Dissatisfaction has been prevailing among hundreds of fertiliser dealers and farmers of 16 districts in northern region, as huge quantity of sub-standard fertiliser is being supplied to them from the buffer godown at Baghabari river port in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district in the peak season of Aman cultivation. They are apprehending that, the production of Aman paddy may be hampered this year due to use of those fertilisers in the lands. But, no effective measure is yet to be taken by the authorities concerned, dealers and farmers claimed.
Sources said that, huge quantity of urea fertiliser bags were imported by BCIC from Saudi Arabia, Abudhabi, Jordan, Kantar, Oman, Indonesia and China and those were supplied to different districts of northern region in the country throughout the Baghabari river port.
But, the fertiliser is being damaged drastically while the bags are loaded and unloaded at different steps.
During the period, the labourers use hooks, which make those vulnerable. Huge quantity of fertilizer goes out of the sacks through the torn portion that make less the weight and standard goes down.
A team of district fertiliser and seed monitoring committee led by Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department in Sirajganj and leaders
of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association visited Baghabari buffer godown recently and found that, a large quantity of urea fertiliser bags remained piled up under the open sky on the premises of godown and port area.
The fertiliser turned hard getting touch of water and air through the leakage when those were kept in heaps in the godown or on the ground of the port under the open sky for a long period.
They also found that, the damaged urea fertiliser was being repacked with new bags for transportation to different destinations.
Some fertiliser dealers seeking anonymity told The Independent that, the fertiliser which turns
hard are being crushed by hammer and repacked in new bags.
Then those sub-standard fertilisers are supplied to the farmers through different dealers in the region.
Therefore, farmers are deprived of proper effect of fertiliser and they also fail to get their targeted output.
Sudeep Roy, in-charge of Baghabari buffer godown told The Independent that, about 2.40 crore bags, weighed around 12
lakh metric tons is required for the region during
the season.
According to the demand, a huge quantity of fertilizer’s sacks had been remained in heap under the open sky due to lack of necessary space at the buffer godown for long, even 8 to 10 years.
He further said, a total of 12,000 metric tons of
urea fertilizer was stored up at his godown in
spite its capacity of 8,000 metric tons.
Rejaul Karim Ranju, Director of Fertiliser Association in Sirajganj unit said that, such
quality of fertiliser will not come to help the farmers in the region.
If the government supplies new and pure fertiliser, those would be helpful.
Some farmers in the region said that, they
are being forced to purchase and apply the substandard fertiliser for
want of necessary supply of fresh fertiliser.
Therefore, they are apprehending that, the production target will not be achieved this year and they will incur loss.
Courtesy of The Independent
