Dhaka, Sept 25 (UNB) — Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said that fertilizer prices will not be increased despite the hike in fuel prices.

There is no shortage of fertilizer in the country. Necessary steps including import arrangements have already been taken to avert any possible deficit in the next fiscal year. Besides, the previous syndicate in the fertilizer supply system has been dismantled, the adviser told reporters at the Secretariat while speaking on the progress of the agriculture sector.

He further said that although the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission recently decided to increase gas prices for fertilizer factories and a public hearing has been called on the matter next month, fertilizer prices in the market will remain unchanged. He also pledged to curb fertilizer smuggling.

Speaking about crop production, the adviser said that the country produced 1.5 million metric tonnes of rice more than the target in the last fiscal year.

On the potato market situation, he noted that potatoes are being sold at less than Tk 20 per kg in the wholesale market, leaving farmers at a loss.

Due to excess production, potato prices have fallen. To ensure fair prices, the government has fixed the minimum price of potatoes at Tk 22 per kg at the cold storage gate. Besides, the government will purchase 50,000 metric tonnes of potatoes directly from farmers,” Jahangir added.