According to a report in The Daily Ittefaq, farmers in Bagmara are struggling with issues related to potato seeds and fertilizers. The main reason for their plight is the steep price of these agricultural essentials.
Bagmara, Rajshahi's main region for potato cultivation during the Rabi season, is seeing farmers return to the fields. However, they complain about not receiving potato seeds and fertilizers at fair prices.
Unscrupulous traders have formed syndicates, inflating the prices of these essentials. For example, seeds that should cost Tk 3,180 now cost Tk 4,400. How can farmers cultivate their crops under such conditions?
The rising prices of essentials, including rice, oil, sugar, eggs, and now potatoes, have become a pressing concern. In February, potatoes cost Tk 30-35 per kg; now, the price has soared to Tk 60-70. This has created an outcry across the country.
Even in storage hubs like Bogura, Rangpur, Dinajpur, and Munshiganj, prices have surged. Farmers are striving to increase potato production to address this crisis, but without easy access to affordable seeds and fertilizers, their morale and enthusiasm are waning.
In response, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced potato import duties from 25% to 15% and removed the 3% regulatory duty. Additionally, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has initiated sales of potatoes at Tk 40 per kg through its trucks.
While these steps are commendable, they won't suffice if we fail to ensure adequate domestic potato production.
Efforts to stabilize prices have included reducing VAT on imported oil from 10% to 5% and allowing imports of an additional 18.8 crore eggs. However, alongside such measures, the focus must also shift to supporting producers.
Excessive rainfall and floods this year disrupted vegetable production, further burdening the potato supply. While the country requires 9 million tons of potatoes annually, the last harvest produced only 7.5 million tons, leaving a deficit of 1-1.5 million tons.
Potatoes are a staple in many dishes and a rice alternative. Therefore, encouraging potato cultivation is crucial, and neglecting this aspect is unacceptable.
Similarly, fertilizers are vital for crop production. However, in regions like Chapainawabganj, farmers are worried about a shortage of non-urea fertilizers, particularly DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate), used during the Rabi season.
Dealers are charging Tk 300-350 more per bag than the government-mandated price. This has also affected farmers in Gangni Upazila, Meherpur.
To address this, the Ministry of Agriculture must act promptly to resolve the DAP shortage.
Shortages of seeds or fertilizers increase production costs and reduce yields, harming farmers. Therefore, those creating artificial shortages of essential agricultural inputs must be identified and held accountable under the law.
