The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Bogra

The government's decision to raise the prices of chemical fertilisers, except urea, from December 1 may hit the rabi cultivation in the northern region this season like other areas of the country.

Farmers of the region have taken a good preparation to cultivate crops in the current rabi season to recoup the losses they suffered following the recent floods and other natural calamities that damaged huge aman other crops on their land.

But all their hopes were shattered when the government ordered the BCIC and Department of Agricultural Extension to raise the price of different types of chemical fertilisers.

The government informed its decision through the monthly allocation letter of fertiliser of Agricultural Ministry, officials said. In this situation, farmers cannot use fertiliser on their lands due to its high price and are apprehending to fail the target of cultivation fixed by Agricultural Department The Department has fixed a target to bring 25.82 lakh hectares under 16 northers districts this season.

Of the total, boro will be cultivated on 15.08 lakh hectares, potato on 24.09 lakh hectares, maize on 1.35 lakh hectares, sweet potato on 11,084 hectares, lentil on 43,682 hectares, Chhola on 5,812 hectares, maskalai on 44,312 hectares, onion on 63,620 hecatres, garlic on 33,374, coriander on 6,138 hectares, turmeric on 13,125 hectares, ginger on 5,009 hectares, vegetables on 18.05 lakh, chili on 40,972 hectares, sesame on 28,127 hectares, mustard on 1.56 lakh, mug on 10,795 hectares and other crops on 41,904 hectares. Official sources said prices of TSP, MOP and DAP have been almost doubled. Price of per sack of 50 kg TSP has been fixed at Tk 1,382.24 against its previous price of Tk 697, per sack MOP at Tk 1,121 against Tk 715 and per sack of DAP at Tk 1,870 against the previous price of Tk 970.