The government should take serious steps to stop adulteration of fertilizers as substandard agricultural input decreases yields. We know balanced use of fertilizer along with organic fertilizer is a demand of time. Experts have also laid emphasis on strong monitoring to check the quality of imported potassium, potash and phosphate fertilizers at the stage of storage and distribution to check adulteration. There are some areas in Bogra, Jessore and Jhenaidah where people carry out adulteration of fertilizer at midnight and wrap up activities before the dawn. That means it is not out of the local administration’s knowledge.
Agriculture is the driving force of our economy. It comprises 16 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Of the agricultural income, crop agriculture alone accounts for 55 percent. But the boost to farm yield would be crucial in the future as the country loses 0.66 percent of farmland to mainly non-farm uses. Against this backdrop, proper use of farmland with pure and balanced fertilizer is a must to get healthy harvest.
The era of single fertilizer is long gone. Crop plants require 16 nutrient elements for their optimum growth, development and yield. But most of the farmers do not know how to use the micronutrient like copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, Zinc, boron due to lack of motivation. Mixed fertilizer is very good in terms of balanced fertilization. At present, the contaminated fertilizers have posed a serious threat to our agriculture. If it continues, fertility of the soil would be affected very much.
A study of the Food and Agriculture Program of Practical Action Bangladesh on organic fertilizer promotion had revealed that there was a lack of understanding of the requirements of soil and soil fertility testing. Organic fertilizer works slowly on soil and its productive efficiency is lower than chemical fertilizer, which is costly. Organic fertilizer production costs are higher; very few companies produce organic fertilizer and some of its quality is questionable. The government provides a higher subsidy for chemical fertilizer that makes more vested interests so that disparity exists regarding the political economy of fertilizer policy and promotion.
We think, the government should gear up its monitoring to stop adulteration of fertilizers. The fertility of soil in our country is very high. So, the government must not give scope to anyone to destroy it using imbalanced and adulterated fertilizers. Here, the increased use organic fertilizer should be encouraged.
Agriculture is the driving force of our economy. It comprises 16 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Of the agricultural income, crop agriculture alone accounts for 55 percent. But the boost to farm yield would be crucial in the future as the country loses 0.66 percent of farmland to mainly non-farm uses. Against this backdrop, proper use of farmland with pure and balanced fertilizer is a must to get healthy harvest.
The era of single fertilizer is long gone. Crop plants require 16 nutrient elements for their optimum growth, development and yield. But most of the farmers do not know how to use the micronutrient like copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, Zinc, boron due to lack of motivation. Mixed fertilizer is very good in terms of balanced fertilization. At present, the contaminated fertilizers have posed a serious threat to our agriculture. If it continues, fertility of the soil would be affected very much.
A study of the Food and Agriculture Program of Practical Action Bangladesh on organic fertilizer promotion had revealed that there was a lack of understanding of the requirements of soil and soil fertility testing. Organic fertilizer works slowly on soil and its productive efficiency is lower than chemical fertilizer, which is costly. Organic fertilizer production costs are higher; very few companies produce organic fertilizer and some of its quality is questionable. The government provides a higher subsidy for chemical fertilizer that makes more vested interests so that disparity exists regarding the political economy of fertilizer policy and promotion.
We think, the government should gear up its monitoring to stop adulteration of fertilizers. The fertility of soil in our country is very high. So, the government must not give scope to anyone to destroy it using imbalanced and adulterated fertilizers. Here, the increased use organic fertilizer should be encouraged.
