Sale of imported fertiliser falls as smuggled one floods mkt
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Our Correspondent
JOYPURHAT, Aug 22: The sale of imported fertilisers in the district is being hampered seriously as smuggled Indian spurious fertilisers have flooded local markets.
In the situation, the local fertiliser dealers are showing reluctance to receive their new allotments. Moreover, using the Indian fake fertilisers, the farmers are losing their land fertility, sources said.
Through the Joypurhat border everyday a large quantity of Indian spurious fertilisers is being smuggled into Bangladesh.
According to the traders, everyday around 50 tonnes of non-urea fertilisers are being smuggled into the country.
They further said if such illegal business continues for long, the local fertiliser trading will be seriously disrupted and the land fertility will fall which may hamper the country's crop production.
In the border areas of the district such as Panchbibi, Attapara, Koya, Chechra, Karia, Hatkhola Pagladeowan, and Vutiapara, smugglers often carry MOP and DAP fertilisers on rickshaws, vans, or cycles. Later those are loaded on trucks and supplied to others districts.
The law enforcing agencies such as BDR, RAB and Police often conducted drives against the smugglers and in the last three months recovered a large quantity of spurious fertilisers.
Sources said the prices of Indian non urea fertilisers are much lower than the imported ones in the local markets. Imported DAP fertiliser is selling between Tk 2200 and Tk 2250 per 50-kg sack, while the smuggled Indian one of the same quantity is selling at Tk 1200-Tk 1300. MOP fertiliser is being sold at Tk 1800- Tk 1850 per 50 kg sack, while Indian MOP is being sold only at Tk 950-Tk 1000.
Most of the farmers in the district are interested to buy Indian adulterated fertilisers because of their low prices.
Ahmedur Rahaman, a farmer of Mohabbatpur area in Akkelpur Upazila of the district, said they buy Indian fertilisers because of their low prices but they are damaging land fertility. .
Deputy Director of Jaipurhat of DAE Abul Kalam Mondol said Indian fertiliser is harmful to land. These are seriously damaging land fertility.
Ziaul Ul Haque Rana, president of district fertiliser association said, "If the fertiliser smuggling continues, fertiliser dealers will be reluctant to buy their allotted fertilisers. And this will badly affect the fertiliser market.''
JOYPURHAT, Aug 22: The sale of imported fertilisers in the district is being hampered seriously as smuggled Indian spurious fertilisers have flooded local markets.
In the situation, the local fertiliser dealers are showing reluctance to receive their new allotments. Moreover, using the Indian fake fertilisers, the farmers are losing their land fertility, sources said.
Through the Joypurhat border everyday a large quantity of Indian spurious fertilisers is being smuggled into Bangladesh.
According to the traders, everyday around 50 tonnes of non-urea fertilisers are being smuggled into the country.
They further said if such illegal business continues for long, the local fertiliser trading will be seriously disrupted and the land fertility will fall which may hamper the country's crop production.
In the border areas of the district such as Panchbibi, Attapara, Koya, Chechra, Karia, Hatkhola Pagladeowan, and Vutiapara, smugglers often carry MOP and DAP fertilisers on rickshaws, vans, or cycles. Later those are loaded on trucks and supplied to others districts.
The law enforcing agencies such as BDR, RAB and Police often conducted drives against the smugglers and in the last three months recovered a large quantity of spurious fertilisers.
Sources said the prices of Indian non urea fertilisers are much lower than the imported ones in the local markets. Imported DAP fertiliser is selling between Tk 2200 and Tk 2250 per 50-kg sack, while the smuggled Indian one of the same quantity is selling at Tk 1200-Tk 1300. MOP fertiliser is being sold at Tk 1800- Tk 1850 per 50 kg sack, while Indian MOP is being sold only at Tk 950-Tk 1000.
Most of the farmers in the district are interested to buy Indian adulterated fertilisers because of their low prices.
Ahmedur Rahaman, a farmer of Mohabbatpur area in Akkelpur Upazila of the district, said they buy Indian fertilisers because of their low prices but they are damaging land fertility. .
Deputy Director of Jaipurhat of DAE Abul Kalam Mondol said Indian fertiliser is harmful to land. These are seriously damaging land fertility.
Ziaul Ul Haque Rana, president of district fertiliser association said, "If the fertiliser smuggling continues, fertiliser dealers will be reluctant to buy their allotted fertilisers. And this will badly affect the fertiliser market.''