Adulterated fertilisers flood markets in Rajshahi

There is no control of the officials of the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) over the quality of fertilisers. No action has so far been taken against any dishonest adulterated fertiliser manufacturers.

A section of dishonest traders are producing adulterated SSP and TSP fertilisers by mixing specks of marble, urea, low quality SSP and red colour.

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The production cost of each bag of such TSP fertiliser ranges between Tk 190 and Tk 200 while it is being sold at Tk 600 to Tk 650 in the markets.

The SSP fertiliser is also being produced by mixing dolomite powder and gypsum. Each bag of such SSP fertiliser costs only Tk 80 to Tk 99 but it is being sold at Tk 280 to Tk 300.

Not only SSP, but almost all brands of fertilisers including Zinc, Molybdenum, Gypsum, Potash and Boron fertilisers are being adulterated.

"Identifying the dishonest manufacturers is not a difficult task", said a fertiliser trader of Godagari upazila adding that an organised gang is engaged in producing low quality fertilisers by setting up small factories in the remote and 'safe' areas.

"We remain careful while purchasing fertilisers as sometimes the items are sold in brand names", said Majharul Islam, a farmer of Paba upazila.

He described that he was cheated last year. "I purchased SSP fertiliser from a local shop last year and I suffered a loss of Tk 7,000 using it in my crop field."

Meanwhile, the local agriculture officials and upazila administration in a joint operation recently seized seven bags of adulterated SSP from a shop in Paba upazila. But the authorities did not take legal action against the concerned trader, it was learnt.

Agriculture officials said adulterated fertiliser reduces fertility of land.

In order to combat the malpractice, the authorities often conduct raid in different parts of the district. Sometimes they detect fake factories but due to reasons unknown they fail to take action against anyone.

As unscrupulous traders managed to avoid penalty, they again involved themselves in the practice, sufferers have complained.