Retail prices of imported fertilisers -- mainly murate of potash (MoP), triple super phosphate (TSP), and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) -- are so high that small and marginal farmers in the region are incapable of buying them for potato fields.

Many agriculturists of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of Rangpur and its neighbouring districts fear this year's production of potato, wheat, mastered and other robi crops will be lower than last year's because high prices will prevent farmers from applying the proper doses of fertiliser in time.

Fertiliser dealers of these districts told The Daily Star that the stocks of DAP, MoP and TSP ran short because they have not been able to procure them during the last thirty days, following the declaration of a subsidy in the sector. Instead they are still selling from their old stock at previous non-subsidised rates.

Following the approval of the fertiliser subsidy, the imported consignments of TSP, MoP and DAP are being approved for subsidy-eligibility by the finance ministry.

Addressing a press conference in Dhaka yesterday, Agriculture Minister MK Anwar said a subsidy proposal for 26 consignments of 18,000 metric tons of TSP and 52,000 metric tons of MoP has been sent to the finance ministry and is expected to be approved within the next two or three days.

This correspondent visited different hats and bazars in the Kurigram, Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts, enquiring about the rate of TSP, DAP and MoP during the last few days. It was found that MoP was being sold at between Tk 670 and 680 a bag (50 kg), DAP at Tk 970 a bag (50 kg), and TSP at Tk 880 a bag (50 kg).

Taking advantage of the farmers' emergency needs, most of the dealers and retailers of the region have hiked the price of fertilisers.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Rafiqul Islam, who is also president of the district fertiliser monitoring committee, told The Daily Star that the government fixed the rate of TSP (Tunisia) at Tk 606.67 and DAP (Kargil) at Tk 747 per bag (50 kg). The rate of MoP has yet to be fixed, he added.

Motahar Hossen, Secretary of the Rangpur unit of the Bangladesh Fertiliser Association, said the dealers are preparing to procure TSP and DAP at the subsidised rate.

Sohel Khondoker, a big potato farmer of the Mahiganj area, said potato farmers would not need fertilisers after two weeks. He asked what the use of the subsidised rate of fertilisers would be after two weeks when potatoes in all fields would be ready for harvest.

According to the record of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), about 70,000 hectares of land have been brought under potato cultivation this year in five districts in greater Rangpur.