[🇧🇩] Agriculture in Bangladesh

[Krishna with Flute]

Farmers struggle to buy non-urea fertilisers at govt rates

From the Aman paddy season to the current winter vegetable cultivation, farmers in many districts have been unable to purchase fertilisers at government-fixed prices.

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Farmers struggle to buy non-urea fertilisers at govt rates
DAE officials blame dishonest dealers for creating an artificial crisis

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Farmers across the country face fertiliser shortages and inflated prices as dishonest dealers exploit government allocations, leaving winter crops, especially potatoes, undersupplied. The photo was taken in Gaibandha’s Gobindaganj upazila yesterday. Photo: Mostafa Shabuj

From the Aman paddy season to the current winter vegetable cultivation, farmers in many districts have been unable to purchase fertilisers at government-fixed prices.

Farmers and government officials allege that dishonest traders are exploiting an "artificial crisis," particularly for non-urea fertilisers, making extra profits while supplies remain insufficient for winter crops. Potato farmers in northern districts are among the worst affected.

In Bogura, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Kushtia, and Patuakhali, farmers reported paying Tk 200-Tk 600 more per 50kg-sack than the government rates for non-urea fertilisers.

Shahidul Islam, a farmer from Baneshwar village in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila, said, "I bought a sack of TSP (Triple Super Phosphate) for Tk 1,800, although the government-fixed price is Tk 1,350. I also paid Tk 1,500 for DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) instead of Tk 1,050. Fertiliser is only available if you pay the dealers extra, and even then, they refuse to give purchase receipts."

Helal Mridha from Rajahar village of the upazila added, "Fertilisers are sold at government rates only when officials raid dealerships. Mobile courts fine the dealers, but they recover the cost from us. In reality, the punishment falls on farmers. If dealers were jailed instead of just fined, they would not dare to do this again."

Over the past week, farmers in Patgram, Hatibandha, and Kaliganj upazilas of Lalmonirhat, and Nageshwari, Bhurungamari, and Ulipur upazilas of Kurigram blocked roads demanding fertiliser at government-fixed prices, vandalising four fertiliser shops.

In response, local administration seized around 12,000 sacks of illegally stockpiled fertiliser, and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials fined five dealers Tk 6 lakh for hoarding.

"We blocked roads demanding fertiliser, but we are still not getting it as needed. I am receiving 60 percent less fertiliser than required," said Sahidar Rahman, 65, from Kaliganj.

Subash Chandra Barman, 60, from Raiganj village, Nageshwari, added, "Dealers keep farmers running in circles for a single sack of fertiliser, secretly selling to retailers at higher prices and supplying only small quantities."

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DEALERS DENY OVERPRICING

Abdul Hakim, president of the Lalmonirhat District Fertiliser Dealers Association, said, "Shortages happen because allocations are lower than demand. No dealer sells fertiliser at higher prices, and fertiliser is not sold to anyone other than farmers."

DAE officials described the situation as "artificial," claiming some traders are deliberately creating scarcity to make extra profits.

"There is no real shortage based on government allocation. Mobile courts are already operating against such practices," said Md Saykhul Arifin, deputy director of Lalmonirhat DAE.

AKM Sadikul Islam, deputy director of Joypurhat DAE, said, "Mobile court drives have been conducted across different upazilas this season to stop overpricing and hoarding.

"We fined eight BCIC (Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation) and BADC (Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation) dealers a total of Tk 25,000 for selling fertiliser at inflated prices and keeping illegal stocks."

Bhabesh Sen, 43, from Thakurgaon Sadar, said, "I had to pay Tk 1,800 for each sack of TSP instead of Tk 1,350, and Tk 1,150 for MOP (Muriate of Potash) instead of Tk 1,000 for my one-acre potato crop."

Arshadul Haque, 35, from Sahapara village in Panchagarh, added, "I could not find TSP at Sakoya Bazar for my Boro seedbed and later had to buy DAP instead."

Sazzad Selim from Rosea village in Panchagarh said, "Each sack of TSP is being sold for Tk 1,900 to Tk 2,000, DAP for Tk 1,400, and MOP for Tk 1,150."

Enamul Haque, a BCIC dealer in Gareya union, Thakurgaon Sadar, denied a shortage, saying, "We are distributing fertilisers to farmers who have been given slips by the agriculture office."

Md Mazedul Islam, deputy director of DAE in Thakurgaon, added, "There is no fertiliser crisis in the markets. Supplies are available."

