Enough Fertiliser in Stock, No Shortage: Razzaque

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Monday told parliament that there is sufficient stock of fertiliser in the country against the demand, reports UNB.

“The amount of stocked fertiliser is enough against the demand. There is no shortage,” he said, replying to a starred question from ruling party MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury (Bhola-3).

The minister placed statistics in the House over the stock of fertilisers till March 22 and their demands in April.

The amount of stored urea is 4,75,000 tonnes against the possible demand of 70,000 tonnes in April, as per the statistics.

Besides, the stock of TSP is 1,86,000 tonnes against the demand of 22,000 tonnes, while MOP is 3,41,000 tonnes against the demand of 21,000 tonnes and DAP 3,89,000 tonnes against the demand of 51,000 tonnes.

Razzaque said the production in the country’s different fertiliser factories and the import of fertilisers will also continue.

It was estimated that the demand for urea is 26,00,000 tonnes in the country in the 2021-22 fiscal year, while that for TSP is 7,50,000 tonnes, MOP is 7,50,000 tonnes and DAP is 16,50,000 tonnes, he said.

Alongside the local production, BCIC, BADC and private firms are importing the necessary amount of fertilisers to the country, as per the estimated demand, the minister added.  

Meanwhile, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury told Parliament that some Tk 832 crore was collected as land development taxes in the last fiscal year 2020-21 through the land offices across the country.

The amount was only Tk 224 crore in the 2008-09 fiscal year, he said replying to a scripted question from AL MP Mamunur Rashid Kiron (Noakhali-3).