Farmers in Shayestaganj upazila of Habiganj say they cannot buy fertiliser at the government-fixed price and are paying more for urea, TSP, DAP and MoP (potash). They accuse some local dealers of creating an artificial shortage to sell at higher prices.

At the fixed prices, a 50-kilogram bag of urea or TSP costs Tk 1,350, MoP Tk 1,000 and DAP Tk 1,050. Farmers say that in many cases fertiliser is not available at those prices. One said shops quote the government price but ask for another when it comes to handing over the bags, and that farmers have no choice but to pay because they cannot farm without fertiliser.

Farmers across the upazila's unions and markets say costs are rising in every area: fertiliser, seed, pesticide, labour and irrigation. Paying a few hundred taka more per bag makes it hard to recover production costs from crop sales, and with profits shrinking many are thinking of planting less next season. Small and marginal farmers are the worst hit.

According to farmers, demand for TSP and DAP is high alongside urea. TSP makes up phosphorus deficiency in the soil and helps root strength, plant growth, flowering and yield, so a delay in getting TSP and DAP could cut harvests.

Farmers in Daudnagar, Kalimnagar, Lenjapara, Talugorai, Mahalul Sunam, Char Nur Ahmed and other areas have called for regular market monitoring to enforce the government price. Allocations to dealers are not enough, they say: price lists should be displayed in shops, receipts issued, and stock and sales records checked regularly. They also want quick action against dealers who overcharge and joint drives by the upazila administration and the agriculture department.

Shayestaganj upazila agriculture officer Md Shahadul Islam said the fertiliser market is monitored regularly to keep prices at the government rate, and action will be taken under the rules against any dealer found overcharging on the basis of complaints or evidence. The upazila administration said specific complaints would be checked and acted on. The report is by Manab Zamin's Shayestaganj (Habiganj) correspondent.

Source: Manab Zamin