PATUAKHALI WATERMELON FARMERS FACE SHORTAGE

In Patuakhali, watermelon farmers are struggling at the start of the cultivation season. According to the local DAE office, 26,400 tonnes of fertiliser were needed in December, but only 4,242 tonnes have been supplied.

Masud Fakir, cultivating watermelon on 3.22 acres in Rangabali, said, "I need at least 40 sacks, but could only buy 10, and at higher prices. I paid Tk 1,500 per sack of urea and TSP instead of the government-fixed Tk 1,350."

Trader Kamal Pasha said, "We are not receiving fertiliser as per our demand. Last week, I requested 200 bags but received only 40."

Aminul Islam, deputy director of DAE in Patuakhali, claimed there is no official report of a fertiliser crisis but promised to take necessary steps.

According to the DAE in Kushtia, six upazilas required 5,927 tonnes of TSP, 6,802 tonnes of DAP, and 7,095 tonnes of MOP in December. Only 1,840 tonnes of TSP, 3,432 tonnes of DAP, and 2,331 tonnes of MOP were allocated.

Md Showkat Hossain Bhuiyan, deputy director of DAE, said, "The issue was discussed at a recent meeting with higher authorities. Upazila-level officials raised the matter, and discussions are ongoing on whether additional allocations are needed."

Our correspondents from Lalmonirhat, Jamalpur, Bogura, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Thakurgaon, Kushtia, and Patuakhali contributed to this report.​

@Saif,

Go for organic farming. BD farmers will save a lot of money, will get handsome income from dairy product and dependance of Organic farming will reduce. In India, there are models where one farmer does farming in 30 acre with organic fertilizer received from one cow only. Desi seeds, organic farming. It will require loss less water for farming, quality of food will improve like anything, health of people will improve, very low cost of producing organic products. However, BD will have to stop seeing pet animals as food to do that. Unless you do that, you can not do organic farming.

 

[Saif]

@Saif,

Go for organic farming. BD farmers will save a lot of money, will get handsome income from dairy product and dependance of Organic farming will reduce. In India, there are models where one farmer does farming in 30 acre with organic fertilizer received from one cow only. Desi seeds, organic farming. It will require loss less water for farming, quality of food will improve like anything, health of people will improve, very low cost of producing organic products. However, BD will have to stop seeing pet animals as food to do that. Unless you do that, you can not do organic farming.

We cannot increase our agricultural output due to paucity of land. We can gain some advantage by using modern technology but the agricultural output will remain less than the demand for 175 million people. We need to reclaim land from Bay of Bengal to augment agricultural output and to save the environment from pollution.

 

[Vsdoc]

 

[Krishna with Flute]

We cannot increase our agricultural output due to paucity of land. We can gain some advantage by using modern technology but the agricultural output will remain less than the demand for 175 million people. We need to reclaim land from Bay of Bengal to augment agricultural output and to save the environment from pollution.

That is true. In dry villages of Rajasthan, farmers earning millions by doing Green house, poly house, Hydroponics, vertical farming etc. Go for it. It will take some time to master the technology but once farmers gets a grip over the same, there will be the raining of money and lots of organic food to eat.

 

[Saif]

Farmers of early varieties of potato hit by old stock glut

This year, the price gap between new and old potatoes has narrowed significantly

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Farmers of early varieties of potato hit by old stock glut
This year, the price gap between new and old potatoes has narrowed significantly

Farmers who cultivated early varieties of potatoes are once again incurring losses as prices of newly harvested tubers remain unusually low due to an oversupply of older stock in the market.

Fresh potatoes are traditionally sold at a premium for their aroma and taste, particularly when supplies of new harvests are limited.

This year, however, the price gap between new and old potatoes has narrowed significantly, undermining farmers' expectations.

Growers say they had a bumper harvest last winter and had to accept low rates, which pushed many close to bankruptcy. Now, rising production costs have made the prevailing prices of early varieties unsustainable.

According to potato farmers, production costs stand at around Tk 30 per kilogramme (kg) this season, while wholesale prices hover between Tk 28 and Tk 30.

In Dhaka's retail markets, new potatoes are selling for around Tk 35 per kg, with traders purchasing them from farmers at below Tk 30.

Smaller-sized new potatoes are fetching even lower prices, between Tk 25 and Tk 30 per kg, close to the Tk 20-25 per kg price of old potatoes.

"The market is still flooded with old potatoes, which is keeping prices of new ones down," said Arif Hossain, a retail trader in Mirpur. He said he bought fresh potatoes at Tk 28 per kg and is selling them at Tk 35.

According to data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, both new and old potatoes were selling at Tk 60-70 per kg in mid-December last year.

