CHnTAOONO. Aug 7. Triple Super Phoephate nSP) fertilizer factory In Chittagong, advised to wind up by the World Bank few years ago. earned a profit of Taka 10.46 crore during the laat fiscal year

Managing Director of the factory Jamiul Islam told UNB that it was possible by diversifying the products to meet tht nenft* df the farmer*.

"We are facing uneven com petition partlc-utariy. from USA In TSP. Import of which by the private sector Is heavily sub sidlsed by powerful IFDC (International Fertilizer Development Centre) and duty eoncesaton by the government under Ito open market policy', he said

Bui. Islam added, "we have •uee-reded In neutrsHstng the adseroe effect by Introducing a new product — Single Super Phosphate (SSP) - and also

marketing Gypsum, a waste of the factory "

He said the government had taken a decision that no ship with TSP would be allowed In Bangladesh ports till the do mestic factory has a stock of at least 10,000 tons It was in tended to protect the local product But the decision la flouted by the Importers, and the government la taking no note o( II apparently at the be heel of IFDC

The lone TSP factory the country was set up In 1970 al a coal of Taka 10.75 wllh asais tancc from USA. France and Japan with a capacity of 1.S2 lakh tons of TSP lertUurr It ha* been operating under Bangladesh Chemical Induslriea Corporation.

SSP wm IntmdiMvd In |M9 90 when the production wn» 927 tone Due to marketing drive and rising demand from

the farmers, the factory stepped up SSP production to 14.462 tons in 1990-91. 44.724 Iona In 1991-92 and 1.11.775 tons In 1992-93

"We hpve received Taka 16 crore laat year atone from Gypsum, a waste product of the faclonr previously uaed for earth filling or dumped as throw asray material" aald Managing Director Jamiul 1atam who la also Honorary Secretary of the privately run Children Itoeptial tn Chittagnng.

Gypsum In extensively uertl as fertillkrr where the aotl Is found deficient of sulphur Some I 23 lakh tons ol Gypsum waa sold in 1991 92 and 106 lakh In 1992 93

The factory ha* a plan to produce Ihl* year (1993 94) TSP 80.000 tons. SSP 90 000 tone, totalling I 70.000 tons of fertilizer.