Fertilizer dealership must not be given based on political influence

A new fertilizer licensing policy is being worked out to prevent political influence in appointing dealership, ensuring that only genuine dealers are selected. Fertilizer is one of the most important inputs in agricultural production.

The highest demand for this manure occurs during the paddy cultivation season. At that time, farmers in the country do not get the fertilizer they need.

An artificial shortage of fertilizer is created by dishonest dealers. As a result, the price of fertilizer increases. If farmers do not receive fertilizer on time, cultivation is disrupted and yields are low.

This affects the country’s food security. Following allegations of irregularities, political influence, and artificial crises in fertilizer management for a long time, the government has decided to take the entire responsibility of fertilizer distribution under the Ministry of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, the government has revised the ‘Integrated Policy on Appointment of Fertilizer Dealers and Distribution of Fertilizers 2009’ to break the cycle of creating artificial crises with fertilizers.

The policy has already been approved at a meeting of the National Coordination and Consultative Committee on Fertilizers. After the necessary scrutiny, the revised policy will be published in the form of a gazette.

Hopefully, this initiative will help break the cycle that creates an artificial fertilizer crisis.
Along with this, a plan has been taken to almost double the number of existing fertilizer dealerships.

At the same time, if arrangements are made to distribute urea and non-urea (DAP, TSP, MOP) fertilizers under the same dealer, farmers will no longer have to go to different places.

This will also help save both time and cost. However, these successes depend on the proper and transparent implementation of the policy.

According to information from BADC and BCIC, there are a total of 7,150 fertilizer dealerships across the country.

Of these, 2,118 dealers are under BCIC and 5,022 are under BADC.According to the new policy, the number of existing dealers will be increased to about 13,500.

Bringing transparency and efficiency in fertilizer distribution is very important. Only through its implementation it will be understood whether farmers are really benefiting from it.

We think it is responsibility of the government to deliver fertilizer of appropriate quality to the farmers of each union at the reasonable price on time.

And this is possible only when there is transparency in the appointment of dealers, strict action is taken against irregularities, and the interests of the farmers are given priority.