Early potato varieties are planted in early October and harvested within 60-65 days, reaching markets from early December. This season, however, farmers say adverse weather and high input costs have compounded their difficulties.

Nabin Chandra Sarkar, a farmer from Rangpur Sadar upazila, said continuous rainfall during planting made it difficult to protect crops. "Despite all the effort, the price is far below expectations. Even early potatoes are now being sold at a loss."

Dilbar Rahman, a farmer from the Teesta riverine area of Lalmonirhat, said he spent Tk 6.20 lakh cultivating early potatoes on 10 bighas of land but earned only Tk 5.70 lakh from sales. "Last year, I made a profit of around Tk 200,000 on the same land."

Farmers from Kurigram district reported similar losses.

Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, president of the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, said around 500,000 tonnes of potatoes remain in cold storage, although facilities are usually cleared by December 10. "The faster the stock is cleared, the lower the losses."

Bangladesh produced about 1.15 crore tonnes of potatoes last winter, far exceeding domestic demand. The association estimates annual demand at 80-90 lakh tonnes, including household consumption, industrial use, and seed.

With supply outpacing demand, farmers were forced to sell potatoes below production costs.

Sirajul Islam, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Rangpur, said farmers are frustrated despite good yields, as market prices are too low to cover costs.

Mohammad Jahangir Alam, professor of agribusiness and marketing at Bangladesh Agricultural University, said declining purchasing power amid rising poverty has also contributed to weaker demand.​

 

[Saif]

Wheat cultivation target set at 7,275 hectares in Dinajpur

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target to cultivate wheat on 7,275 hectares of land in the district during the current season, aiming to boost production and meet the country’s growing demand...

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Wheat cultivation target set at 7,275 hectares in Dinajpur
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dinajpur 23 December, 2025, 23:23

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target to cultivate wheat on 7,275 hectares of land in the district during the current season, aiming to boost production and meet the country’s growing demand.

Deputy director of DAE Md. Afzal Hossain said the cultivation target covers all 13 upazilas of the district, with a production goal of 3.75 metric tons per hectare. If the target is achieved, total wheat production in the district is expected to reach around 25,650 metric tons.

Md. Afzal Hossain said that the weather conditions this season are favorable for wheat cultivation. He expressed optimism that, barring any natural disasters, production may exceed the set target.

Farmers began cultivating early wheat varieties such as BARI-25, BARI-26 and BARI-27 from November 15, and the crops have already sprouted. Wheat varieties including BARI-27, 28, 30, 31 and 32 will continue to be sown until December 31.

Following the harvest of Aman paddy, farmers have been busy preparing land using organic manure and cow dung to increase yields. High-yielding wheat seeds, particularly BARI-30, 31 and 32, have been supplied by the Department of Agriculture, with the expected yield set at 3.75 tons per hectare.

To support cultivation, irrigation facilities using electric-powered machines have been ensured. Drainage systems have also been installed in advance to protect crops from potential damage caused by storms or heavy rainfall.

The deputy director added that the initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on wheat imports. The Wheat Research Institute is supplying improved high-yielding seed varieties, while agricultural field workers are providing continuous guidance to farmers across the district.

In recent years, wheat cultivation has expanded beyond highlands to include medium lands and river-side char areas. According to agriculture department sources, wheat was cultivated on 6,210 hectares in Dinajpur last year, producing 23,287 metric tons at an average yield of 3.75 tons per hectare.​

 

[Saif]

Potato cultivation exceeds target in Rangpur agricultural region

Potato farmers in the Rangpur agricultural region have already exceeded the potato cultivation target by one per cent as sowing continues this season with the expectation of an all-time record yield.

www.newagebd.net

Potato cultivation exceeds target in Rangpur agricultural region
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Rangpur 27 December, 2025, 01:22

Potato farmers in the Rangpur agricultural region have already exceeded the potato cultivation target by one per cent as sowing continues this season with the expectation of an all-time record yield. | BSS Photo

Potato farmers in the Rangpur agricultural region have already exceeded the potato cultivation target by one per cent as sowing continues this season with the expectation of an all-time record yield.

Meanwhile, early varieties of potato have started to appear in local markets in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts of the region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension said that an all-time record target of producing 2,519,008 tonnes of potatoes from 1,01,700 hectares of land has been fixed for the region during the current Rabi season.

‘Farmers have already brought 105,600 hectares of land, higher by one per cent against the fixed farming target, under potato cultivation,’ additional director of the DAE’s Rangpur region, agriculturist Md Shirajul Islam, told BSS.

Sowing of potato seeds will continue till January next both in the mainland and char areas of all five districts in the region.

