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National Agriculture Policy

Fertilizers Policy:

Chemical fertilizer is one of the main inputs required for increasing crop production. The expansion of modern agricultural practices together with intensified cultivation has led to an increasing demand for fertilizers. It is, therefore, necessary to ensure timely supply of fertilizers to match the demand. As a result of unbalanced use of fertilizers, the fertility of land is declining on the one hand and the potential yield is not achieved on the other. In this respect, it is extremely important to adopt and implement such policies so as to encourage the farmers in using balanced fertilizers and at the same time protecting the soil fertility. As a broad principle of fertilizer use, a sustained increase in the productive capacity of land and its preservation in the long-run will get priority over the immediate yield improvement. In order to strengthen fertilizer management, following policies already adopted by the government will be continued:

• Steps already taken to popularize the use of granular urea as a means of reducing excessive use of urea fertilizers will be strengthened.
• The rules on 5-grades already introduced by the government in order to ensure the use of blended fertilizers will remain in force.
• Enforcement of concerned rules and regulations will be strengthened in order to ensure good quality of fertilizers at the farmers’ level.
• Appropriate programs for training, field demonstration, publicity, etc. will be extended further so as to encourage farmers in using balanced fertilizers.

The use of organic manure, bio-fertilizers and compost will be encouraged. Measures will be taken to upgrade agricultural extension, training and motivational work at the farmers’ level so that the farmers can follow suitable cropping patterns to maintain the natural balance of soil nutrients.

• Production, importation, sales and distribution of any fertilizer harmful to soil environment will be banned.
• Distribution system of fertilizers in the private sector will continue. But, the public sector will import fertilizer, if necessary, to ensure its supply and availability in time.
• The District and Thana Committees already formed by the government will continue to monitor fertilizer distribution at the farmers’ level.
• The present practice of fertilizer buffer stock system will continue.

Realistic steps will be taken to ensure the use of phosphatic and potassium fertilizers as well as various micro-nutrients. The use of DAP (Di-amonium Phosphate) fertilizer, already introduced by the government, will be encouraged in this regard.

The Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI) will be strengthened and soil testing programs will be started in five-year phases based on soil and Agro-ecological Zones (AEZ). Besides, the use of existing ‘Soil Health Card’ will be further extended for improving soil quality.