No shortage of fertilizers in the country: Agri Adviser
Published : Sunday, 15 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM Count : 85
Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday said that there is sufficient stock of fertilizers in the country until December, and there will be no shortage.
Farmers will be able to purchase and use fertilizers according to their needs, the adviser said this while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The meeting discussed the flood situation in various districts of the country, reviewed the rehabilitation measures taken for flood victims, and assessed the progress of implementation.
The meeting also exchanged views on the activities of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC). The adviser mentioned that the process of importing fertilizers is normal. He urged people not to purchase or store additional fertilizers out of fear of a potential future shortage.
A total of 372,733 hectares of land were submerged in these districts. The affected agricultural land is 208,573 hectares. The estimated loss in crop production is 714,514 metric tons worth approximately Tk 3,346 crore. The number of affected farmers is 1,414,089. In the 23 flood-affected districts, 14.58 per cent of the total cultivated crops were destroyed.
The amount of affected land in the seven wrost flood-hit districts are: Feni 35,673 hectares (80 per cent), Noakhali 38,456 hectares (37 per cent), Comilla 49,608 hectares (36 per cent), Lakshmipur 15,626 hectares (33 per cent), Chittagong 23,992 hectares (16 per cent), Moulvibazar 15,222 hectares (12 per cent), and Brahmanbaria 8,326 hectares (35 per cent).
Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mia, along with senior officials of the ministry and heads of various departments/agencies, were present at the time. —UNB
