‘Sold at Higher Prices in Some Places, Unavailable Even After Long Queues in Others’

Although the government repeatedly claims there is an adequate stock of fertilizer in the country, the suffering of farmers at the grassroots level shows no sign of abating. In some places, fertilizers are being sold at prices higher than the fixed rate, while in others, farmers fail to get fertilizer even after standing in queues for hours. While dealers claim there is sufficient supply and no shortage, farmers allege that this is entirely an artificial crisis created to reap undue profits.

In recent times, various discrepancies and pictures of suffering regarding fertilizer have emerged from different parts of the country. Farmers in Lalmonirhat, Kaliganj, and other areas complain that when they go to dealers, they are often turned away empty-handed with the excuse that "there is no fertilizer," forcing them to buy fertilizer at exorbitant prices from the open market or black market. However, according to government records, adequate imports and stocks of all types of fertilizers, including urea, TSP, and DAP, are available in the country.

Experts and concerned stakeholders believe that the core problem lies not in fertilizer production or stock, but in weaknesses within the distribution management and monitoring systems. Due to a lack of oversight, a section of dishonest dealers and syndicates creates artificial crises to hold farmers hostage. Ahead of the upcoming Rabi and Boro seasons, affected farmers and local public representatives have strongly demanded breaking this syndicate and ensuring strict vigilance at the dealer level.