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What went wrongA fertiliser dealer firm at Bandaber Bazar, Rowmari, Kurigram

750 sacks in the warehouse, 1,000 farmers at the gate: a fertiliser dealer loses Tk 15,000 when the fence is broken

In Rowmari, Kurigram, about 1,000 farmers gathered at a fertiliser dealer's warehouse and, amid pushing, broke the fence and door and took around 50 sacks. Equal union-wise allocation, sales points that open only every few days and supply below demand had built up the pressure on the dealer.

At Bandaber Bazar in Rowmari upazila, Kurigram, about 1,000 farmers gathered one Monday morning at the warehouse of a government-designated fertiliser dealer. According to the firm, 750 sacks of fertiliser were stored there at the time. Amid pushing and jostling, the warehouse fence and door were broken and some people took away around 50 sacks; several later returned fertiliser and money. The firm claimed losses of around Tk 15,000. Local farmers said the dealers' sales points are not open every day; because they open only after gaps of several days, large numbers of farmers arrive at once, and it was the frustration of waiting long without getting fertiliser that led to the incident. The allocation rule adds to the strain: every union gets the same quantity, yet Bandaber has 8,528 farmers and neighbouring Shoulmari 6,858, so fertiliser runs out quickly where there are more farmers. With no flooding this year, rice area in the upazila rose by 1,625 hectares, but allocations did not rise to match: 2,040 tonnes of urea against demand of about 2,095 tonnes, and 510 tonnes of TSP and 900 tonnes of DAP against demand of about 1,676 tonnes each. After the incident the administration decided to sell fertiliser through retailers too. As a trial, 40 sacks went to nine retail shops; one retailer received 200 kg at around 7 am and sold it all within an hour. Another dealer in the upazila sadar said it was difficult to tackle the shortage through dealers' outlets alone. Earlier, on 23 August, 225 sacks were taken from another dealer's warehouse at Dhuldanga Bazar in Bhurungamari, and 115 were later returned; that dealer was served a show-cause notice over allegations of late supply and cash-memo discrepancies.

Lessons

  1. 1.If you sell allocated fertiliser, keep the sales point open on regular, fixed days; opening only every few days brings everyone at once and raises the risk.
  2. 2.Tell the administration and police before a distribution and hand out in stages, by ward or by slip, so the crowd does not overwhelm the warehouse.
  3. 3.Keep allocation and cash-memo records in order; complaints of late supply or discrepancies can bring a show-cause notice against the dealership itself.

Published with the person's permission, without revealing who they are.

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