It is quite distressing that the country’s fertilizer factories are shutting down one by one due to the insufficient gas supply. A vernacular daily on Monday reported production at the Hazrat Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory in Fenchuganj, Sylhet, came to a halt last week.
As a result, many fear a urea shortage in the upcoming Boro season, potentially threatening the country’s food security.
We all know that no initiatives were taken for gas exploration during the regime of the fallen autocrat; instead, costly imports of liquefied gas from abroad were made to serve individual and group interests. Consequently, production in all gas-based industries has been severely disrupted, with many factories shutting down including those in the ready-made garment sector.
As per the report, due to the shutdown of the country’s five fertilizer factories, there is now a daily shortage of about seven hundred thousand tons of urea. Instead of becoming self-sufficient in urea production, the country has become dependent on imports.
However, the fear of a fertilizer shortage looms large, as the dollar crisis is preventing the opening of letters of credit (LCs). Due to the reckless looting, plundering, laundering and smuggling during the autocratic rule, the country’s reserves are now nearly depleted.
Presently, there is a stock of 435,000 tons of urea, which should be enough for the ongoing Aman, Aus, and other crop cultivation.
The concern lies with the upcoming Boro season, which is now the largest rice-growing season of the year. Fertilizer demand is particularly high during this season.
Agricultural experts say the current fertilizer stock should last until December. Both the adviser and the secretary in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture have confirmed this information.
The Secretary of Agriculture has said that if there are no problems with production in the upcoming season, there will be no crisis in terms of food security. Therefore, the current target is to ensure good production in the next Boro season.
However, the government has yet to provide a clear statement on what measures have been taken to meet the increased demand for urea during the Boro season.
We have confidence in the interim government, and therefore we have to say even if it needs to halt imports of non-essential goods because of the shortage in the economy, fertilizers must be imported at any cost.