Meanwhile, farmers are continuing to harvest early varieties of potatoes cultivated after harvesting short-duration Aman rice on the same land since late October and early November last.

‘Farmers have already harvested early varieties of potatoes from 6,367 hectares of land and produced 89,318 tonnes of the tuber crop at an excellent average yield of 14.03 tonnes per hectare,’ he said.

Farmers are showing more interest in potato cultivation both in the mainland and char areas after receiving special incentives and assistance from the interim government and due to repeated bumper outputs every year.

The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute and related agri-organizations are providing quality potato seeds and assistance to farmers to make the potato farming programme a success.

‘Officials of the DAE and other related organizations are providing the latest technologies to farmers for proper nursing of potato fields to ensure better yields even in the face of the sweeping cold wave across the region this season,’ Shirajul added.

Deputy director of the DAE’s Burirhat Horticulture Centre in Rangpur, agriculturist Dr Md Abu Sayem, said that farmers were cultivating potatoes with greater enthusiasm after receiving government assistance.

‘Officials of the DAE and other agriculture-related organizations are providing the latest technologies to farmers for proper sowing of potato seeds, agronomic management and nursing of tender potato plants to achieve maximum yield,’ he said.

Farmers Nur Mohammad, Bulbul Hossain, Jahangir Alam and Anwar Hossain of different villages in Rangpur said that they were earning excellent profits from harvesting early varieties of potatoes cultivated after harvesting short-duration Aman rice.

‘After harvesting early varieties of potatoes, we are preparing for Boro rice cultivation on the same land,’ said farmer Isahaque Ali of village Kathihara in Rangpur Sadar.

Former president of Rangpur Chamber, Mustafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu, emphasised the need to establish more agro-based industries for storage and export of potato products to ensure fair prices and encourage farmers to expand potato cultivation.​

 

[Saif]

Potato Paradox: Just another curry on the rice plate? This will not solve the price problem

Punishing retail prices during low output and throwaway rates during bumper harvests have become a familiar cycle for potato farmers. The swings are recurring and costly, leaving as many as half a crore growers exposed to debt in good years and public anger in bad ones.

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Potato Paradox: Just another curry on the rice plate? This will not solve the price problem

Punishing retail prices during low output and throwaway rates during bumper harvests have become a familiar cycle for potato farmers. The swings are recurring and costly, leaving as many as half a crore growers exposed to debt in good years and public anger in bad ones.

Yet agri experts and supply chain players say the problem has little to do with farmers, or even with production. Instead, it reflects how potatoes are treated in policy and planning.

Unlike many other countries, Bangladesh largely views the crop as just another vegetable eaten with rice, not as a basic industrial raw material.

That distinction matters. When production overshoots domestic demand, prices collapse. Farmers absorb the losses, while the economy misses out on value addition that could stabilise incomes and absorb surplus output.

Bangladesh is the world's seventh-largest potato producer. Still, it remains far behind global peers in industrial use of the tuber.

In China, about 15 percent of potato output goes into industrial processing. In the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United States, the share ranges from 60 percent to 65 percent. Russia and Ukraine process 20 percent to 30 percent, while neighbouring India, with similar food habits, uses 5 percent to 7 percent.

Bangladesh, by contrast, processes only 3 percent to 4 percent of its total output, according to industry insiders.

The difference is decisive. In countries where potatoes feed factories, surplus strengthens supply chains. In Bangladesh, surplus simply crashes prices.

After rice, potatoes are the second most produced crop in Bangladesh and a pillar of food security. Yet more than a quarter of output is lost after harvest, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, which points to weak storage, handling and processing capacity.

WRONG VARIETIES, WEAK PLANNING

Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director of Pran-RFL Group, the parent of the local agro processing giant Pran, said industrial processing is limited because most locally grown potatoes are table varieties, not processing-grade crops.

"These potatoes have high moisture and sugar content, which makes them unsuitable for products like French fries. They lose colour and become soft after frying," said Kamal.

Globally, potatoes used for fries, chips and flakes require dry matter of around 22.5 percent. But locally grown potatoes usually contain only 16 percent to 19 percent dry matter, according to scientists.

While potatoes are locally used at home to make chips, and in factories to produce crackers, biscuits and chanachur, the backward linkage industry for flakes and starch is still underdeveloped. Only one or two such factories are currently in production.

Kamal said farmers are not encouraged to grow processing varieties because crop planning is mostly individual-driven rather than coordinated. Many existing varieties are disease-prone, poorly adapted to climate stress and quick to spoil.

