Country has sufficient fertilizer reserve: Agriculture Secretary

Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian today said there will be no crisis of fertilizer till December this year as the country has sufficient stock of urea and non-urea fertilizers.

“There is no reason to worry over fertilizer till December next,” he said while exchanging views with the executive committee of Bangladesh Agriculture Reporters’ Forum (BARF) at his office, said a press release.

BARF President Rafiqul Islam Sabuj, General Secretary Kawsar Azam, Finance Secretary Aynal Hossain, Office Secretary Faruk Ahmed Arif, Training and Research Secretary Shawkat Ali Palash, Executive Member Munna Raihan and Haralal Roy Sagar were present.

Emdad Ullah Mian said process is underway to give incentives to flood-affected farmers in several phases. The government has allocated Tk 193 crore for flood-hit agricultural rehabilitation, he said, adding that the farmers in the flood-hit districts will come under this rehabilitation programmes.

Over 14 lakh farmers in 23 districts have suffered losses in the flood, but 11 of those districts were the worst sufferers, he said, adding that a total of 372,733 hectares of arable land were affected.

The floods damaged crops of around 10 lakh tons, including paddy, vegetables and fruits which is equivalent to Tk 3,346 crore. (BSS)