Anisul Islam Noor :
The price of both urea and non-urea fertilizers and diesel has risen, and the supply also has seriously been hampered because of the non-stop blockade hartal since January 6.
Farmers in at least 30 districts of Rangpur, Rajshahi and Sylhet divisions and Jessore region are facing crisis of fertiliszers and diesel, sources said.
Prices of fertiliser, including urea, TSP, MOP, DAP and MAP, increased by Tk 5-Tk10 per kg at retail level while the irrigation cost rose by Tk 150-200 per bigha during the peak irrigation season.
Farmers said that the production cost would go up by 15-20 per cent due to the ongoing blockade and hartal. “If such political programme is not withdrawn immediately, the Boro cultivation will suffer,” they said.
Farmer Jamal Uddin from Fulbari upazila in Kurigram district said the price of urea had increased by Tk 6-8 per kg and is now selling at Tk 22- 24 kg above the government rate.
Sellers were charging extra money, he said, adding that the transportation cost went up significantly, resulting in hike of urea price. He informed that DAP (diammonium phosphate) was now selling at Tk 34-35 per kg against Tk 25.
“TSP, the most demandable fertilizer after urea, is being sold at Tk 28-30 against
Tk 22 per kg,” he said. Fertilizer cost per bigha would shoot up by Tk 200 this year, considering the requirement of 35 kgs of urea and 18 kgs of non-urea per bigha (33 decimals), he added.
Abdul Majid, a farmer, who lives in Adalpur under Kushtia sadar upazila, said deep tube-well owners were charging Tk 1,500-1,550 per bigha as irrigation cost, which was Tk 1,350-1,400 last year.
Akkel Ali mondol, a water pump owner, from the distrrict’s Mirpur upazila said that diesel was being sold at Tk 74-76 per litre against Tk 68 fixed by the government.
He said that he purchased 1.25 litres of diesel paying Tk 95 for per bigha now which was Tk 85 before the countrywide blockade started. The price of kerosene also went up which was used by pump operators at night, he added.
Bangladesh Fertilizer Association (BFA)’s Dhaka Unit Secretary Md Fazlul Hoque said that the dealers had an adequate stock of fertilisers, but disruption in transportation was causing problems in many areas.
The price of both urea and non-urea fertilizers and diesel has risen, and the supply also has seriously been hampered because of the non-stop blockade hartal since January 6.
Farmers in at least 30 districts of Rangpur, Rajshahi and Sylhet divisions and Jessore region are facing crisis of fertiliszers and diesel, sources said.
Prices of fertiliser, including urea, TSP, MOP, DAP and MAP, increased by Tk 5-Tk10 per kg at retail level while the irrigation cost rose by Tk 150-200 per bigha during the peak irrigation season.
Farmers said that the production cost would go up by 15-20 per cent due to the ongoing blockade and hartal. “If such political programme is not withdrawn immediately, the Boro cultivation will suffer,” they said.
Farmer Jamal Uddin from Fulbari upazila in Kurigram district said the price of urea had increased by Tk 6-8 per kg and is now selling at Tk 22- 24 kg above the government rate.
Sellers were charging extra money, he said, adding that the transportation cost went up significantly, resulting in hike of urea price. He informed that DAP (diammonium phosphate) was now selling at Tk 34-35 per kg against Tk 25.
“TSP, the most demandable fertilizer after urea, is being sold at Tk 28-30 against
Tk 22 per kg,” he said. Fertilizer cost per bigha would shoot up by Tk 200 this year, considering the requirement of 35 kgs of urea and 18 kgs of non-urea per bigha (33 decimals), he added.
Abdul Majid, a farmer, who lives in Adalpur under Kushtia sadar upazila, said deep tube-well owners were charging Tk 1,500-1,550 per bigha as irrigation cost, which was Tk 1,350-1,400 last year.
Akkel Ali mondol, a water pump owner, from the distrrict’s Mirpur upazila said that diesel was being sold at Tk 74-76 per litre against Tk 68 fixed by the government.
He said that he purchased 1.25 litres of diesel paying Tk 95 for per bigha now which was Tk 85 before the countrywide blockade started. The price of kerosene also went up which was used by pump operators at night, he added.
Bangladesh Fertilizer Association (BFA)’s Dhaka Unit Secretary Md Fazlul Hoque said that the dealers had an adequate stock of fertilisers, but disruption in transportation was causing problems in many areas.
