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Farmers forced to pay extra for fertilisers in Joypurhat
Published : Sunday, 23 August, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Observer Correspondent
Farmers in Joypurhat are struggling to purchase non-urea chemical fertilisers at government-fixed rates during the ongoing Aman season, despite sufficient stocks across the district.
Retail dealers are allegedly charging Tk 300 to 400 extra per 50-kilogram bag of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP).
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials set a target to cultivate Aman paddy on 70,095 hectares of land in the district this season, with 97 per cent of transplantation already completed. Farmers are currently busy weeding and applying fertilisers to their fields, but face inflated prices at retail outlets.
A 50-kg bag of TSP with a government-fixed price of Tk 1,350 is selling for Tk 1,800 to 1,900. Similarly, DAP is selling for Tk 1,300 to 1,350 against its official price of Tk 1,050. Farmers reported that retailers refuse to issue cash memos and threaten to withhold sales if buyers demand receipts.
Nural Sardar and Mofazzal, two farmers from Daulatpur village in Khetlal upazila, said dealers display price charts in shops but charge higher rates. "When we ask for cash memos based on the price chart, they refuse to sell us fertiliser. A 50-kg bag of TSP costs us Tk 1,800 instead of Tk 1,350, while MOP is selling at Tk 1,350 instead of Tk 1,050," they stated.
Golam Mostafa, a farmer from Pachuil village, noted that input costs for cultivation have risen significantly while crop market prices remain stagnant, leading to financial distress following recent losses in potato farming.
Shahjaman Talukdar, a fertiliser and seed trader at Chaumuhani Bazar in Khetlal, acknowledged the farmers' allegations as accurate, adding that proper administrative monitoring could resolve the issue since there is no supply shortage.
President of District Fertiliser Traders Association Md Raunakul Islam Chowdhury said BCIC dealers are not overcharging. "Although availability is lower than demand, dealers are delivering supplies directly to farmers. If local allegations arise, we will take action alongside the administration," he said.
DAE Deputy Director AKM Sadikul Islam said the district distributes supplies through 58 BCIC dealers, 112 BADC dealers, and 326 retail dealers. He confirmed an allocation of 9,651 metric tonnes of fertiliser, including urea, for the current month.
"There is no shortage of fertiliser in the district. Contact details of officials are displayed at all dealer points, and strict action will follow if complaints of overcharging are proven," he added.
-SIS/SA
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
