Fertilizer stocks adequate but farmers still struggle to get supplies
Collected Photo
Although the government claims that fertilizer stocks in government warehouses are adequate, the crisis at the field level is not easing. Instead, the situation is becoming more severe with each passing day. Farmers are standing in long lines outside dealers’ shops from the early hours of the morning despite the heat and rain. Many are returning empty handed without getting the fertilizer they need. In some areas dealers have also been accused of charging Tk 300 to Tk 600 more per bag than the fixed price.
Farmers allege that cultivation this season is being disrupted because of an artificial shortage created by unscrupulous syndicates, weak local monitoring and mismanagement in the distribution system. Concerns have also emerged over the target for food grain production as farmers are not getting the necessary fertilizer on time.
A visit to Balidia and Maghi unions in Magura found farmers facing severe difficulties while trying to buy fertilizer. Even after standing in line for four to five hours in intense heat many dealers are not providing the amount of fertilizer demanded. In some places farmers are being given only 10 to 15 kilograms of fertilizer against a demand for one bag or 50 kilograms. As a result, farmers have to stand in line repeatedly to buy the same fertilizer. This is wasting time and disrupting agricultural work.
The situation in the northern region is also concerning. In major farming districts such as Dinajpur Rangpur and Kurigram shortages of TSP DAP and potash fertilizer have emerged during the crucial period for the growth and care of Aman rice. Farmers are leaving shoes or sacks outside dealers’ shops immediately after Sehri or the Fajr prayer and waiting in line. Even then many are told at the end of the day that the fertilizer is finished.
Farmers in Naogaon Bogura and Pabna have complained that fertilizer is being sold at prices higher than the government fixed rates. They claim that retailers are charging an additional Tk 300 to Tk 600 per bag. Meanwhile affected farmers in different chars and haor areas of Netrokona and Mymensingh have filed written complaints with local administrations after failing to obtain fertilizer at the fixed price. Many are also expressing their anger on social media.
In contrast to the situation at the field level the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant officials say there is no nationwide fertilizer shortage. According to government data buffer warehouses have adequate stocks of urea TSP DAP and MOP fertilizer. New shipments are also arriving regularly through pipelines under international agreements.
At a recent briefing the agriculture minister said the centralized supply and stock situation for fertilizer this season is much more satisfactory than last year. There is no shortage. However, he said some unscrupulous dealer’s middlemen and sub dealers are creating artificial shortages by building illegal stocks in the hope of making extra profits. He also said that a zero-tolerance policy has been ordered against these syndicates.
To control the crisis the government has taken steps to increase transparency at the field level by revising the “Integrated Policy on Fertilizer Dealer Appointment and Distribution.” Mobile courts are being conducted at the district and upazila levels under the leadership of district administrations. During these drives several shops have been sealed and fined over allegations of selling fertilizer at inflated prices and storing buffer stocks without licenses. The process of canceling the licenses of accused dealers has also begun.
Relevant sources said steps have also been taken to quickly unload new shipments from Morocco Saudi Arabia and Canada on an emergency basis to keep supplies normal.
However, farmers allege that administrative drives are mainly focused on large shops in market areas and along highways. Monitoring is weaker in remote rural markets which allows middlemen to set prices as they please. There are also allegations that many dealers use political influence or collude with the administration to smuggle fertilizer into the black market under cover of darkness.
Agricultural economists and field level agriculture officials say applying fertilizer in the correct amount at the right stage of crop growth is extremely important. If DAP and TSP are not available within the required period during the early growth stage of rice and Rabi crops plant roots become weak and tiller production may decline.
Experts have warned that even if government warehouses have adequate fertilizer stocks the benefits of those stocks will not be realized unless the fertilizer reaches farmers’ fields on time. They said strict monitoring of the supply system down to the union level is necessary. Ensuring that fertilizer reaches farmers directly at the fixed price is also essential. Otherwise, production could be disrupted because of delays in receiving fertilizer which could have a negative impact on the country’s food security.
