Short supply of fertiliser is affecting cultivation of Irri-Boro and rabi crops in Sidr affected 11 district in Barisal region. Despite constraints and financial hardship, farmers in the region are making all out efforts to recover the losses caused by Sidr but their hopes are being dashed by fertiliser crisis. Sources at fertiliser monitoring cell and Barisal regional office of Agriculture Extension Department (AED) said only 6,290 tonnes of TSP and urea were distributed among dealers and 17,500 tons were in stock till Thursday last against the demand for 40,200 tonnes in the region. However, Gazi Harunur Rashid, deputy assistant director of Barisal AED, denied that there was any fertilizer crisis. He said marginal and poor farmers cannot buy fertiliser due to lack of purchasing power. Barisal divisional commissioner Harun Chowdhury who is monitoring the fertiliser supply position also said there is no crisis of urea in the region. The short supply of TSP only in Bhola district will be addressed as soon as possible, he said. But many farmers talking to alleged that they did not get fertiliser at dealers' shop. 'No stock' is their usual answer, the farmers said alleging that blackmarketing is going on in most areas taking the advantage of dealership. In Barisal district, 120 tonnes of TSP and 150 tonnes urea have so far been distributed and 90 tonnes and 2.37 tonnes respectively are in stock, AED officials said. The demand is 1,240 tonnes of TSP and 4,820 tonnes of urea, they said. So far, 64 tonnes of TSP and 300 tonnes of urea have been distributed in Pirijpur district, AED sources there said on contact. They have a stock of 154 tonnes TSP and 920 tonnes urea against a demand for 400 tonnes of TSP and 1,150 tonnes of urea. In Jhalakati, 21 tonnes of TSP and 99 tonnes urea were distributed while the stock position is 68 tonnes and 9,790 tonnes respectively against the demand for 93 tonnes and 1,900 tonne, officials said. In Patuakhali, 53 tonnes of TSP and 204 tonnes of urea were distributed. There is a stock of 127 tonnes of TSP and 1,510 tonnes of urea against the demands for 101 tonnes of TSP and 2,450 tonnes of urea. Officials in Barguna said the demand for TSP and urea was 93 tonnes and 2,500 tonnes respectively while only 14.5 tonnes and 68 tonners were distributed. However, 211 tonnes of TSP and 441 tonnes of urea are in stock, they said. Demand for TSP and urea fertilisers in Bhola district is 543 tonnes and 6,700 tonnes respectively while only 130 tonnes and 1,450 tonnes have so far been distributed. Officials said 11.5 tonnes of TSP and 38 tonnes of urea are in stock in the district. In Faridpur, the demand is 396 tonnes of TSP and 4,200 tonnes. So far, 26 tonnes of TSP and 631 tonnes of urea have been distributed with 131 tonnes and 986 tonnes in stock. Officials in Madaripur said 87.5 tonnes of TSP and 518 tonnes of urea have been distributed against the demand for 518 tonnes and 4,750 tonnes respectively. They said they have a stock of 59 tonnes of TSP and 786 tonnes of urea. Gopalganj district has a demand for 940 tonnes of TSP and 4,730 tonnes of urea while 42 tonnes and 995 tonnes were distributed keeping a stock of 55 tonnes and 2,660 tonnes respectively. In Rajbari, the demand is 715 tonnes of TSP and 2,700 tonnes of urea while 42 tonnes and 447 tonnes were distributed. This district has a stock of 68 tonnes of TSP and 795 tonnes of urea. The demand for TSP and urea is 661 tonnes and 3,590 tonnes respectively in Shariatpur. So far, 105 tonnes of TSP and 506 tonnes of urea have been distributed. Officials said they have a stock of 124 tonnes of TSP and 573 tonnes of urea.