Why is there so much noise over fertilizer only in Kurigram?

Fertilizer related unrest has now become a daily occurrence in the northern district of Kurigram. Every day, there are incidents of commotion and clashes over fertilizer somewhere in one of the district’s nine upazilas. In some cases, agriculture officials have even been confined. The distance between fertilizer dealers and farmers is gradually increasing.

The Department of Agricultural Extension said such incidents are occurring because of fears that fertilizer may not be available. However, discussions with dealers, farmers and the agriculture department revealed that concerns over fertilizer shortages have broadly emerged for two reasons. On one hand, the agriculture department does not have ward wise or union level lists of farmers. The demand for fertilizer has increased as cultivable land in the chars has expanded due to the absence of flooding. On the other hand, dealers have been accused of mismanagement and irregularities in fertilizer distribution.

The district agriculture department said the government has allocated an additional 1,000 tons of urea fertilizer beyond the monthly September allocation, considering cultivation beyond the target in the char areas of Kurigram and the increased demand from farmers. The allocation was made through separate orders in two phases.

According to the agriculture department, this is the highest amount of urea allocated in September compared with the average allocation for the month over the past five years. A total of 12,483 tons of urea fertilizer was allocated to Kurigram in July, August and September this year. Of this, the regular allocation for September alone is 4,644 tons. In the same month last year, the allocation was 3,894 tons.

The agriculture department said Aman rice seedlings in different parts of the district are currently dark green. There is no need to apply urea or DAP fertilizer at this stage. However, a tendency toward excessive fertilizer use has been observed among farmers. Some farmers are collecting and stockpiling fertilizer in advance for maize cultivation due to fears of a fertilizer shortage based on incorrect information.

This correspondent spoke to at least 20 farmers at five fertilizer dealer points in different parts of the district. They complained that they were not getting fertilizer according to their needs. Some received fertilizer but the amount was only one third of their demand. They also alleged that favoritism is taking place in the way fertilizer is being distributed using ID cards. Many farmers also demanded that fertilizer be distributed through open market sales or ward by ward.

Mahtab, a farmer from Bhogdangga Union of Kurigram Sadar Upazila, said, “I came to buy fertilizer in the morning and submitted my ID card. Now it is noon and I still haven’t received any fertilizer.”