Farmers at Ghatail in Tangail say fertiliser is not available at the price the government has fixed. Dealers ask for more, they say, and there is little monitoring by the administration.

The hill soil of the upazila's eastern side grows mainly banana, dragon fruit, papaya and turmeric. These crops need TSP and DAP in particular, because TSP makes up the soil's phosphorus deficit — phosphorus strengthens roots, brings flowering on time and improves the quality of the crop.

According to the agriculture office, the upazila has 18 BCIC fertiliser dealers and 20 BADC dealers. Dealers say this month's allocation per dealer was 560 sacks of urea, 29 of TSP, 100 of MOP and 50 of DAP.

At the government rate, a 50kg sack of urea or TSP should sell to farmers at Tk1,350, MOP at Tk1,000 and DAP at Tk1,050. A tour of the upazila found fertiliser at those prices nowhere.

Abu Sayed Anik, a young entrepreneur from Kushariya village, said farmers would save Tk15 to Tk20 lakh a month if they could buy at the official rate. Farmer Nasir Uddin said, "You cannot buy even a chhatak of fertiliser at the government price." On 2 September, at BCIC dealer Rajib Enterprise at Sagardighi bazar, he was quoted Tk1,800 for a sack of TSP, Tk1,460 for urea and Tk1,130 for potash.

That firm was fined Tk20,000 on 11 August in a consumer rights drive for selling fertiliser above the fixed price. Owner Sanjay Saha said: "I do not charge extra for fertiliser. I do not do anything that harms a farmer." At BADC dealer Shanto Enterprise at Dhalapara bazar, a sack of urea was quoted at Tk1,480, DAP at Tk1,600 and potash at Tk1,100.

Upazila agriculture officer Dilshad Jahan said: "We monitor the fertiliser market constantly. If any dealer sells above the price, action will be taken against them." UNO Md Mahmadul Hasan said he has had no complaint from farmers so far, and will investigate and act firmly if one comes.

Source: Samakal (Ghatail, Tangail correspondent)