Rangpur, Nov. 2 -- Farmers across five northern districts - Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Nilphamari - are facing mounting difficulties due to what they describe as an artificial crisis of non-urea fertilisers such as TSP, DAP and MOP.

Many have been forced to pay extra or delay cultivation, raising fears of reduced crop yields.

Although the Agriculture Department has dismissed the situation as artificial, farmers say fertilisers are simply unavailable through official dealers.

They allege that retailers are selling fertilisers at inflated prices, taking advantage of the high seasonal demand.

Officials insist that there is no genuine shortage, claiming that sufficient stock is available in the Bangladesh Agricultural D...