Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Monday said the government is in a dilemma over the subsidy in fertilizer when the price of fertilizer increasing in international market.
“The price of fertilizer has risen abnormally in the international market pushing up its import cost. As a result, this year Tk 28,000 crore will be needed on subsidy,” he told reporters at a press briefing over fertilizer stock, subsidy and other issues at the conference room of his ministry.
He said that the government is in a dilemma as there is a need of Tk 19,000 crore more on subsidy with the budget providing only Tk 9,000 crore for it.
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In the current FY2021-2022, the government has not hiked the price of fertilizer nor reduced subsidy despite a three-hold rise in its price in international market, Razzaque said.
The minister said that increased cost of production due to high price of fertilizer will push up the price of food grain too.