A group of watermelon farmers in Shanghai's Qingpu District complained Monday 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.

Source: Shanghai Daily