Inadequate storage, no grading and sorting at farm level, insufficient cold-chain infrastructure and limited warehousing have further constrained both industrial use and exports, added the Pran-RFL marketing director.

Khurshid Ahmad Farhad, general manager for international business and corporate affairs at Bombay Sweets and Company Limited, a popular food processing brand, said the absence of integrated crop planning and unpredictable weather has kept industrial processing from reaching scale.

Factories producing flakes, slices, chips and biscuits need potatoes of specific size and quality. Bangladesh does not produce enough of these at consistent volumes, he said. Even when quality potatoes are available, production costs are often far higher than international benchmarks, making local products uncompetitive.

"In recent times, costs have risen so sharply that a Dubai-based trader told me they could supply potato flakes at a lower price than we can," Farhad said.

Globally, the largest potato-based industrial products include mashed potatoes and French fries. In Bangladesh, suitable varieties have yet to be developed at a commercial scale, leaving much of the segment untapped.

Although government agencies hold relevant crop data, it is neither centrally coordinated nor used for forecasting, Farhad said. As a result, annual output swings widely between about 80 lakh tonnes and nearly 90 lakh tonnes, with no early warning for the industry.

"This uncertainty is the biggest obstacle. Planning depends on assured availability and consistent quality of raw materials," he said.

THE GLUT, THEN THE CRASH

Strong prices in the 2024 season encouraged farmers to expand potato acreage massively this year in the hope of better returns. Instead, excessive output triggered a severe glut and eventual price fall.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, potato production reached a record 1.15 crore tonnes last season, far above annual domestic demand of around 90 lakh tonnes.

Cultivated area rose 8 percent year-on-year to 4.92 lakh hectares in fiscal year 2024-25, while output increased 9 percent from 1.06 crore tonnes the previous year.

The oversupply sent field-level prices tumbling to Tk 9 to Tk 11 per kg, well below the estimated average production cost of Tk 14. In northern regions, costs were higher, at around Tk 20 per kg, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

For farmers, the result was debt rather than profit. For the economy, it was another missed chance to channel surplus into value-added uses.

'TYPICAL COLD STORAGE ONLY DELAYS LOSSES'

Bangladesh has expanded cold storage capacity to about 35-40 lakh tonnes. Processing capacity, however, is remarkably low.

Md Mohsin Ali, head of supply chain at Quasem Industries Limited, which produces Sun Chips, said processing capacity stands at just 70,000-80,000 tonnes.

The shortage of modern cold storage designed for processing-grade potatoes is one of the sector's biggest constraints, he said. "Therefore, typical cold storage facilities currently delay losses. It does not create value," he said. "Without factories that can absorb surplus, price crashes will continue."

In many countries, he said, potatoes are a staple food and a major industrial input. In Bangladesh, those consumption patterns and industrial linkages have yet to emerge.

According to Ali, weak policy support, lack of dedicated processing policies and limited investment in research and development are major barriers.

DEMAND EXISTS, QUALITY DOES NOT

Apart from the unavailability of commercial-grade potatoes, the shortage of premium-grade crops is visible even in high-end kitchens.

Md Ershad Ali, assistant sous chef at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, a five-star hotel, said they serve potatoes to their guests at every meal, with each buffet offering at least one potato dish.

Some international recipes, however, cannot be prepared with local potatoes due to inconsistent size and grading. Overseas, potatoes arrive uniformly graded and ready for consistent cuts and presentation. Local supplies vary widely.

The hotel uses about 500 kg of potatoes each week. That could rise to 800 kg if uniformly graded, high-quality potatoes were available, he said.

A POLICY BLIND SPOT

FH Ansary, managing director of ACI Agribusiness, said potatoes need to be viewed through four lenses: food, industry, environment and health.

"We treat potatoes as just a vegetable. Elsewhere, they are protein sources, pharmaceutical inputs, packaging material and industrial feedstock," he said.

Ansary said farmers focus on table potatoes because the market is guaranteed. Seeds of processing varieties are scarce, quality-based cultivation is limited, and there is no price assurance or buy-back mechanism.

"The bridge between farmers and industry is broken," he said. "Without it, neither industrial use nor price stability will be achieved."

M Masrur Reaz, chairman of local think tank Policy Exchange Bangladesh, said processed potatoes generate far higher value than fresh ones. Globally, fresh potatoes account for about half of export volume but only 20 percent of value. Processed potatoes make up a third of the volume yet generate more than half of the trade value.

In Bangladesh, processing is limited to 3 percent to 4 percent of output, while exports stand at just 62,000 tonnes, said the economist. "Without value addition, price crashes during bumper harvests will keep hurting farmers."

