Bangladesh is likely to buy the bulk of its muriate of potash (MOP) from Canada and other countries to meet its requirement for 7.5 lakh tonnes of the chemical fertiliser to produce rice and other crops for the next fiscal year, said officials of the agriculture ministry yesterday, dispelling concerns of a shortage due to the war in Ukraine.

The country has lost over Tk 263 crore in the agriculture sector due to Cyclone Bulbul, says Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder asks all deputy commissioners to ensure that paddy is procured directly from farmers to meet the target of paddy procurement set by the government.

Although paddy farmers are poised to get a bigger harvest this year, low prices have sapped their joy in the 10 south-western districts of the country. The amount of paddy the government plans to buy directly from farmers would not help them much as well, they said while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.