The farmers in Jhenaidah will have to count over Taka 81 crore a year when the government had re-fixed the price of rampantly used urea fertilizer recently. It might throw the farmers in financial trouble if the prices of all agriculture produces are not increased accordingly. Although the urea under the newly re-fixed price was available in the market yet, the retailers and dealers bearing the license for selling the fertilizer under Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).
In the other hand a responsible official of the department of agriculture extension (DAE) said the government has been allocating incentives, supply of fertilizers and seeds for demonstration and some other plots to support the farmers. Further, Taka 11 thousand crore was allocated for the farmers for incentive purposes to benefit the farmers this year.
Some farmers when contacted at Khalishpur Bazer of bordering Moheshpur said they have been purchasing the urea at Taka 22 to 24 for last three months as the dealers informed that the fertilizer was not supplied regular to them. Price of dye ammonium phosphate (DAP) was also higher in the market, they informed.
At Royerah Bazer under Shailkupa upazila when the Roving Correspondent had talked to some farmers they informed that the price of the urea and some others were selling at a higher price for last few weeks compelling them to purchase the same spending additional money to ensure fertilizer for their croplands.
Although the field level officials of the DAE were advised to monitor the fertilizer selling activities of the BCIC dealers and maintain specific register to note the names of the farmers, they have been ignoring the same showing various causes including their busyness. According to a source related to the department of agriculture extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah, a total of 135,582 tones of urea, 57,145 tones of triple super phosphate (TSP), 71,305 tones of dye ammonium phosphate (DAP) and 55,247 tones of muriate of potash (MOP) is required for Jhenaidah Sadar, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur, Moheshpur and Harinakundu upazila every year.
Further, the fertilizer and seeds monitoring committee in the district led by deputy commissioner (DC) as its president, advices to allocate additional quantity for the district when necessary. When contacted additional director of the DAE ion Jashore region Akhlas Uddin said although the government had re-fixed the price of the urea for Taka six each kilogram to minimize the subsidy of the fertilizer, they have been considering the interest of the farmers since long. The farmers have been benefiting from incentives, seeds and fertilizer supply for demonstration and other plots.
The regional chief of the DAE said the leave of the DAE officials was cancelled temporarily so that they could stay at the workplace to stand by the farmers always. The government has allocated a sum of Taka 11 thousand crore as subsidy for the farmers countrywide in the current fiscal to support the farmers, additional director added.
