Urea fertiliser under open sky

A huge quantity of urea fertiliser has been stored in the open in front of the buffer godown (warehouse) at Mahendranagar in Sadar upazila, although there is a risk that it might be damaged due to dense fog and cold weather.

Workers of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) at the godown told this correspondent that urea fertiliser is routinely stored in the open due to lack of space in the warehouse.

“There is a risk that urea fertiliser may lose effectiveness due to prolonged dense fog and cold spell. If farmers use the damaged fertiliser on their crops it will not bring any result,” said Deputy Director of the district Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Bidhubhushon Roy. “Urea fertiliser should be stored with care before use in the field,” he said, adding that fertiliser stored in the open might be ruined.

Fertiliser dealer Anath Chandra of Patgram upazila said they are very worried as urea fertiliser is being kept under the open sky due to lack of space in the warehouse. “We are afraid that the fertiliser may become damaged due to fog and cold,” he added. 

Commercial Officer of BCIC's Mahendranagr buffer godown Habibur Rahman told this correspondent, “We kept 6,500 tonnes of urea fertiliser under the open sky with proper protection and those are safe from fog and cold.” “Our warehouse's storage capacity for fertiliser is 9,000 tonnes, but we have already stored 21,000 tonnes there,” he said adding they are supplying fertilisers to dealers from the stack outside.

“The quality of cold and fog affected solidified fertiliser remains intact. It can be used after bringing it to normal temperature, so dealers and farmers need not worry,” he said, adding that requirement for fertilisers has increased. 

District Fertiliser Dealers' Association President Abdul Hakim said the district's 51 registered fertiliser dealers have been taking supplies from the warehouse daily. “The Lalmonirhat buffer warehouse was built 32 years ago with the capacity of 9,000 tonnes, and since that time no initiative has been taken to increase its storage capacity, despite increased need,” he added.