Recouping Sidr Damage In Chandpur
Farmers' hopes dashed by fertiliser crisis
Farmers from faraway areas thronged dealers' shops at Chandpur town yesterday but were bewildered finding those locked.Photo: STAR
Crisis of fertiliser has dashed farmers' hopes to recover from Sidr damages in most areas of six upazilas in Chandpur district. Crisis of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Potash and MP fertilisers is prevailing in the areas. Yesterday and the day before, many farmers were seen moving in the fertiliser market at Ghat no. 5 in Chandpur town but most shops were closed. ADC (General) Tajul Islam, Sadar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and the Upazila agriculture officer along with some newsmen visited the area at about 3 pm yesterday and saw angry farmers crowding in front of closed fertiliser shops. Only three out of 42 fertiliser shops were open with limited supplies. Police controlled the situation. The ADC then called general secretary of local fertilizer dealers' association Hazrat Ali and asked him why the shops were closed. But he could not give any satisfactory answer. Some sources claimed that an artificial crisis of fertiliser was prevailing in the district. Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department Abdur Rashid also admitted shortage of fertiliser in the district. Talking to this correspondent, some farmers said they wanted to recover the loss caused by the recent cyclone by growing potato and other winter crops but they are undone now as fertilisers are not available. Some of the farmers alleged that the dealers have made a syndicate to earn more profit by creating an artificial crisis. Farmers Ismail Hossain of Moishadi, Jibon of Hapania, Abdul Latif Miji of Ghachtola and Khalilur of Ashikati in Chandpur Sadar area said government should open fertiliser shops at union level.
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