In Rajshahi, farmers are forced to buy fertilizer at higher prices due to the manipulation by some unscrupulous dealers; smuggling is ongoing in various upazilas.

Daily Bijoy News, Rajshahi Correspondent:

Farmers in Tanore and Bagmara upazilas of Rajshahi district are not getting fertilizer at fair prices due to some unscrupulous traders and dealers. Allegations have been raised that some authorized dealers of BADC (Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation) and BCIC (Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation) are creating an artificial crisis by hoarding and illegally smuggling fertilizer. Local farmers complain that they have to buy urea, TSP, and DAP fertilizer at 5 to 10 Taka more per kg than the government-fixed price. However, the government has arranged for fertilizer to be easily available by providing subsidies to farmers.

Smuggling has been reported in various upazilas; the government-allocated fertilizer from Tanore and Bagmara is being smuggled to neighboring upazilas and even to other districts. As a result, local farmers are not getting enough fertilizer when they need it. There is a fear that crop production will be hampered during the season.

An angry farmer said, "If we cannot apply fertilizer to the land in time, there will be extensive damage to rice and vegetable cultivation. But not getting fertilizer at the government price, we are forced to buy it at a higher price. This is also significantly increasing production costs."

Drawing the administration's attention, farmers and the general public have called for immediate action. They demand strict action against the unscrupulous dealers and regular mobile court operations to stop fertilizer smuggling. Bringing order to the fertilizer market is now a demand of the time to sustain Rajshahi's agriculture-based economy. If fertilizer is not ensured at a fair price, farmers will be discouraged from production, and the impact will be felt across the entire agricultural sector.

Daily Bijoy News/ Md. Rajib Khan