Agriculture contributes about 12 percent to the gross domestic product of Bangladesh. The processed food sector accounts for only 1.7 percent.

Mohammad Khurshid Alam, chief scientific officer at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari), said the short winter season limits dry matter accumulation in potatoes. Excessive use of urea further delays maturity and raises moisture content. He said contract farming and area-based zoning are important, with specific regions designated for processing and export varieties.

Other solutions, the scientist said, include developing high dry-matter varieties through public-private partnerships, expanding good agricultural practice certification, improving post-harvest management and rebuilding links between farmers and industry.​

 

[Saif]

Issues for govt to fix to deal with surplus agricultural output

A RECORD record potato harvest this season for farmers in the north has become a stark illustration of how abundance can paradoxically breed disaster. What should have been a period of relative prosperity has instead turned into a likely financial crisis as prices have plummeted to levels far...

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Issues for govt to fix to deal with surplus agricultural output

A RECORD record potato harvest this season for farmers in the north has become a stark illustration of how abundance can paradoxically breed disaster. What should have been a period of relative prosperity has instead turned into a likely financial crisis as prices have plummeted to levels far below production costs. Early potatoes, expected to bring a premium before the main harvest, are now sold for Tk 10–12 a kilogram, barely a half of what it cost to produce them. The situation is compounded by the lingering stock of the past season’s crop in cold storage, creating an unprecedented ‘double blow’ for growers who hoped for stable returns. Government efforts to safeguard the sector, including a minimum price announcement and plans for procurement, have largely remained unimplemented, leaving farmers to navigate the collapse unaided. Rising input costs, from fertiliser and fuel to labour, have exacerbated the imbalance between cost and revenue while weak market forecasting and ineffective regulation have allowed surplus supply to overwhelm demand. Beyond the immediate losses, the crisis exposes structural vulnerabilities in agricultural markets.

The crisis at hand underscores the urgent need for a cold storage system that is both accessible and efficiently managed. While the government has established 384 commercial cold storage units with a combined capacity of around 3.27 million tonnes and more than 650 low-cost attic-style facilities in village, the measures fall far short of the nation’s annual potato output of 11.5 million tonnes. Even where space exists, high storage rents, sometimes exceeding the market value of the potatoes, leave many farmers reluctant to store their crops while poorly maintained units risk spoilage. Expanding storage capacity, reducing costs and ensuring proper upkeep are essential first steps, but they should also be paired with investment in agricultural processing industry and value addition. Limited processing facilities, weak export channels and the absence of a coordinated cold-chain logistics network prevent surplus potatoes from reaching alternative markets. Without reforms to market regulation, price stabilisation mechanisms and a strategic push into processing and export infrastructure, any expansion in storage will merely postpone the inevitable price collapse. A comprehensive approach is needed, one that combines storage improvements, market management and processing initiatives to protect farmers and stabilise the sector against both seasonal and structural vulnerabilities.

The authorities should act decisively to prevent repeated losses. Expanding and properly managing cold storage, investing in processing and export infrastructure and enforcing market regulation are essential. Without these measures, farmers will continue to bear the brunt of surplus and price collapse, rural livelihood will be jeopardised and seasonal gluts will remain a persistent threat to both food security and agricultural stability.​

 

[Saif]

Chilly spell raises disease risk for winter crops

As a cold wave continues to grip the country, agricultural experts are warning that certain crops could face serious risks from the unusual weather, while others may benefit and thrive under these conditions..According to a press release issued today by the Bangladesh Agro-Meteorologic

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Chilly spell raises disease risk for winter crops

Farmers shield Boro seedlings with polythene as the cold wave threatens crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and onions, risking disease and stunted growth while some crops may thrive. The photo was taken in Manda upazila of Naogaon on December 31. Photo: Azahar Uddin

As a cold wave continues to grip the country, agricultural experts are warning that certain crops could face serious risks from the unusual weather, while others may benefit and thrive under these conditions.


According to a press release issued today by the Bangladesh Agro-Meteorological Information Service under the Department of Agricultural Extension, the cold weather is expected to affect multiple crops.


Potatoes are particularly vulnerable to late blight, while rice seedlings in seedbeds may be affected by scorch disease. Onions and garlic face tipburn, and onions can also develop purple blotch. Pulses are at risk of leaf spot, rust, and Stemphylium diseases. Mustard crops may develop white mould and leaf spot before flowering.

Limu Akter, senior scientific officer of the vegetable division at the Horticultural Research Center of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, said, "The current cold and damp weather is highly unfavourable for some winter vegetables, as it encourages the spread of serious diseases such as late blight and powdery mildew.


