Fertiliser prices soar in Rangpur

The prices soared when farmers started applying fertiliser to fields after sowing aman seedlings.

TSP (Triple super phosphate) is now selling at Tk 590 per bag in retail markets against Tk 555 a week ago, farmers said. DAP (Dy-ammonium phosphate) sells at Tk 940 against Tk 840 and MP (Murate of potash) at Tk 585 against Tk 550 per bag. At places, the sellers demand more, depending on the situation, they said.

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Farmers said this is high time for use of these fertiliers in aman fields but poor farmers can not afford these.

When contacted, president of Rangpur unit of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association (BFA) Abul Kashem Patwari said fertiliser dealers have nothing to do as importers increased the prices on the plea of higher rate of US dollar and price hike of fuel in the international market.

But some fertiliser dealers under BFA in Rangpur said there is no reason for importers to raise the prices of TSP, MP, and DAP.

Golam Moula, a fertiliser dealer in Mithapukur, said importers brought the fertilisers about three months ago and they were given 25 per cent subsidy on it by the government. The fertilisers they are selling now are from imports made earlier and so there is no reason for them to increase the prices.

Recent price hike of dollar and fuel should not affect prices of fertilisers available in markets, he said.