Staff reporter:
The country’s chemical fertilizer stock has increased by 262,100 metric ton (MT), from 13.45 lakh MT to 16,07,100 MT in the last four months (July-October) of FY2026-27 compared to the corresponding period of FY26.
The stock is ‘satisfactory’ and expected to ensure an adequate supply ahead of the upcoming Rabi season, said officials from the Agriculture Ministry and other government departments concerned.
Meanwhile, the government has instructed Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Deputy Directors of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) to determine actual demand and ensure proper distribution to prevent any artificial crisis, said the officials.
They believe safeguarding the country’s overall agricultural production and food security require coordination, demand-based planning and close monitoring of stock levels at the field-level.
However, the current stocks comprise 606,900 MT of urea, 407,000 MT of TSP, 331,100 MT of DAP and 262,100 MT of MOP fertilizers, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
The total fertilizer demand for the current 2026-27 fiscal year has been set at 58.05 lakh MT.
Ministry officials said a total of 1,950,500 MT of fertilizer had been distributed across the country from the beginning of the fiscal year until November 2.
Of the total, 874,300 MT were urea, 275,300 MT TSP, 463,000 MT DAP and 337,900 MT MOP fertilizers.
Besides, a total of 714,200 MT of fertilizer has been allocated for November to meet farmers’ demand.
Specific instructions have been issued to field-level officials to ensure error-free management of fertilizer demand and stocks.
These include ensuring the proper lifting of allocations based on the demand for urea, TSP, DAP and MOP fertilizers during the ongoing season; promptly identifying potentially shortage-prone upazilas through comparative analyses of previous demand, allocations and stocks; determining the actual demand for the upcoming Rabi season and preparing advance stock and supply plans; and ensuring that Deputy Directors accurately assess field-level demand and submit information on time.
They have also been instructed to completely refrain from submitting either inflated or understated demand estimates under any circumstances.
Field-level officials have also been instructed to take several measures to ensure proper fertilizer distribution and prevent any form of disorder.
These include displaying price lists and stock information prominently at every dealer’s shop to ensure fertilizer sales at government-fixed prices.
Mobile courts and regular drives must be conducted to prevent hoarding, the creation of artificial shortages, overcharging and illegal smuggling across the border.
Farmer cards and farmers’ lists must be used to ensure that fertilizers reach genuine farmers at fair prices.
Strict monitoring must also be maintained to prevent misuse of agricultural fertilizers in industrial establishments.
Regular meetings of district and upazila fertilizer monitoring committees must be held and their decisions implemented.
Stock and sales reports must also be submitted to the districts on a daily or weekly basis.
Officials have been instructed to immediately inform the Ministry of Agriculture if any problems or limitations arise in fertilizer management.
Special emphasis has been placed on ensuring, through coordinated efforts by Deputy Commissioners and Deputy Directors that no farmer suffers in any way due to a shortage of fertilizer.
Asked about the matter, DAE Director General Md. Abdur Rahim told BSS that the DAE and field administration were working actively to ensure that fertilizers reach farmers’ doorsteps on time and at fair prices ahead of the upcoming Rabi season.
He said the fertilizer stock situation this year was highly satisfactory compared to last year, and adequate quantities of fertilizer are currently available.
He said Deputy Directors and field-level officials were working tirelessly to dispel any confusion among farmers and eliminate concerns over possible artificial shortages.
Urging farmers not to purchase more fertilizer than they need and store it at home, he said all farmers would receive the fertilizer they require.
“We are maintaining strict monitoring to ensure that no dealer can create an artificial shortage and that genuine farmers receive their fertilizers on time,” he said.
Abdur Rahim said the country had been divided into 14 regions, with 14 officers appointed to coordinate the government’s specific plans and the activities of the field administration.
Agriculture Secretary Md. Selim Khan told BSS that the government was working with the highest priority to ensure agricultural production and food security for farmers across the country during the upcoming Rabi season.
He said it was reassuring that the fertilizer stock situation this season was highly satisfactory compared to last year and that adequate quantities of fertilizer were currently available.
He said the field administration and the Department of Agricultural Extension were maintaining strict monitoring to ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supplies to farmers.
Strict instructions had been issued to district administrations and concerned officials to ensure that farmers were not harassed under any circumstances through the creation of artificial shortages.
The Agriculture Secretary said another encouraging development was that the country had achieved a bumper Aman harvest this year as well due to strict monitoring.
He said the northern region of the country was the agricultural hub and a major source of the country’s food security.
Considering the intensity of cropping in the region and to ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supplies to farmers during the upcoming Rabi season, the Ministry of Agriculture has assigned 26 senior officials as fertilizer management monitoring officers in 26 districts of Rajshahi, Khulna and Rangpur.
The Secretary said that, due to the government’s specific plans, timely lifting of fertilizers and coordinated measures, there would be no fertilizer shortage in the country during the Rabi season, and farmers would receive fertilizers on time at fair prices.
