Fertiliser supplies to farmers must be ensured

Alongside the gas and power crisis in the country, a fertilizer shortage is also underway. Farmers have run into fertilizer shortages right at the start of the crop-growing season. In particular, in various districts of the northwestern region — known as the country’s food basket — as well as other districts, farmers are not getting fertilizer on time. Frustrated farmers have blocked roads and even looted fertilizer from dealer points. Reports in various dailies yesterday showed that farmers in Kurigram, Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat, Magura, and Sherpur have grown angry after failing to get fertilizer. They say this is the time for planting transplanted Aman paddy, when fields need fertilizer, but they cannot get it — even after waiting long hours in line in front of dealers’ warehouses. As a result, in some areas, angry farmers have forcibly taken fertilizer from warehouses, and in many places roads have been blockaded. Farmers are asking how they are supposed to grow crops if they cannot get fertilizer on time. They claim a syndicate is responsible for the shortage, deliberately engineering scarcity in order to sell at higher prices. Many farmers have demanded open-market sale of fertilizer, arguing this would break the syndicate’s grip.

There is no food shortage in the country. However, if the farmers who toil day and night to keep the food stock robust do not get fertilizer on time, the set targets for crop production will not be achieved, and a shortfall in food output will follow. The gas and electricity crisis has already brought public life and industrial production to a standstill, and its effects have spread to the agricultural sector as well — farmers are unable to properly irrigate their fields due to the power shortage. On top of that, the fertilizer shortage has put them in an even more difficult position. It is only natural that they would be angry and agitated. They themselves have directly pointed to the syndicate at the root of their anger. It is essential to find out who is involved in this syndicate. It also needs to be investigated whether any vested interest group is exploiting the ongoing gas-electricity crisis to manufacture an artificial fertilizer shortage in order to turn farmers against the government. A report in a daily newspaper yesterday noted that production at four state-owned fertilizer factories has been halted or curtailed due to the gas shortage. However, the government has stated that there is no shortage of fertilizer in the country and that adequate stock exists, and that fertilizer supply to dealer points is being ensured as quickly as possible so that no shortage arises in any area. Special committees and stepped-up monitoring have been put in place to ensure the correct quantity of fertilizer reaches dealers and is properly sold to farmers. The relevant government authorities must investigate and determine why such initiatives are being obstructed.

It is not hard to see that a kind of conspiracy is underway to turn farmers, and the general public, against the government. Opposition political programs have also been carried out capitalizing on the gas-electricity crisis, and this has generated extensive discussion and criticism on social media. Responsible government figures have said that gas and electricity supply will return to normal within a few days, and this crisis has already begun to ease somewhat. However, despite adequate stock, signs are emerging of a conspiracy to create an artificial fertilizer shortage. It would not be unusual if, alongside the syndicate, there is also a political conspiracy behind this. A tendency is visible to create a situation resembling fishing in troubled waters, in order to put the government in a difficult position. The government needs to be alert to this. It must be remembered that conspirators always choose a sensitive sector, destabilizing it to create disorder. Agriculture is a sensitive sector, tied directly to life and livelihood. Creating an artificial shortage to incite farmers against the government amounts to trying to prove the government a failure. Signs have already been observed on social media of attempts to incite farmers over the fertilizer shortage. Therefore, the government must pay close attention to why farmers are not getting fertilizer on time despite adequate stock. The relevant ministry and field-level administration must become active to ensure fertilizer reaches farmers. Whoever is involved in creating an artificial fertilizer shortage — whether a syndicate or otherwise — strict action must be taken against them.