Fertiliser crunch hits Rabi farming in Shariatpur, farmers fear production loss 

Shariatpur is facing an acute fertiliser shortage at the peak of the Rabi crop planting season, raising farmers' production costs and heightening concerns over possible disruption to cultivation.

An investigation by The Business Standard found that the district has received 50–70% less fertiliser than required, allowing dealers and retail sellers to take advantage of the supply crunch by charging prices well above government-fixed rates.

Data from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Shariatpur show that Shariatpur was allocated 7,946 tonnes of urea against a demand of 18,595 tonnes, leaving a 57% shortfall. Allocations of TSP stood at 1,727 tonnes against a requirement of 4,810 tonnes, a 64% shortage. The district received 7,075 tonnes of DAP against a demand of 12,775 tonnes, creating a 44% gap, while MOP allocations amounted to just 2,219 tonnes against a requirement of 8,992 tonnes, a shortage of 75%.

Fertiliser is distributed through 71 dealers across unions in the district. The government-fixed prices are Tk27 per kg for urea and TSP, Tk21 for DAP and Tk20 for MOP. However, farmers allege that due to limited supply, many dealers and retailers are charging an additional Tk10–12 per kg for different types of fertiliser.

Farmers say that per decimal of land requires an average of three kg of fertiliser, which normally costs Tk80–82. But currently they are being forced to pay Tk110–120 for the same amount of fertiliser, raising per shatak production cost by Tk30–40 and significantly cutting into profits. 

Nurul Islam Dhali, a farmer from Norshahen union in Naria upazila, said he needs 12–13 bags of fertiliser to cultivate onion, garlic, nigella and coriander. "I now have to spend Tk5,000 to Tk6,000 more on fertiliser. My production cost has increased sharply. If I do not get a fair price for my crops, I will incur losses," he said.

Majeda Begum of Poragaon village said nearly half of her cultivable land would remain uncultivated this season. She said she had to buy a bag of DAP fertiliser -- government-priced at Tk1,050 – at Tk1,650. "There is no one to monitor the fertiliser market. We are helpless," she added.

According to the DAE, crops are cultivated on around 82,500 hectares across Shariatpur's six upazilas every year. From September to December, farmers grow winter vegetables, onions, garlic, potatoes, spice crops, Rabi cereals, oilseeds and pulses, significantly raising the demand for fertiliser. But fertiliser allocations have fallen sharply during this crucial period.

Mostafa Kamal Hossain, deputy director of Shariatpur DAE, acknowledged the shortage. "Allocations are lower than demand, so farmers are trying to manage shortages through various means. We have received complaints of fertiliser being sold at higher prices. Monitoring has been intensified, and mobile courts are working to curb overpricing," he said.