Fertiliser Prices Surge as Farmers Face Shortages

Farmers in Joypurhat and Meherpur are facing mounting difficulties during the current Aman rice season as fertiliser prices rise above government-fixed rates and supplies remain inadequate in some areas. While Joypurhat reportedly has sufficient stocks, farmers say retailers are charging Tk400 to Tk600 more per 50kg bag than the official prices. In Meherpur, meanwhile, a severe shortage of triple super phosphate (TSP) fertiliser has made it difficult for farmers to obtain the quantities they need.

The situation is raising concerns over higher cultivation costs at a time when farmers are already dealing with rising expenses for labour, irrigation, pesticides and other agricultural inputs. Any further increase in fertiliser costs could put additional pressure on farmers’ margins, particularly if rice prices do not rise proportionately.

Farmers in Joypurhat paying well above official rates

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Joypurhat has set an Aman cultivation target of 70,095 hectares this season. About 97 per cent of the targeted land has already been planted, meaning farmers are now entering the crucial stage of crop care and fertiliser application.

Farmers say fertiliser is available in the market, but not always at the government-fixed prices.

The official price of a 50kg bag of urea is Tk1,350. Farmers in Joypurhat, however, say they are being charged between Tk1,900 and Tk1,950 at retail outlets. TSP, also officially priced at Tk1,350 per 50kg bag, is reportedly being sold for Tk1,900 to Tk2,000.

Similarly, the government-fixed price of a 50kg bag of diammonium phosphate (DAP) is Tk1,050, but farmers say retailers are charging Tk1,500 to Tk1,600. Muriate of potash (MOP), officially priced at Tk1,050, is reportedly being sold for around Tk1,400.

The difference is significant. In the case of urea, for example, farmers may have to pay as much as Tk600 above the official price for a single bag.

Aminur Rahman, a farmer from Aowra Mahalla in Kalai municipal area, said displaying the government-fixed price on a shop wall had little practical value when sellers demanded more money. He also alleged that some retailers were reluctant to provide fertiliser when customers asked for a receipt.

Nazrul Islam, a farmer from Hatshahar village in Khetlal, said fertiliser was only one part of the rising cost of cultivation.

“Other farming expenses have also increased, but the price of rice does not rise accordingly,” he said, expressing concern that farmers could end up making losses.

Local traders have also acknowledged the farmers’ complaints. Shahjahan Talukdar, a fertiliser trader in Khetlal, said the allegations made by farmers were valid and that stronger monitoring could benefit them.

However, Raunak ul Islam Chowdhury, president of the district fertiliser traders’ association, said fertiliser availability was considerably lower than demand. He said there could be problems in remote areas but denied that Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation dealers were charging prices above the official rates.

AKM Sadikul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Joypurhat, said officials’ telephone numbers had been displayed at dealer points across the district. He said action would be taken if farmers submitted complaints backed by evidence of overcharging.

TSP shortage deepens in Meherpur

The situation in Meherpur is more closely linked to supply shortages. The district has set an Aman cultivation target of 26,800 hectares this season, but agricultural officials say fertiliser allocations are significantly below demand.

Farmers require urea, MOP, TSP and DAP during the Aman season, yet supplies are reportedly covering only about 50 to 60 per cent of demand. The shortage of TSP is particularly acute.

Farmers say they are having to spend hours in queues at authorised dealer outlets, only to receive small quantities. In some cases, they reportedly receive no more than 5kg to 10kg of TSP.

Asadul Islam, a farmer from Ujulpur village in Sadar upazila, said fertiliser officially priced at Tk1,350 per bag was being offered for Tk1,800 to Tk2,000. He claimed prices were even higher when purchases were made on credit.

Abed Ali, a banana grower, said he needed eight bags of TSP for eight bighas of land. After spending an entire day waiting at a dealer’s outlet, he received only 10kg against a single identification card.

Hafizur Rahman Hafi, president of the Meherpur district branch of the Bangladesh Fertiliser Association, said TSP was currently facing the most serious shortage. He claimed that the amount of fertiliser being received was far below the allocation, although he denied allegations of sales at inflated prices.

Sanjib Mridha, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Meherpur, attributed part of the shortage to the district’s intensive cropping pattern. Farmers often grow three or four crops a year on the same land, increasing demand for fertiliser, he said.

District Commissioner Shilpi Rani Roy said the agricultural authorities had been instructed to take steps to address the shortage and expressed hope that the situation would improve soon.

The authorities have also taken action against the movement of fertiliser outside the regular distribution system. On Thursday, local residents stopped an auto-van carrying 20 bags of fertiliser at Juginda Bazar in Dhanakhola Union of Gangni. Following a mobile court operation, the driver, Shahabul Islam, was fined Tk1,000.

Arafat Mia, additional agriculture officer at Gangni upazila, said the 20 bags recovered from the vehicle were subsequently sold to farmers at the government-fixed price.

Three dealers surrender licences in Kishoreganj

The fertiliser distribution system is also facing challenges in Itna upazila of Kishoreganj, where three Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation dealers have surrendered their licences, citing losses under the new policy.

The three dealers—Pradip Kumar Pal, Sazzad Mia and Sanjoy Saha—said the security deposit required under the new policy had increased from Tk200,000 to Tk300,000. They also said the number of dealers in each union had increased while the total allocation of fertiliser remained unchanged.

According to the dealers, the combination of higher financial requirements and unchanged allocations has made it difficult to operate profitably.

Dr Sadikur Rahman, deputy director of the Kishoreganj Department of Agricultural Extension, said advertisements had been issued to fill the three vacant dealership positions. The deadline for applications is 31 August.

The developments in Joypurhat, Meherpur and Kishoreganj highlight different pressures within the fertiliser distribution system during the Aman season. In Joypurhat, the main complaint concerns alleged overcharging despite reported availability. In Meherpur, farmers are struggling primarily with inadequate supplies, particularly of TSP. In Itna, meanwhile, dealers say the revised operating conditions have made the business financially difficult.

For farmers, the immediate concern remains access to fertiliser at regulated prices and in sufficient quantities. With Aman cultivation already well under way, delays or additional costs at this stage could directly affect the economics of crop production.