No shortage of fertilisers: Agri adviser

There is sufficient stock of fertilisers in the country until December, and there will be no shortage, Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said today (14 September).

Speaking as the chief guest at a Ministry of Agriculture conference, he emphasised that farmers will have access to the fertilisers they need. 

The meeting addressed the current flood situation in various districts, evaluated the rehabilitation efforts for flood victims, and assessed the progress of these initiatives.

Additionally, participants exchanged views on the activities of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC).

The adviser mentioned that the process of importing fertilisers is normal and urged people not to purchase or store additional fertilisers out of fear of a potential future shortage. He also instructed authorities concerned to complete the rehabilitation of farmers affected by the floods with transparency and speed.

The floods, which began on 16 August, have impacted crops across 23 districts, submerging a total of 372,733 hectares of land, with 208,573 hectares of this being agricultural land. The estimated loss in crop production is around 714,514 metric tons, valued at approximately Tk 3,346 crore. In total, 1,414,089 farmers have been affected, with 14.58% of the cultivated crops in these districts being destroyed. 

The amount of affected land in the seven worst flood-hit districts are: 35,673 hectares (80%) in Feni, 38,456 hectares (37%) Noakhali, 49,608 hectares (36%) in Cumilla, 15,626 hectares (33%) in Lakshmipur, 23,992 hectares (16%) in Chattogram, 15,222 hectares (12%) in Moulvibazar, and 8,326 hectares (35%) in Brahmanbaria.

Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mia, along with senior officials of the ministry and heads of various departments and agencies were present at the meeting.