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February
26 2001
Kushtia, Feb 25 (UNB)- Acute shortage and price-hike of chemical fertilizer including Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) has been affecting Rabi crops farming in all seven upazilas of the district for the last two months.
Farmers said normal growth of standing crops and vegetables like boro paddy, wheat, potato, mustard, sunflower, soybean, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal, bean, sugarcane, pulses, maize and oilseeds is being hampered due to the scarcity of the fertilizer.
They said a 50-kg bag of TSP fertilizer is being sold at Tk 700 in the market against the factory rate of Tk 330, Single Super Phosphate (SSP) at Tk 310 against Tk 160, Potash at Tk 370 while Gypsum at Tk 170, Magnesium Sulphate at Tk 45, Zinc Sulphate at Tk 40 per kg respectively.
To make up the deficiency of phosphorus elements in the soil, the farmers are advised to use two and half times SSP instead of TSP. If the practice continues for a long time the soil will suffer from sulphur toxicity affecting the crop production particularly in less sulphur deficient soil, the agriculture experts said.
Meanwhile, the granular and dust SSP have been imported from various countries having different percentage of phosphorus. The granular SSP is similar to that of TSP in respect of color and crystal confusing the farmers.
Some unscrupulous fertilizer dealers are taking advantage of the situation. The establishment of analytical fertilizer testing laboratory is essential in the district level to determine the percentage of desired elements in the compound fertilizer, the experts said.
Sources in the Agriculture Extension Department told UNB that the sharp rise in prices of TSP, SSP, MP gypsum and other fertilizers has perplexed the farmers which will hamper the production on the one hand and decrease the area of rabi crops on the other.
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