Steps taken to raise DAP fertiliser production

The government has taken measures to increase DAP fertiliser production for boosting agriculture production aiming to help avoid possible food shortages due to coronavirus pandemic.

Under the move, the ministry of industries (MoI) has asked DAP Fertilizer Company Ltd in Chattogram through Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to gear up its production for fulfilling the growing demand of DAP fertiliser among the farmers.

"We started gearing up our efforts for producing more DAP fertiliser," DAP Fertiliser Company Managing Director Abdur Rahim told the FE on Thursday.

He said the factory has already produced 64,076 tonnes of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) fertiliser until Thursday (May 7, 2020) against its original set target 60,000 tonnes for fiscal year 2019-20 (FY '20).

He said better understanding between the workers and the management of the factory have helped surpass DAP fertiliser production target during the current fiscal.

The factory has surpassed its DAP production target 70 days before its original deadline due to timely decision taken by the MoI and cooperation extended to it by the BCIC.

"Sincere efforts and hard work by the officials and workers of the factory have helped us surpass our production target during the current fiscal year," Mr Rahim mentioned.

He said the factory is now running in full-swing and it might produce over 75,000 tonnes of DAP fertiliser during the current financial year.

The DAP is one of the vital inputs for agricultural productions, including Rabi crops. Its annual demand in the country is now around 0.9 million tonnes.

Out of the total, a big chunk of the fertiliser comes through import by Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC).

The demand for DAP fertiliser in the country is increasing day by day.

The Urea fertiliser has nitrogen and TSP fertiliser has phosphorous. But the DAP has both nitrogen and phosphorus, helping it to be more effective for cultivating paddy, vegetables, Rabi and other varieties of crops easily.

Considering the farmers and country's interests and food security the government has significantly reduced the prices of DAP.

The government has re-fixed a tonne of DAP fertiliser at Tk 14,000 per tonne at the dealer level in December last year from previous price at Tk 23,000.

The price cut has inspired/prompted many farmers to use DAP instead of Urea considering both competitive prices and effectiveness for cultivation of agricultural products.

The DAP fertiliser contains 18 per cent of nitrogen (ammonia form) and 46 per cent phosphate (equivalent of TSP fertiliser/46 per cent or P2o5).

As a result farmers get the benefits of Urea and TSP fertilisers by using only DAP fertiliser. The agriculture production cost has reduced significantly due to the price reduction of DAP.

Mr Rahim said the increased production of DAP fertilizer has also helped save a lot of foreign currencies.

"All we are working hard with utmost sincerity to increase the production of fertiliser locally so to save foreign currencies for import of fertilisers," he added.

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