Urgent measures needed to address fertiliser shortages
IT is shocking that reserves of some major non-urea fertilisers have fallen below safe levels, threatening supply concerns about shortages during the upcoming Aman season.
According to a national newspaper report, the protracted US-Israel war on Iran and China’s fertiliser export ban has only heightened the risks. These shortages are also driven by domestic gas supply constraints.
The question is why the government has not taken adequate steps to address the problem.
As per the report, reserves of diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate (TSP), and muriate of potash (MOP), whose stocks currently stand at 3.90 lakh tonnes, 3.53 lakh tonnes, and 1.96 lakh tonnes, respectively, are below safe levels.
The shortages are already forcing farmers to pay Tk 5-7 more per kilogram than the government-fixed rates.
The country’s demand for fertiliser in the current 2026-27 fiscal year is projected to reach 6.77 million (6,770,500) tons.
This includes 2.62 million (2,622,000) tons of urea, 901,500 tons of TSP, 1.35 million 1,355,700 tons of DAP and 970,000 tons of MOP, according to DAE data.
Although urea stocks remain above safe levels for now, much of its supply is typically sourced from West Asian countries now caught up in the Iran conflict.
However, the government continues to maintain that there is no immediate fertiliser crisis, apparently to avoid public panic. This stance has done little to boost confidence or address the crisis.
Reportedly, the government is yet to issue any procurement circular for non-urea fertilisers, and orders usually take at least two to three months to be shipped once placed.
This leaves little room for complacency as any disruption could have considerable implications for our food security.
During the current Aman season, farmers across Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Rajshahi districts are struggling to secure Triple Super Phosphate and DAP, often having to pay well above the government-fixed prices for both.
Reserves of both the fertilisers have fallen below the safety thresholds, show data from the agriculture ministry.
We, therefore, want the government to demonstrate foresight in addressing the fertiliser shortages, particularly amid the volatile situation in West Asia.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-third of internationally traded fertilisers, but traffic has remained heavily restricted amid the ongoing conflict.
What is baffling is that, even after months of uncertainty, the government has yet to formulate and implement a robust fertiliser strategy.
It is imperative that the government act proactively now. It must strengthen domestic production, try to secure more stable routes for raw materials, and explore diplomatic channels to ensure that fertiliser reaches farmers without interruption.
