Sub-standard fertilisers harming Bangladesh

THE unguarded border, since the weakening of the BDR, is facilitating the rampant smuggling of sub-standard fertilisers. As a result, poor quality SSP fertilisers are being marketed as TSP. Similarly, NNP is smuggled into Bangladesh under the label of DMP. Spurious fertilisers made in Indian territories are coloured to make magnesium sulphate look like muriate of potash (MOP) to sell at higher price. Sub-standard fertilisers can adversely affect Bangladesh's food production.
As food security is of almost importance to Bangladesh, it is very important for the government to discourage the farmers from using such smuggled fertilisers, so dangerous for soil fertility.
The government needs to activate the guarding of the long and porous borders to stop smuggling in of such fertilisers.
Abdul Hamid Mridha
Mymensingh Agricultural University