Fertiliser of Tk 2.5cr becomes rock solid

Nobody wants around 1,100 tonnes of Chinese urea fertiliser worth around Tk 2.5 crore stored at a government warehouse at Mahendranagar in the district.

The fertilisers, imported over the last four years, have reportedly lost pliability and become rock solid.

Officials at Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) buffer warehouse, where it is stored, speculated that air or moisture might have contaminated the fertiliser during import.

However, they said the quality of the fertiliser is unaffected, a claim opposed by a local agriculture officer, farmers, and dealers.

“Generally, we are less interested in buying Chinese fertilisers because they are not as good as those made in other countries,” said Sirajul Islam, a farmer at Mahendranagar.

“Moreover, these fertilisers have become solid. We do not want to buy them,” he added.

Bibhuti Bhushan Roy, deputy director at the Department of Agricultural Extension in Lalmonirhat, echoed Sirajul.

“Urea fertiliser becomes solid when it comes in contact with air or moisture and loses features. These fertilisers will never yield expected results in cropland,” said Roy.

Opposing the claim, BCIC's Commercial Officer Habibur Rahman said, “The product is still effective. We are now repacking them after cleaning the dust.”

“Farmers do not want to buy these fertilisers. So, why should we get them from the BCIC authorities?” asked Abdul Hakim, president of Lalmonirhat District Fertiliser Dealers' Association.

Wishing not to be named, an official at the warehouse said despite reluctance of farmers, the fertilisers were imported from China following directives from high-ups.

Quoting BCIC officials, the official said no more imports would be made until the existing stock is finished.