The government has no plan to raise the prices of fertilisers in the coming years.
“The prime minister has made her stand clear that she will not increase the price of fertiliser under any circumstances,” DrAgriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said while talking to reporters after attending the meeting of 'National Coordination and Advisory Committee on fertiliser' at the Secretariat in the city on Monday.
In the next fiscal year (2023-24), the country needs 6842500 tonnes of fertilisers.
The agriculture minister said in the last four years, the government has not increased the price of fertiliser.
“The fiancé ministry is repeatedly putting pressure on us to increase the price of fertiliser as they are unable to collect money for giving subsidy. But,the prime minister doesn’t want to increase the price of fertiliser,”Abdur Razzaque said.
Of the total of demand of fertilizer in the next financial year, 27 lakh tonnes of urea, 16 lakh tonnes of DAP, 7.5 lakh tonnes of TSP, 9 lakh tonnes of MOP, 30000 tonnes of MAP, 30000 tonnes of NPKS, 5.5 lakh tonnes of gypsum, 1.40 lakh tonnes of zinc sulfate, 2500 Tons of ammonium sulfate, 90000tonnes of magnesium sulfate and 50000 tons of boron will be required, said the Minister of Agriculture.
Abdur Razzaque said if the gas supply continues smoothly, a very small amount of fertiliser will have to be imported.
He said that the capacity of Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory and BCIC has increased significantly over the past few years.
“But, they couldn’t produce expected amount of fertiliser due to low pressure of gas,” the minister said, adding fertiliser factories have been facing serious difficulties for the last three years.
Sometimes, the authorities are compelled to shut the factories due to gas crisis.
The government needs additional taka five to seven crore to resume a factory if it remains inoperative for sometimes.
However, BCIC keeps its factories running amid gas crisis.
But, it has failed to produce the required amount of fertilisers.
“We will request the energy ministry to ensure smooth supply of gas in order to keep the fertiliser factories running. As the price of gas is low in Bangladesh, local fertiliser production cost is not high. Therefore, the price of locally produced fertiliser will cheaper than imported one,” the minister added.