"Crops like potatoes, tomatoes, capsicum, and eggplant are particularly vulnerable, while cucurbit crops face an increased risk from powdery mildew. Prolonged adverse weather can stunt plant growth and greatly increase disease risks," she added.

Mahbuba Begum, principal scientific officer of the Tuber Crop Research Center in Gazipur, said, "The prevailing weather conditions are ideal for the initiation and rapid spread of late blight in potatoes.

"High humidity and cool conditions significantly increase the risk of infection, making potatoes the most vulnerable crop at this time. Other crops, such as sweet potatoes and mustard, are not facing major threats under the current conditions."


Begum advised, "To effectively control late blight, farmers should follow recommended management practices, including the regular application of fungicides at seven-day intervals.

"Timely preventive action is essential, as the disease can spread quickly once established, while most other crops remain largely unaffected by the current weather pattern."

Mohammad Khalequzzaman, director general of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, said that rice cultivation is extremely sensitive to temperature and sunlight, and growth can completely halt when temperatures fall below 10–13°C.

He added, "During the recent cold wave, a combination of low temperatures and lack of sunlight caused physiological growth stoppage, which can lead to cold injury, disease, and rotting if such conditions persist.

"However, the impact on rice at the seedling or seedbed stage was minimal, as growth is naturally paused during this period, allowing the plants to withstand short-term cold stress and recover once sunlight returns, and temperatures rise."

Khalequzzaman stressed, "Nighttime temperatures are the most critical factor for assessing potential damage. While prolonged cold spells can delay crop maturity and reduce yields, the recent seven-day cold wave was not severe enough to cause measurable losses.

"The situation would have been far more damaging if the rice had already been transplanted into open fields. At present, only Boro rice in seedbeds is being managed."

COLD WAVE CONTINUES

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), a cold wave is currently affecting 17 districts, with moderate to dense fog possible in some areas.

Earlier on December 26, the Met Office reported that a mild cold wave had hit Jashore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari.

Shahnaz Sultana, a meteorologist at BMD, said, "The unusually cold conditions in the country began on December 25. There was a brief period of sunlight on December 27, but persistent fog and overcast skies on December 28 and 29 prevented daytime warming.

"During this period, maximum daytime temperatures dropped significantly, while nighttime temperatures remained largely unchanged. The lack of sunlight made the days feel much colder, intensifying the impact of the cold spell."

The Bangladesh Agro-Meteorological Information Service also provided guidelines to help farmers prevent potential crop damage.

Experts warn that if the cold wave continues for several more days, crop production could be disrupted, yields may be lowered, and market prices could rise.​

 

[Saif]

BADC initiative transforms rice harvesting in Sunamganj

In a transformative move for agriculture in Bangladesh’s haor regions, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation has launched a comprehensive initiative to construct causeways, threshing floors, and sunning platforms, aimed at easing the...

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BADC initiative transforms rice harvesting in Sunamganj
United News of Bangladesh . Sunamganj 03 January, 2026, 01:24

The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation launches a comprehensive initiative to construct causeways, threshing floors and sunning platforms aimed at easing the harvesting, processing and transport of boro rice, in Sunamganj. | UNB photo

In a transformative move for agriculture in Bangladesh’s haor regions, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation has launched a comprehensive initiative to construct causeways, threshing floors, and sunning platforms, aimed at easing the harvesting, processing and transport of boro rice.

Causeways—earthen or paved routes connecting remote haor fields to main transport channels—are often the only lifelines for farmers during the crucial boro season. Yet, flooding and sudden hill torrents frequently stall transport, causing significant crop losses.


Responding to long-standing demands from farmers and local organisations, BADC’s initiative seeks to construct permanent causeways across approximately 10 kilometres of haor areas.

Complementing this, threshing and sunning floors will be built to reduce post-harvest losses, allowing rice to be quickly milled and dried even in the face of early floods or hill torrents.

Work on these facilities will commence in the current fiscal year in selected important haors, with plans to extend the project to other regions in phases.

The initiative falls under the Sylhet Division Project on Surface Water Management and Agricultural Productivity Enhancement, which has already begun in Sunamganj and surrounding districts, with a budget of nearly Tk 500 crore.

Scheduled for completion by 2029, the project encompasses causeway construction, fallow land rehabilitation, canal and hill stream excavation, farmer training, and other measures designed to boost agricultural productivity.

Once implemented, it is expected to provide irrigation benefits to 17,019 hectares of previously fallow land across Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts, producing an additional 51,058 tonnes of food.

