Farmers are worried as supply of two major agricultural inputs — fertiliser and diesel — is being seriously disrupted in the peak Boro season due to the ongoing countrywide blockade.
The blockade is disrupting supply chain of fertilizer and diesel, hard hitting Boro cultivation this season and causing worries among the farmers across the country.
Farmers, particularly in the major Boro producing north, south and central region, are in frustration as prices of fertiliser and diesel have shot up due to supply disruption.
Mokhlesur Rahman, a farmer in Godagari of Rajshahi district told daily sun that fertiliser prices have increased as the agri input can not be transported due to the blockade.
“Price of urea fertiliser has risen by Tk 3-4 per kg in my area and it may increase further if the ongoing rail-road-waterway blockade continues,” he said.
Arshaful, another farmer in Rangpur sadar upazila, said that fertiliser dealers have increased fertiliser price, citing the rise in the transport cost as reason during the blockade.
Urea price has increased by Tk40-50 per sack (50 kg) while non-urea TSP and DAP by Tk 3-5 per kg, many local farmers said while talking to this correspondent.
Fazlul Hoque, secretary of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association (Dhaka district), said transportation through river routes remain almost normal but it is tough on the land route.
He also mentioned that truck fare has increased to Tk 18000-20000 for carrying from Ghorashal fertiliser factory while it was only Tk 7000-8000 a few days back.
Sixteen northern districts get supply of fertiliser through Bhaghabari and Nagarbari river ports. More than 40 per cent of the country Boro crop is cultivated in these districts, he said.
Greater Jessore and Khulna regions get fertiliser supply from Jessore buffer stock, Kaliganj buffer stock in Jhenaidha and Shiromoni buffer stock in Khulna.
Country’s demand for fertilizer in January is 0.707 million tones with urea 0.428 million tonnes and the rest is non-urea including TSP, DAP and MOP, according to agriculture ministry sources.
In February, the demand for urea is 0.438 million tonnes and non -urea 0.163 million tonnes.
“Smooth supply of fertiliser in January and February is important for Boro cultivation, said Fazlul Hoque adding that the blockade will hamper cultivation if farmers do not the agri input in time.”
Supply of diesel and other fuels has almost remained suspended in the northern region and different parts of Sylhet district for the last few days due to the blockade.
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) data shows that 1.4 million water pumps remain operative during Boro season. Of hem, 1.1 million are run by diesel and 0.3 million by electricity.
Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said that nearly 50 per cent of plantation of Boro seedlings has been completed in the current Boro season.
This year, the DAE has set target to produce 18.95 million tonnes of rice from 4.78 million hectares of land.
The country produced 19.0 million tonnes of rice in the last Boro season which was 55 per cent of the total output of 34.35 million tones, DAE sources said.