New fertilizer policy in offing

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S M Jahangir
The government is adopting a new fertiliser policy for streamlining the field-level distribution systems of the agricultural input, which will replace the existing arrangement, officials said.
"A process is on to devise a fresh fertiliser policy with a view to streamlining its distribution arrangements. Hopefully, the new policy will come into force from July 1, 2009," a senior official of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) told the FE.
One of the important features of the proposed policy is to abolish the provision for having sales representatives under authorised dealers, which was introduced by the past caretaker government.
The MoA has almost completed the draft on 'Fertiliser Policy 2009', the official said it will soon be finalised after consulting with other relevant government agencies including the Ministry of Industries.
Once the draft fertiliser policy is finalised, it will be placed before the cabinet for approval, he mentioned.
According to officials, the proposed new policy aims to make the supply of the fertilisers, especially urea, easily available to farmers under the government channel. The policy will bring about some changes in the present distribution arrangements.
Following some disruptions in the fertiliser supply, the interim administration allowed appointment of three sales representatives under each of the government-authorised dealers across the country to enhance the farmers' access to the agri-input.
As a result, about 15,000 new representatives joined the nearly 5000 union-level authorised dealers, sources said.
Under the proposed new policy, each of the 'union parishad' is expected to have one authorised dealer, they said.
Besides, the existing dealers are likely to get the opportunity to renew their licences under the proposed policy, said an official.
In place of the existing sales representatives, local retailers will purchase fertiliser from the authorised dealers for selling it to farmers, he hinted.
And the Upazila (UZ)-level committee on fertiliser will be empowered to select the retailers and issue cards in favour of them, officials said, adding the UZ bodies will also be overseeing the entire supply and distribution arrangements of fertilisers at their respective areas.
The proposed empowerment of the UZ-level committees in the official fertiliser distribution systems aims to lessen the responsibilities of district administrations that are now heavily burdened with the fertiliser supply related tasks.
Production, import and supply of urea are entirely conducted under the official arrangements, sources said, adding the country's annual demand for urea is estimated at 2.8 million tonnes.
The private sector, on the other hand, is largely involved with import and marketing of non-urea fertilisers like TSP, SSP, DAP and organic ones.