Dhaka: Prioritizing farmers' needs, the government has guaranteed a complete allocation of TSP, DAP, and MOP fertilizers, matching the October demand for all 64 districts. This effort includes advance importation, stockpiling, transportation, and field-level monitoring to ensure seamless distribution.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Ministry of Agriculture's Fertilizer Management and Monitoring Sub-Division disclosed this information through an allocation letter and an attached table issued on September 14. The government data indicates that the October demand for TSP is 70,052 metric tonnes, DAP is 150,910 metric tonnes, and MOP is 93,654 metric tonnes. The total demand for these non-urea fertilizers reaches 314,616 metric tonnes, all of which have been duly allocated.
The allocation for TSP, totaling 70,052 tonnes, will be managed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). For DAP, BADC will supply 149,910 metric tonnes, while the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will provide 1,000 tonnes. The entire MOP requirement of 93,654 tonnes has been distributed district-wise, tailored to the specific needs of each area.
This year's allocation strategy deviates from a centrally fixed quantity and is instead based on district and field-level demand. It particularly benefits agriculture-dependent districts, especially in the northern region, aligning allocations with their production requirements.
The Ministry of Agriculture has also implemented a phased plan to ensure a steady supply and stockpile of fertilizers during the Rabi and Boro seasons. The estimated total fertilizer demand for these seasons is 35.87 lakh metric tonnes, with a prepared supply of 51.71 lakh metric tonnes, exceeding the demand by approximately 15.84 lakh metric tonnes. To maintain security stocks, the government aims to have 500,000 metric tonnes of urea, 400,000 tonnes of TSP, 500,000 tonnes of DAP, and 300,000 tonnes of MOP.
On September 9, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the importation of 110,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, including 30,000 metric tonnes of MOP from Belarus, 40,000 tonnes of DAP from Morocco, and 40,000 tonnes of urea from Saudi Arabia. Additionally, in August, the import of another 365,000 metric tonnes was sanctioned.
As of September 9, the existing stock included 418,000 tonnes of urea, 343,000 tonnes of TSP, 302,000 tonnes of DAP, and 178,900 tonnes of MOP. Furthermore, there were 128,200 tonnes of TSP, 114,600 tonnes of DAP, and 189,400 tonnes of MOP in transit.
To enhance field-level monitoring, the government has established fertilizer monitoring cells in all 64 districts. Dealers have been instructed to adhere to the stipulated time frames for lifting fertilizers and to sell them to farmers at government-fixed prices.
Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md Abdur Rahim highlighted the importance of demand-based planning and advance preparation in fertilizer management. Agriculture Secretary Md Selim Khan reiterated that allocations are made based on actual field-level demand, ensuring that farmers have no cause for concern regarding fertilizer availability during the current season.