No fertilizer shortage in the country: Agriculture Minister
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has said there is no fertilizer shortage in the country and no possibility of a shortage in the future. He said government warehouses currently hold 35 percent more fertilizer than they did during the same period last year.
Speaking as the chief guest at a stakeholder consultation meeting on production and management in the fertilizer, seed, irrigation, fisheries and livestock sectors across eight districts of Rajshahi Division, the minister made the remarks on Wednesday night in the conference room of the Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner.
The minister said the government was committed to ensuring an adequate supply of fertilizer according to farmers’ demand.
Highlighting the tendency to smuggle fertilizer across the border, the minister said, “As fertilizer prices are comparatively higher in the neighboring country, an unscrupulous group in border areas is trying to create an artificial shortage. There is a tendency to smuggle urea through the Myanmar border and DAP, MOP and TSP fertilizers through the Indian border. To stop such activities, law enforcement agencies, including the administration, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), must play a strict role in border districts.”
Issuing a stern warning against irregularities by fertilizer dealers, the minister said, “If a dealer fails to collect the allocated fertilizer within the stipulated time, the concerned dealer will be identified as a defaulter. If any dealer is involved in corruption or rents out or transfers their license to someone else in violation of government conditions, immediate legal action will be taken.”
The minister also set specific operating hours for dealers to restore discipline in fertilizer sales. He said, “Fertilizer shops must open by 9:00 am every day during the current season. They cannot close before 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. It must be ensured that farmers get fertilizer when they need it.”
The minister emphasized balanced fertilizer use to increase agricultural production while protecting soil health. Addressing field-level agricultural officers, he said, “Farmers must be made aware of using fertilizer in moderate and correct quantities on their land. At the same time, fisheries workers must be given proper advice on the use of fertilizer in fish farming. Excessive fertilizer use can be harmful to soil fertility and the production system. Therefore, proper fertilizer application must be ensured according to the type of crop and cultivation.”
Referring to agriculture as one of the key pillars of the economy, the minister said the current government was agriculture-friendly. He said the country’s economy would become stronger if farmers became self-reliant. The government was working to increase agricultural production and supply necessary inputs according to farmers’ needs.
The meeting was chaired by Rajshahi’s Acting Divisional Commissioner Md. Rezaul Alam. Special guest Mohammad Abu Saeed Chand, member of parliament for Rajshahi-6 (Bagha-Charghat), was also present.
Among those attending were Department of Agricultural Extension Director General Md. Abdur Rahim, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Executive Director Md. Jahangir Alam Khan, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Commissioner Mohammad Faizul Kabir and Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam.
Senior officials from the agriculture, fisheries and livestock departments, leaders of fertilizer dealer associations from the eight districts and media workers were also present.
Deputy commissioners from seven districts of the division joined the meeting online. Agricultural extension officers from each district directly briefed the minister on fertilizer supply conditions and monitoring activities in their respective districts. Representatives of fertilizer dealer associations also offered various suggestions to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fertilizer.
