Having recovered from flood damage, early vegetable farmers in Kurigram now face an artificial shortage of fertiliser and seed. They accuse retailers of forming a syndicate to raise prices, and fear losses instead of profits. The administration says there is no shortage in the market and that action will be taken if complaints are received.

Farmers say they cannot get the fertiliser their land needs, and when they can, higher prices are demanded. They had hoped for good profits from early cauliflower, but the runaway prices of fertiliser and seed have left them worried.

According to the upazila agriculture office, early vegetables are being grown on 29 hectares in the upazila this year.

Farmer Makbul Hossain said cauliflower seed that cost Tk 700-750 last year now costs Tk 1,600 to Tk 1,800. Fertiliser that cost Tk 1,300 last year sells for Tk 1,500 this year. He urged the government to look into the prices of fertiliser, seed and pesticide.

Aktar Hossain of the same village said many farmers there grow early vegetables with high hopes, taking loans from NGOs or selling cattle and goats. But when fertiliser is not available on time they are worried, and they spend their days fearing they will not recover costs after buying seed and fertiliser at double the price.

Farmer Abdar Hossain said growing early vegetables means fighting not just seed and fertiliser costs but harsh weather too. Rain or strong sun damages the seed, and to make up for that damage they must again use pesticide at high prices. Farmers now face harassment and extra spending at every step, he said.

Rajarhat upazila agriculture officer Saifun Nahar Sathi said farmers are growing cauliflower hoping for higher profits by supplying early cauliflower at the start of the season. Early vegetables are being grown on 29 hectares in the upazila this year. There is plenty of fertiliser in the market and they are monitoring constantly, she said; action will be taken as soon as a complaint of overcharging is received.

Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kurigram, said that with less flooding and rainfall this year, transplanted aman cultivation has increased in the char areas, raising demand for fertiliser somewhat. Their team is monitoring constantly so that no one can create an artificial shortage.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.