Home ›› 05 Aug 2022 ›› Nation
Farmers in Rajshahi and Mymensingh regions are unhappy with the rise in the price of urea fertiliser as it increases their production costs and lowers profit margin.
After the announcement of the price hike of urea fertiliser by Tk 6 per kg, the shopkeepers have increased the price by 300 Tk per 50 kg bag.
The farmers believe that the increase in the price of urea fertiliser will also increase the cost of other inputs and crop production. If the farmers do not get an increased price for their produces, this will incur losses.
Anwar Hossain, a farmer in Chapainawabganj said he went to buy fertiliser on Monday and found out that the price has risen by Tk 300 and now per bag costs Tk 1,100.
“I was not able to buy the fertiliser since I did not have enough money. I have to fertilise my farmland in a few days so I have to buy it at a higher price now,” he said.
Monsur, a farmer of Naogaon’s Atrai, said he has cultivated paddy on 10 bighas of land this season. But the sudden increase in the price of fertiliser caused him to expend Tk, 3,000 more on fertilise.
“If we do not raise the price of crops now, we will incur heavy losses,” he added.
Farmer Zayed of Natore said he has planted paddy on 22 bighas of land this season and will need to fertilise the land soon.
According to the farmer, one bag (50 kg) of urea fertiliser, along with one bag of other types of fertiliser is needed per bigha of land for paddy cultivation. In addition, they have to apply pesticides regularly. Including all costs, he spent around Tk 17,000-18,000 per bigha of land.
“Labour costs have already increased by Tk 50-100 per person. If the prices of other fertilisers and pesticides also increase we will not be able to cover all the costs,” he said.
Additional Director Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rajshahi, Shamsul Wadud said the government spends about Tk 81 per kg on urea fertiliser import.
“In the current global economic recession, the subsidy of the government will decrease by increasing the price by Tk 6 per kg. It will benefit the country as a whole,” he said.
He added that the farmers will not incur losses as the prices of crops have also increased.
In response to a question, he said prices of other fertilisers or pesticides have not increased so far. The government will take measures if that happens. He urged the farmers not to worry about this.
On the other hand, traders and shopkeepers have been allegedly hoarding fertiliser in order to sell them at a higher price in Mymensing, alleged the farmers.
Farmer Nurul Islam of Char Ishwardia of Mymensingh cultivated Aman paddy on 0.5 bighas of land. He had to buy potash fertiliser for Tk 17, Urea for Tk 20, and phosphate (DAP) for Tk 22 per kg this week, whereas they were Tk 15, Tk 16 and Tk 16 respectively. This cost him Tk 500 more to fertilise his farmland.
Farmer Rahmat Ullah of Gouripur is preparing seedbeds on 200 decimal (approximately 6.06 bigha) of land for Aman cultivation.
“The government has raised only the price of urea but the traders are increasing the prices of other fertilisers as well,” he said.
Another farmer Zamir Uddin said the shopkeepers denied having any fertiliser in stock on Wednesday but later agreed to sell them at a higher rate.
“We are worried that the traders might hoard fertiliser to sell them at a higher rate later,” he said. Other farmers of the rural areas are worried about being able to fertilise their cropland on time.
However, district DAE officials said the supply of all types of fertilisers is available as per demand and the possibility of a shortage is a rumour.
According to Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), in Mymensingh, the demand for triple superphosphate (TSP) fertiliser is 1337 tonnes, DAP 2398 tonnes, and Muriate of Potash (MOP) is 2256 tonnes, all of which have been allocated.
Deputy Director of the Mymensingh DAE Md Matiuzzaman said this year the target of Aman paddy cultivation is estimated at 2,68,320 hectares of land in the district.
“The increased prices of fertiliser will not affect the production cost. We are regularly monitoring the market to ensure proper distribution,” he added.
Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md Enamul Haque said the field officials have been asked to monitor the markets regularly.
“Legal action will be taken against those found guilty of overcharge or illegal hoarding,” he said.