In remote haor areas, five threshing floors and five sunning floors will be constructed to enable farmers to swiftly process and dry harvested rice.

Officials say that this dual infrastructure will not only reduce post-harvest losses but also facilitate faster transport, saving farmers time and money.

During the first year, around four kilometres of causeways will be paved in Sunamganj, accompanied by two threshing floors and two sunning floors.

The causeways will be eight feet wide and constructed with reinforced cement concrete, with design work for these facilities near completion.

Welcoming the project, retired professor Chittaranjan Talukdar said, ‘For the first time, the government has taken up the development of causeways under a formal project. This initiative will allow both road and boat transport, reduce crop losses, and save farmers’ costs and time.’

He emphasised that causeways should eventually be constructed across all major haors in phased programmes.

Mizanur Rahman, president of the Haor, River and Environment Protection Movement, described the project as ‘timely and crucial’, stressing the importance of climate-resilient and sustainable implementation, with input from experienced local farmers.

Project director Pronojit Kumar Dev said, ‘This five-year BADC project is extremely important and will bring revolutionary changes to haor agriculture. Construction of causeways, threshing, and sunning floors will significantly benefit the transport, drying, and milling of harvested crops, particularly during emergencies.’

With these measures, the long-standing challenges of transporting and processing rice in haor regions may finally begin to ease, promising a more secure and productive future for farmers across Sunamganj and the greater Sylhet division.​

 

[Saif]

Meeting fertiliser needs of Boro farmers

Chronic shortage of natural gas has been hampering fertiliser production especially at the five urea fertiliser-producing plants operated by the state-owned Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). But Boro being the country's major dry season rice crop (January-February its peak planting

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Meeting fertiliser needs of Boro farmers

Published :
Jan 10, 2026 00:59
Updated :
Jan 10, 2026 00:59

Chronic shortage of natural gas has been hampering fertiliser production especially at the five urea fertiliser-producing plants operated by the state-owned Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). But Boro being the country's major dry season rice crop (January-February its peak planting season), its demand for fertilisers needs to be urgently met. Reports have it that the fertiliser factories remain out of production for most the time of the year (from April to November) for want of gas supply. So, to meet the Boro season's requirement, the BCIC in a recent letter reportedly requested the authorities concerned including the energy and the finance ministries as well as Petrobangla to ensure supply of at least 197 MMCFD (million cubic feet per day) of gas for keeping at least four of its fertiliser plants operational for 11 months in a row. The BCIC is learnt to have sent a proposal to the Ministry of Industry (MoI) recently, urging necessary steps in line with the recommendations made by a committee formed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. It has also requested the authorities concerned for amendment to the order issued by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) for raising the supply of gas to197 MMCFD in order to maintain uninterrupted gas supply.

With the present level of gas supply, only two fertiliser plants could be run, producing between 0.9 and 1.1 million metric tonnes of fertiliser. But that is much less than the target of 1.8 million metric tonnes. It is worthwhile to note that urea constitutes about 80 per cent of BCIC's total fertiliser output. But the factories cannot run in full installed capacity of 3.1 million tonnes per year. In fact, all the fertiliser plants of the country together can produce only a fraction of the actual demand of different kinds of fertilisers used for the country's agriculture. According to a projection of Agricultural Ministry, the demand is for about 6.0 million metric tonnes for the fiscal year 2025-26. Notably, natural gas is the backbone of urea fertiliser production as it is the source of both the raw material and the fuel to run the plants. But it is not only the supply shortage of gas, its price is also an issue, which has seen a sharp rise.

As a result, the BCIC's current outstanding (unpaid) gas bills, as reported, stand at Tk20 billion. Also, the price the government has fixed for the locally produced fertiliser is far less than its production cost. In consequence, the BCIC plants have been constantly facing losses. But unlike in the case of imported fertilisers, the BCIC-produced fetiliser does not get any subsidy. To get around the gas scarcity and the related issues, the government had formed a high-powered panel, which reviewed the prospect of operating fertiliser plants with imported LNG (liquefied natural gas). However, the committee recommended that the four of the five urea plants be rather operated for 330 days at a stretch annually to produce at least 1.8 million metric tonnes of fertiliser. An average supply of 180.81MMCFD would be required for the purpose.

To make that possible, as the committee report further informed, domestic gas production has to be increased, which would save foreign currency as well as create jobs and so on. Undoubtedly, there cannot be a better idea than meeting natural gas requirement of the fertiliser plants from the domestic sources. Understandably, that would require devising a long-term strategy. But for the short-run, especially for the ongoing Boro planting season, the government must take urgent measures to ensure that the farmers get the required supply of fertilisers.​