The government will not increase fertiliser prices under any circumstances to maintain the sound growth of crop production, the agriculture minister has said.
Before taking any step to review fertiliser prices at the retail level, the government will discuss it with experts, civil society, intellectuals, media and farmers, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said at a media briefing on the overall condition of stock, prices and subsidies of fertiliser' on Monday.
"Tk 190 billion has already been subsidised for fertiliser and other inputs in the current financial year while another Tk 90 billion will be spent until June for the same purpose", he said.
"We are working to make a check and balance so that such higher subsidies wouldn't affect other development works," Mr Razzaque said.
Farm inputs, including fertiliser, have witnessed a skyrocketing trend across the globe fuelling up government subsidies, the agriculture minister pointed out.
The agri input import from Belarus has almost stopped while fertiliser is being imported from Russia, China, Middle-East and elsewhere in the world, he added.
Freight charge has also increased significantly contributing to a further hike in fertiliser prices, the agriculture minister said.
He hoped that prices of all farm inputs across the world will come down soon.
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