Staff Reporter :
Despite the availability of sufficient stocks, the supply of both urea and non-urea fertilizers to dealers has been disrupted due to the ongoing countrywide blockade, the Bangladesh Fertilizer Association (BFA) sources said.
On the other hand, farmers claimed that taking advantage of the nonstop blockade, a group of unscrupulous traders were selling fertilizers at higher prices, asserting that there were no stocks in reserve.
If the opposition blockade continues, the BFA fears that rice growers may wage a movement to ensure adequate supplies during the upcoming Boro season, the peak time for fertilizer consumption. Alongside Boro production, non-urea fertilizers, including MOP and DAP, are also used for vegetable cultivation.
The demand of fertilizer for the current month (January) is seven lakh tonnes of which four lakh tonnes urea. But the supply is being hampered due to
shortage of transport. The transport owners do not agreed to carry fertilizer despite offering of higher rate, BFA sources said.
At present fertilizer supply has decreased one thousand tonnes from normal supply range of five thousand tonnes everyday due to blockade.
According to Agriculture Ministry, the demand of Urea, Muriate Of Potash (MOP), Triple Super-Phosphate (TSP) and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer in the current fiscal year is about 48 lakh tonnes. Of which, urea is 27 lakh tonnes and TSP 7.25 lakh tonnes, MOP seven lakh tonnes and DAP 6.75 lakh tonnes. BFA president Kamrul Ashraf Khan said there are enough stocks of urea and non-urea fertilizers, but supplies at field level could not be ensured due to the ongoing blockade.
“We fear that the growers may launch a movement demanding fertilizers in the current peak season,” Kamrul said. The prices of fertilizers have also increased due to the gap between demand and supply, the BFA leader said.
Pulok Ronjan Shaha, joint secretary to the Agriculture Ministry, said the government is trying to get supplies to the dealers, so fertilizers would be available for the growers. He also claimed that law enforce agencies are helping supply of fertilizer in the district level.
He also ensured that sufficient amount of fertilizers are in stock for use in Boro cultivation. He added that waterways are still open for transporting fertilizers to balance out the loss of other transportation routes.
Despite the availability of sufficient stocks, the supply of both urea and non-urea fertilizers to dealers has been disrupted due to the ongoing countrywide blockade, the Bangladesh Fertilizer Association (BFA) sources said.
On the other hand, farmers claimed that taking advantage of the nonstop blockade, a group of unscrupulous traders were selling fertilizers at higher prices, asserting that there were no stocks in reserve.
If the opposition blockade continues, the BFA fears that rice growers may wage a movement to ensure adequate supplies during the upcoming Boro season, the peak time for fertilizer consumption. Alongside Boro production, non-urea fertilizers, including MOP and DAP, are also used for vegetable cultivation.
The demand of fertilizer for the current month (January) is seven lakh tonnes of which four lakh tonnes urea. But the supply is being hampered due to
shortage of transport. The transport owners do not agreed to carry fertilizer despite offering of higher rate, BFA sources said.
At present fertilizer supply has decreased one thousand tonnes from normal supply range of five thousand tonnes everyday due to blockade.
According to Agriculture Ministry, the demand of Urea, Muriate Of Potash (MOP), Triple Super-Phosphate (TSP) and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer in the current fiscal year is about 48 lakh tonnes. Of which, urea is 27 lakh tonnes and TSP 7.25 lakh tonnes, MOP seven lakh tonnes and DAP 6.75 lakh tonnes. BFA president Kamrul Ashraf Khan said there are enough stocks of urea and non-urea fertilizers, but supplies at field level could not be ensured due to the ongoing blockade.
“We fear that the growers may launch a movement demanding fertilizers in the current peak season,” Kamrul said. The prices of fertilizers have also increased due to the gap between demand and supply, the BFA leader said.
Pulok Ronjan Shaha, joint secretary to the Agriculture Ministry, said the government is trying to get supplies to the dealers, so fertilizers would be available for the growers. He also claimed that law enforce agencies are helping supply of fertilizer in the district level.
He also ensured that sufficient amount of fertilizers are in stock for use in Boro cultivation. He added that waterways are still open for transporting fertilizers to balance out the loss of other transportation routes.
