The New Nation - Internet Edition

REPORTS are noted in newspapers about the smuggling into Bangladesh of low quality fertilisers which lead to short term higher crop yields but in the long term cause alarming degradation of the soil. The police some months ago seized 10,000 sacks of adulterated and contraband FMC fertlisers. The FMC fertilisers were probably smuggled into the country from a friendly country. A ban on FMC fertiliser remains in force for its harmful effects . But this item after being brought in is turned into dust and repacked and sold as Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) which is high in demand. Besides, fake TSP fertilisers, also coming from a big neighbour, are marketed rather easily.

Land fertility is the most precious gift of nature that the people of Bangladesh will have to rely upon for their food security. Therefore, it is imperative that the department of agricultural extension that takes to farmers safe farming practices should engage in extensive countrywide activities to discourage the use of low quality fertilisers. Law enforcement bodies will have to be more active to stop smuggling in of such fertilisers. Farmers should be encouraged to practise rotation of crops, organic farming without chemical pesticides.

Traditional manuring of the land with decomposed biomass to get high yields used to be considered a safe practice. The traditional practices should be encouraged and revived in view of the degradation of soil due to application of harmful chemical fertilisers. The leaves of a plant called 'dhancha' can be such an excellent and safe natural manure. Dhancha plants also fix nitrogen to the soil and in olden days farmers used to rotate paddy and jute crops which also help increase soil fertility. Organic fertilisers, being marketed by some NGOs and small entrepreneurs, need to be promoted for large scale application.