IRRI-Boro farming in Nilphamari faces setback

According to sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), 73,000 hectares have been targeted in the entire district for IRRI-Boro cultivation.

Sources close to dealers said there is a huge stock of fertiliser with importers at Noapara in Jessore, Nagarbari in Pabna and Chittagong and Narayanganj. But they are not selling fertiliser to dealers because of non-payment of subsidised money by the government.

At present, each bag containing 50 kilogram imported TSP is being sold at between Tk 800 to 950 while last year its subsidised rate was at between Tk 675 to 715.

Each bag of imported Di-amonium phosphate (DAP) is now on sale at between Tk 1,100 to 1,250 which was sold at between Tk 790 to 820 (subsidised rate) previous year.

Presently, each bag of murate of potash is being sold at between Tk 800 to 875 which was sold at between Tk 575 to 600 (subsidised rate) last year.

The sources revealed that the stock of fertiliser would be exhausted within three or four days while the peak season of IRRI-Boro cultivation would start within 15 to 20 days. If the present situation continues, farmers will definitely face a setback in IRRI-Boro cultivation this year, they added.

Nilphamari District Fertiliser Association president Abdul Wahed said if the present crisis is not solved immediately, then fertiliser dealers should be allowed to procure chemical fertiliser from the government buffer stock.