Bangladesh’s agricultural sector stands at a critical juncture. As the backbone of the nation’s food security, our farmers are grappling with a multi-pronged crisis that threatens not only their livelihoods but also the overall stability of our food system. Rising fertilizer prices, inadequate irrigation, and soaring cold storage costs are converging to create a perfect storm that demands immediate and comprehensive policy reforms.
The fertilizer crisis is perhaps the most glaring issue at the moment. With government-fixed prices failing to hold in the market, essential fertilizers like urea, TSP, DAP, and MOP are now sold at rates significantly above the official price. This price surge, combined with rising costs of seeds, pesticides, and diesel, has pushed our farmers into an increasingly precarious financial position. The Boro season, crucial for rice production, is particularly vulnerable. Any disruption in fertilizer supply during this critical period could have far-reaching consequences, exacerbating inflation and leading to food shortages across the nation.
Irrigation woes further compound these challenges. The mismanagement of water resources—exemplified by the disrepair of key irrigation projects like the Ganges-Kobadak project in Kushtia—has left farmers with limited access to the water they desperately need. Restrictions on deep tube wells, especially in water-scarce regions such as Rajshahi and Naogaon, add another layer of complexity. Rather than engaging with the farming community to develop sustainable and efficient water management solutions, unilateral decisions have only deepened the crisis, sometimes with tragic outcomes.
Adding to the mounting pressures is the recent spike in cold storage costs. Potato farmers in Rajshahi, among others, are bearing the brunt of exorbitant storage fees that have effectively doubled over the past year. With the cost of storing produce becoming financially unsustainable, farmers are forced to sell their goods at lower prices, thereby ceding market control to large traders and middlemen. This not only undermines the farmers’ bargaining power but also destabilizes the market, creating a vicious cycle that further erodes the rural economy.
These interlinked crises reveal a broader systemic failure. Despite agriculture’s pivotal role in ensuring food security and generating employment, the sector has long been neglected by policymakers. Powerful corporate interests and intermediaries dominate the supply chain, leaving the voices of genuine farmers marginalized. Subsidies and incentives, intended to support the agricultural community, often fail to reach those who need them the most.
The time for incremental fixes has passed. The government must prioritize agricultural reform by addressing the structural issues head-on. This includes boosting local fertilizer production, investing in sustainable irrigation infrastructure, regulating storage fees, and, most importantly, ensuring that the policies enacted are farmer-centric. Without urgent and thoughtful intervention, Bangladesh risks not only a food security crisis but also the erosion of a sector that is the lifeblood of our nation.
