Organic, not chemical fertilisers
Friday, 13 June 2008
In the budget for the fiscal 2008-09, the caretaker government has proposed to increase the prices of urea and Muriate of Potash (MP). The concerned authorities have already announced the hike in the administered prices of both urea and MP. This has been done to reduce subsidy on fertiliser for the farmers.
Newspapers reported that in the outgoing fiscal, the subsidy on fertilisers would be more than Tk 40 billion, instead of Tk 22 billion as was originally projected. Due to mismatch between selling and procurement prices, the government had to spend the additional money.
It is true that the government did the last adjustment 12 years ago. Now, time will only say that whether the fertiliser price-hike would be good or not for the economy. The government decided to increase the price of urea from Tk 4,800 per ton, to about Tk 10,000 per ton. The price of MP has been raised from Tk 50,000 to 19,500 taka per ton.
The farmers, even the marginal ones, will have to bear the extra cost. As they are eager to use fertilisers, at times in excess quantities, the price-hike would put extra financial burden on the farmers for raising cropping season. It is time to make the farmers aware of the negative impact of excessive use of chemical fertilisers. At the same time, they are aware of the long-term good impact of using organic fertilisers they would feel avoid chemical fertilisers. The farmers can then avoid buying costly urea.
Humayun Ahmed
Siddheswari, Dhaka
Newspapers reported that in the outgoing fiscal, the subsidy on fertilisers would be more than Tk 40 billion, instead of Tk 22 billion as was originally projected. Due to mismatch between selling and procurement prices, the government had to spend the additional money.
It is true that the government did the last adjustment 12 years ago. Now, time will only say that whether the fertiliser price-hike would be good or not for the economy. The government decided to increase the price of urea from Tk 4,800 per ton, to about Tk 10,000 per ton. The price of MP has been raised from Tk 50,000 to 19,500 taka per ton.
The farmers, even the marginal ones, will have to bear the extra cost. As they are eager to use fertilisers, at times in excess quantities, the price-hike would put extra financial burden on the farmers for raising cropping season. It is time to make the farmers aware of the negative impact of excessive use of chemical fertilisers. At the same time, they are aware of the long-term good impact of using organic fertilisers they would feel avoid chemical fertilisers. The farmers can then avoid buying costly urea.
Humayun Ahmed
Siddheswari, Dhaka