Dhaka, Bangladesh, Aug. 2: Farmers across several districts in Bangladesh are facing an alleged artificial shortage of chemical fertilizers at the beginning of the Aman rice cultivation season, raising concerns over increased production costs and possible crop losses.
According to farmers, dealers and wholesale traders have created an artificial supply crisis by withholding fertilizer stocks and selling them at prices higher than those fixed by the government. Many growers claim they are being forced to pay an additional Tk 5 to Tk 7 per kilogram, while some areas have reported extra charges of Tk 200 to Tk 600 per sack.
In Kushtia, where farmers are busy preparing fields and transplanting Aman seedlings, cultivators say the higher fertilizer prices are making cultivation increasingly difficult. Similar complaints have emerged from Chuadanga, where farmers allege that fertilizers are unavailable at official prices but can be obtained by paying extra.
The situation is reported to be more severe in Thakurgaon, where farmers say the inflated fertilizer prices have sharply increased production costs, leaving many worried about suffering significant financial losses even if crop yields remain normal.
Dealers, however, have rejected the allegations, maintaining that fertilizers are being sold at government-approved prices.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agricultural Extension has denied any nationwide fertilizer shortage, stating that adequate supplies are available across the country.
The gap between official claims and farmers’ experiences has fueled frustration among cultivators. Agricultural experts warn that if the reported artificial shortage is not addressed promptly, it could discourage farmers from cultivating Aman rice and negatively affect the country’s food production in the coming months.
