Jhenaidah:The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has launched a 'Fertilizer Card' initiative in Jhenaidah to ensure the equitable distribution of fertilizers among genuine farmers, curb excessive use, and reduce cultivation costs.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the district agriculture department has begun collecting farmers' information to implement this system, which aims to eventually include all farmers in the district. Md. Kamruzzaman, deputy director of DAE, highlighted that many farmers often apply for more fertilizer than necessary due to a lack of understanding about recommended doses for different crops. This practice not only raises production costs but also disrupts the fertilizer supply chain and harms soil fertility.
The initiative involves fertilizer dealers affiliated with the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), who have been tasked with preparing fertilizer cards for farmers in their areas. Each card will include the farmer's National Identity Card (NID) number, photograph, and information about the size of their cultivable land. Farmers can then purchase the prescribed amounts of fertilizers from authorized dealers and sub-dealers by presenting the card.
The cards will specify recommended quantities of urea, TSP, DAP, and MOP fertilizers for various crops, such as paddy, wheat, and onions, based on farm size. Purchases will be recorded on the card, indicating the quantity, crop name, and date of distribution to prevent excess purchases.
The system aims to help the department monitor fertilizer consumption across different areas, ensuring fair distribution among marginal farmers and preventing the misuse of subsidized fertilizers for unauthorized purposes like tobacco cultivation. The initiative has already commenced in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila and will gradually extend to other parts of the district.
Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers at union and block levels are collecting the necessary data and overseeing the process. The agriculture department initiated this program following complaints from farmers about irregularities and shortages in fertilizer distribution, especially for crops other than Aman paddy.
Local farmers have expressed optimism about the new system. Mehedi Hasan from Kashimpur village and Khanjahan Ali from Ramnagar village noted that the card system could bring discipline to fertilizer distribution and help apply fertilizers in recommended quantities according to soil and crop needs. Jafar Molla, a fertilizer dealer in Tribeni union, emphasized that the system would enhance transparency and accountability by keeping records of farmers' landholdings and fertilizer needs.
Kamruzzaman stated that the department frequently received complaints regarding fertilizer distribution, which prompted the introduction of this initiative to foster discipline, transparency, and accountability. He added that the balanced and crop-specific fertilizer application would lower production costs, enhance crop quality, and safeguard long-term soil fertility. The department plans to extend the fertilizer card system to all farmers in the district.