Farmers and fish farmers in Natore's Lalpur upazila say they are at the mercy of a chemical fertiliser syndicate, Manab Zamin's Lalpur correspondent reports after an investigation. Fertiliser allocated to BCIC and BADC dealers first passes through the syndicate to illegal hoarders, then changes hands and comes back to the upazila's sub-dealers and unlicensed retailers, who sell it at well above the government-fixed price under an artificial shortage and issue no vouchers.

Aslam Uddin, a farmer of Barbaria village, said he could not get the TSP, urea and MOP he needed for aman rice from his dealer and had to buy outside at Tk 400 to 500 a bag over the price. Hafizul Islam, a fish farmer of Mominpur, said his 20 ponds need 17 bags a month; the dealer never has enough, but supply from outside is no problem for those who pay more.

Van driver Amirul Islam, 42, who moves fertiliser for the syndicate, said he regularly collects bags from traders in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi as well as local dealers and, on his employer's instructions, delivers them to designated traders in Ishwardi, Pabna, covering the sacks with black, red, blue and grey opaque polythene so they cannot be seen. Another driver, Habil Uddin, 40, gave the same account, and two unlicensed traders who asked not to be named admitted bringing fertiliser from Bagha to traders in Natore's Baraigram and in Ishwardi.

Pesticide seller Furkan Ali said he sells fertiliser brought from Arambaria in Ishwardi without a licence and has to charge more because he pays more. Posing as a buyer, the reporter was offered up to 50 bags by Arambaria bazar sub-dealer A. Kader, who also said he brings fertiliser by truck from Chattogram; several traders accused him of selling adulterated fertiliser.

Upazila agriculture officer Pritam Kumar Hore told the paper that dealers received fertiliser according to demand in both August and September and that there is no reason for a shortage. The upazila administration is keeping watch and running regular drives to stop smuggling and ensure sales at the fixed price, he said, and legal action will follow specific complaints.

Reporting: Lalpur (Natore) correspondent, Manab Zamin.

Source: Manab Zamin