Fertiliser crisis hampering Robi crops cultivation
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Our Correspondent
FARIDPUR, Dec 15: Acute shortage of chemical fertilisers, including Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), is hampering the cultivation of Robi crops in Faridpur district.
The farmers who are cultivating boro, wheat, potato, mustard, sunflower, soybean, tomato, cabbage, brinjal, bean, sugarcane, vegetables, pulses, maize and oil seed fearing difficulties due to the shortage of fertilisers.
A 50-kg TSP sack is being sold in the markets at Tk 1400 as against the factory rate of Tk 550, single super phosphate (SSP) sales at Tk 700 as against Tk 250, Murate of Potash at Tk 750, magnesium sulphate at Tk 150 per kg, zinc sulphate at Tk 70 and gypsum at Tk 200.
Experts said the farmers have been advised to use more than double quantity of SSP in place of TSP to make up the deficiency of phosphorous elements in the soil. But if the practice continues for a long time the soil will suffer from sulphur toxicity affecting the production.
Meanwhile, granular and dust SSP have been imported from the USA, Egypt, China, India, Malaysia and Korea having different percentage of phosphorous. The granular SSP is similar to that of TSP in respect of colour and crystal is confusing the farmers easily as TSP.
It is complained that the dishonest fertiliser dealers are taking advantage of the situation and cheating farmers. Establishment of an fertiliser testing laboratory is essential at district level to determine the percentage of desired elements in the compound fertilisers.
FARIDPUR, Dec 15: Acute shortage of chemical fertilisers, including Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), is hampering the cultivation of Robi crops in Faridpur district.
The farmers who are cultivating boro, wheat, potato, mustard, sunflower, soybean, tomato, cabbage, brinjal, bean, sugarcane, vegetables, pulses, maize and oil seed fearing difficulties due to the shortage of fertilisers.
A 50-kg TSP sack is being sold in the markets at Tk 1400 as against the factory rate of Tk 550, single super phosphate (SSP) sales at Tk 700 as against Tk 250, Murate of Potash at Tk 750, magnesium sulphate at Tk 150 per kg, zinc sulphate at Tk 70 and gypsum at Tk 200.
Experts said the farmers have been advised to use more than double quantity of SSP in place of TSP to make up the deficiency of phosphorous elements in the soil. But if the practice continues for a long time the soil will suffer from sulphur toxicity affecting the production.
Meanwhile, granular and dust SSP have been imported from the USA, Egypt, China, India, Malaysia and Korea having different percentage of phosphorous. The granular SSP is similar to that of TSP in respect of colour and crystal is confusing the farmers easily as TSP.
It is complained that the dishonest fertiliser dealers are taking advantage of the situation and cheating farmers. Establishment of an fertiliser testing laboratory is essential at district level to determine the percentage of desired elements in the compound fertilisers.