Fertiliser shortage hits Rabi farming in Rajshahi region

Shortage of fertilisers has hit farmers in Rajshahi and adjoining areas during the ongoing peak sowing season for Rabi crops including potato - one of the cash crops in the region.
The Directorate of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi informed the National Fertiliser Monitoring Committee about the situation and sought immediately step, said Rajshahi DAE Deputy Director Rabindra Kumar Majumder.
He said all field level DAE officials were ordered to remain alert against black marketing of fertiliser and to ensure proper distribution of the existing lot.
In many areas, fertiliser crisis sparked agitation among farmers as they returned home empty handed from dealers' shops. They are crowding dealers' shops and agriculture offices every day.
The DAE has targeted to bring about 37,000 hectares under potato cultivation, 25,000 under wheat, 7,000 under maize and 17,000 hectares under mustard seed cultivation in Rajshahi.
To attain the target, DAE officials estimated a demand for 5,000 tonnes of DAP, 4,000 tonnes of TSP (Triple Super Phosphate) and 8,000 tonnes of Potash during December-January.
Now, there is a stock of 140 tonnes of TSP, 50 tonnes of DAP and 70 tonnes of Potash, DAE sources said. The stock would be exhausted with a couple of days if supplies are not replenished, they said.
If DAP, TSP and Potash fertilisers are not made available to farmers within a short time, potato growers would turn to cultivation of maize or other Rabi crops, said a DAE official.
DAE officials said the crisis was caused due to delay in release of imported fertilisers from Jessore and Chittagong.
Fertiliser dealer Shafikul Haq at Kesarhat said many dealers like him deposited money in advance but supplies are yet to be made.
Potato grower Santu Mia in Durgapur said, he could not manage adequate potash for cultivating potato on 17 bighas of land. Afaz Uddin of Mohonpur said, fertilisers are not even available at higher prices.