The Ministry of Agriculture told the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture on Wednesday that more fertiliser has reached farmers this year than in previous years. But at the committee's first meeting, held at the Jatiya Sangsad building, several members said their constituencies were short of it.

By the ministry's figures, combined demand for urea, TSP, DAP and MOP this fiscal year is 5,800,500 tonnes. From July to 16 September, 1,219,000 tonnes were distributed. Stocks of the four stood at 1,257,900 tonnes on 14 September, against 1,058,800 tonnes in 2025-26, and holdings of urea, TSP and DAP are all higher than a year ago.

Meeting sources said at least three members reported that many farmers in their areas could not get fertiliser at the fixed price, while others said their areas had no problem. The appointment of dealers was also discussed.

Committee chairman Shahadat Hossain Selim said the ministry maintained there was no shortfall, and that in places a group spreading rumours and dealers who had absconded were muddying the water; there were also allegations of smuggling. Chattogram and Sylhet had no shortage, he said, but some scarcity in the Naogaon and Rajshahi areas came up. The committee asked for distribution problems to be fixed, the gaps left by absconding dealers filled, and residents of the union concerned given priority when new dealers are appointed.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid told the meeting that a consolidated policy on dealer appointment and fertiliser distribution for 2026 had been issued to bring transparency to the process.

A press release from the parliament secretariat listed further items discussed: stronger monitoring of distribution, a flower research centre and a soil research centre at Godkhali in Jashore, cotton on hill and abandoned land, maize, sweet potato and groundnut on river chars, solar power in farming, sending farmers abroad for training where needed, fair prices for jute at the farm gate and the export of jute and jute goods.

Members Shahidul Islam, Mostafizur Rahman, Rokon Uddin Babul, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, Sabira Sultana, Golam Rasul and Abdul Bari Sardar attended under Shahadat Hossain Selim's chairmanship; the agriculture minister joined by special invitation.

Source: Prothom Alo