No fertilizer crisis; govt to take strict action if any artificial crisis is attempted: Divisional Commissioner
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Yusuf Ali has categorically said there is no fertilizer crisis at present and warned that strict action will be taken if any artificial crisis is attempted.
He made the warning today while inspecting selling activities in some of the fertilizer dealers in Paba Upazila of the district.
He inspected the fertilizer dealer M/s Moslem Molla in the Chouddapai area of Rajshahi city and the dealer M/s Nahar Enterprise in the Songsadipur area of Katakhali in Paba upazila.
At that time, he inspected on the spot the stock, supply and sales situation of fertilizer in the dealers' warehouses.
Commissioner Yusuf Ali said mobile courts and vigilance teams will continue regular monitoring in the upazilas to protect the interests of farmers and ensure normal supply of fertilizer in the market.
If anyone tries to create an artificial crisis, illegally stockpile fertilizer, black-market, or sell fertilizer at a price higher than the fixed price, strict legal action will be taken against them, he said.
He attributed that as about 90 percent of Aman paddy transplantation has been completed in Rajshahi, the demand for non-urea fertilizer has now decreased; on the contrary, there is sufficient stock of urea fertilizer required for top-dressing in Aman paddy.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kazi Shahidul Islam said that currently 2,469 metric tons of urea fertilizers in 49,380 sacks are in stock in the warehouses of the district.
He said that the allocation for the month of September has also been given to dealers to keep the supply of fertilizer normal, and strict legal action will be taken if anyone tries to create an artificial crisis, illegal hoarding, or black-marketing.
Present during the inspection were Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension Mostafa Kamal Hossain, Paba Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ibnul Abedin and Upazila Agriculture Officer MA Mannan.
In response to journalists' questions about the fertilizer supply situation, Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam said that there is sufficient fertilizer stock in Rajshahi in the current month of August.
He said, “From tomorrow, dealers will be able to lift the designated fertilizer for the month of September. Allocation has already been made in favor of dealers. As a result, there is no reason to worry about fertilizer supply.”
The Deputy Commissioner said about 90 percent of Aman paddy planting has already been completed in Rajshahi. As a result, there is not much demand for non-urea fertilizer now. Urea fertilizer is needed for top-dressing in Aman paddy. At this moment, 2,469 metric tons of urea fertilizer is in stock in the district.'
Administration and agriculture department officials are monitoring to ensure that farmers are not harassed at any stage or forced to buy fertilizer at a higher price than the fixed price.
He said the drive of the vigilance team is continuing against those involved in black-marketing and illegally hoarding fertilizer to create an artificial crisis. So far, 1,293 sacks of fertilizer have been recovered in these drives and a fine of Tk 300,000 has also been collected for irregularities, he said.