Looming fertiliser crisis could disrupt food production

Four out of five government-owned urea factories have stopped production due to an acute gas crisis, raising concerns over the availability of enough fertiliser during the ongoing Aman paddy cultivation season and the upcoming Boro paddy season.

Bangladesh is mostly relying on imports for urea as gas shortage has brought local fertiliser production to a near halt, in a development that will cost the country dearly in terms of foreign currency reserves and food inflation.

Bangladesh has 7.37 lakh tonnes of fertiliser in stock right now and the country will face no shortage of it in the coming months, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation Chairman Shah Md Imdadul Haque today.