Transplantation of Aman seedlings has started in several areas of the country but farmers, according to a report carried in the FE, are forced to pay Tk 3.0-12 in excess for each kilogram of fertiliser on the rates fixed by the government. Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid claims there is no shortage of any type of fertiliser needed for Aman cultivation. The supply-line disruption is the result of a 'planned conspiracy', the minister observes. Clearly, it is a management problem.
Traders in this country take advantage of any loophole in the system of marketing of essentials. In the case of fertiliser distribution, abolition of the retail dealer arrangement under the recently announced Integrated Policy on Fertiliser Dealer Appointment and Fertiliser Distribution 2025 (revised), may have contributed to the disorder in fertiliser distribution. The dealership structure has shaped into a hereditary business and the new policy announced by the government, according to market insiders, will not bring about a desirable change in the system.
Aman season accounts for the second-highest application of fertiliser to the tune of 2.0 million tonnes out of 6.0-6.5 million tonnes required for the country. The share of annual production of Aman crop is 38-39 per cent of the total rice yield. This means that this cereal needs comparatively far less fertiliser than Boro which requires the highest amount of fertiliser. Now if smooth distribution cannot be ensured, costs on account of this essential input increase and many farmers cannot afford it. But timely application of fertiliser is a must for good harvest.
If a farmer has to pay Tk 12 more than the fixed rate for a kilogram of fertiliser, the cost escalates to a staggering figure on a 50 kilo sack. Other inputs like irrigation, if needed, are likely to be costlier as well. At a time when diesel used for pumping machines is costlier and electricity supply is uncertain in rural areas, manipulating fertiliser supply line for profit can have deleterious impacts on production of this rice variety. This is criminal. If rice production suffers on account of manmade crisis despite adequate stock of the input, those responsible for the artificial shortage should be brought to book.
So, the concerned minister's job is not just to point out the manipulation of fertiliser market but to address the problem before the disruption of the supply chain severely affects Aman cultivation. Identifying the perpetrators for awarding them due punishment can be a deterrent to this crime. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) can monitor the distribution process and identify where things go wrong. The dual arrangement of distribution of fertiliser by the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) does not help the cause. Accusation and counter-accusation by the two agencies for additional profit making indicate that the rivalry between them is far from healthy. They could inspire their respective dealers to compete with each other in the performance of distribution. When staple production is involved, there is no point allowing room for taking advantage of any missing link in between supply and application in the field.
The good news is that the Bangladesh Fertiliser Association has instructed its district committees to monitor dealers and retailers and warned that those overcharging for sale of fertiliser may lose their registration. But dishonest dealers and retailers have their own mechanism to realise extra profits. Harassed farmers are forced to pay extra money while receipt shows the sale of fertiliser at the official rate. This calls for stricter monitoring and launching a campaign among farmers to report any malpractice by dealers and retailers. If farmers collectively oppose any manoeuvring by dealers and retailers, the latter's designs can be thwarted. In fact, if farmers' groups or organisations are formed to fight the malpractices resorted to by dealers and their agents, the move can yield positive results. Complemented by official monitoring, farmers' resistance can bring an end to illegal profit making by dealers.
