213602355.htm