UNB, Khulna :
Different types of inferior quality zinc sulphate fertiliser are being sold openly at the fertiliser and pesticide shops in the markets of nine upazilas of Khulna district, including the city, much to the detriment of agriculture here.
Farmers complained that from the use of these fertilisers in their hybrid boro paddy fields, they are not getting the expected yield.
While visiting different shops of fertilisers and pesticides, it was found that various types of zinc fertilisers remained in display for sale there.
The fertilisers under different brand names include Sufolon Zinc, Surjyamuhki Dasta, Special Grow Zinc, American Zinc Gold, Auto Zinc, Sufolon China Mono Zinc, American Mono Zinc, Japani Dasta Fertiliser, Jemisal, Nafko Zinc, Dasta Raj, Jyoti Zinc Pas, Grow Zinc, Yong Zinc, Agro Zinc Pas, Sourav and Total.
It is learnt, a number of companies are marketing these zinc fertilisers wrapped in attractive packets with ‘Approved by the Agriculture Ministry’ or ‘Approved by the Department of Agricultural Extension’ written on those.
Although prices of urea, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) are government-fixed, the zinc fertilisers are available at different rates.
An one kg packet of zinc fertilisers is selling at prices ranging from Tk 70 to Tk 190.
In spite of that, farmers are not getting benefit of using these fertilisers in hybrid boro fields.
On the one hand, as the growers are getting loser economically for using these fertilisers, so the lands are losing their fertility.
Agriculture experts said there are three types of zinc fertilisers, including monohydrate, heptahydrate.
In the monohydrate type, there should be 36 percent zinc and 17.5 percent sulphur while heptahydrate should contain 21 percent zinc and 10.5 percent sulphur.
But in most zinc fertiliser packets in the markets, there is no such quantity of the ingredients.
As a result, farmers are not getting the expected output by using these types of fertiliser.
Experts suggested that the samples of these zinc fertilisers be put on test to examine the quantity of the ingredients by the agriculture ministry before marketing.
 They also suggested monitoring of marketing and sale of these types of fertiliser.
 Otherwise, farmers will be seriously affected and the environment will also be polluted.
