Protect sharecroppers, marginal farmers
A.T. M. Nurun Nabi
The newly elected Awami League Government has reduced the non-urea fertiliser price almost by 50 percents in order to reduce the production cost in the greater interest of the majority people. As per decision, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) will be available at taka 40 per kilo instead of previous rate of taka 75 to 80, Muriate of Potash (MoP) at taka 35 in lieu of taka 69 to 70 and di-ammonium Phosphate at taka 45 in place of taka 87 to 90 only. In view of the reduction of fertiliser price, the government will be required to bear the additional burden of subsidy of taka 2000 crore only. It may be noted that the immediate past caretaker government allocated a sum of taka 4,285 crore as subsidy on fertiliser, irrigation and diesel in its National Budget 2008-09.
It is learnt that the present stock of all kinds of fertilisers is satisfactory and the farmers intending to plough boro field need not to be worried. The stock of TSP amounts to three lakh tonnes, MoP 1.80 lakh tonnes and urea over 14 lakh tonnes. The country imports over nine lakh tonnes of urea and to stop it more urea factory is needed. But that will not be possible because of gas crisis.
The production cost of one kilo paddy is taka 13 to 14 according to an economist at present and the cost will be reduced by taka 2.50 per kilo subject to the reaching of the benefit of subsidy on non-urea fertilisers to the farmers. The production cost of rice is, however, at present, taka 21.70 only and that will come down because of the reduction of the fertiliser price.
So far so good. The point is whether the subsidy benefits will reach them overcoming several hurdles. The list of the farmers is prepared at union level by an officer of Thana Agriculture Office in cooperation with the union council. The list so prepared is sent to district administration through several channels and after approval it comes back. The process takes time. Moreover, it has been alleged that many genuine farmers are omitted from the list and in those places fake farmers are included. So care should be taken that no genuine farmer is left out and the subsidy is not misused.
In this regard, the government should protect the interests of the sharecroppers and the marginal farmers because they are exploited by the village money lenders and many NGOs.
In the country, the number of farmers is 1, 50, 89, 000 only and the total cultivable lands are 82.96 lakh hectares. The one-crop lands are 28.73 lakh hectares, the two-crop lands are 41.34 lakh hectares and the three-crop lands are 11.92 lakh hectares only. The production target of food grains in the country is 330 lakh metric tonnes, more than the annual demand.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
