Farmers in Thakurgaon are stranded due to fertilizer shortage

Farmers in Thakurgaon are now busy in the fields after planting rice seedlings. However, they are facing a shortage of chemical fertilizers. Even after visiting retail shops and dealers in a hurry for fertilizer, farmers are not getting fertilizer on time. There are allegations that the syndicate is illegally hoarding and selling fertilizer at an inflated price. Although thousands of metric tons of fertilizer have been seized in the administration’s campaign, farmers feel that it is not possible to break the syndicate as effective measures such as canceling the dealership or suspending the license have not been taken. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 839 sacks of fertilizer have been seized from the warehouses of Abid Traders and Mohir Uddin Traders in Baliadangi, a fine of Tk 40,000 has been imposed and one warehouse has been sealed. And the Agriculture Department has issued a show-cause notice to Nayeem Uddin Traders along with the seizure of 947 sacks of fertilizer from the warehouse of businessman Israfil in the Bariya Bazar of Sadar Upazila. The Agriculture Department has set a target of paddy cultivation on 1 lakh 37 thousand hectares of land in the current Aman season in the agriculturally-dominated district of Thakurgaon. Saplings have already been planted on 90 percent of the land, and planting will be completed on the remaining 10 percent next week. Farmers complain that syndicates are creating a fertilizer crisis and are not getting the fertilizer they need and are having to buy it from retailers at higher prices. On the one hand, they are being harassed and on the other hand, they are facing additional costs. The administration claims that regular operations are underway to deal with the crisis. In the last few days, 1,776 sacks of TSP, MOP and DAP fertilizers have been seized from the warehouses of three traders in Sadar and Baliadangi Upazilas. In the field of Akcha village in Sadar Upazila, farmers can be seen buying half of the fertilizer they need and putting it on the land. Arif, a farmer from Nimbari area, said that he has planted paddy on 10 bighas of land. When he went to get fertilizer to apply medicine to the land, a dealer wanted to give him only one sack, but he did not take it. Another farmer, Robi, said that he has planted paddy on about 9 bighas of land. But he received only two sacks of urea from a dealer. Farmers said that there is currently a severe crisis. Although four sacks are required, dealers are giving only one or two sacks. They also fear that production may be disrupted if urgent action is not taken. In this regard, Thakurgaon Agricultural Extension Department Deputy Director Md. Majedul Islam said, “Some unscrupulous traders tried to create an artificial crisis. We are strictly monitoring. Although the allocation is slightly less than the demand this time, a demand letter has been sent for additional allocation. We are trying to ensure that farmers get the fertilizer they need at the right time.”