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Core dimensions of food security
THE comprehensive and evidence-based report on food security and nutrition in Bangladesh by the International Food Policy Research Institute can be very useful for policymaking...
www.newagebd.net
Core dimensions of food security
by Abdul Bayes 12 November, 2024, 00:00
New Age/ Mehedi Haque
THE comprehensive and evidence-based report on food security and nutrition in Bangladesh by the International Food Policy Research Institute can be very useful for policymaking. It focuses on the core dimensions of availability, access, and utilisation. The main objectives of the report are to expose the current state of food security with attendant attributes and suggest ways and means to the development of policies.
The availability of and access to food are being considered as important elements of food security in a conventional context. But the authors include a third condition for a healthy life, the effective biological utilisation of food. Of course that depends on a number of other factors, such as the health and sanitation environment and household or public capacity to care for vulnerable members of society.
Admittedly, the growing population of Bangladesh is straining its agricultural resources. A large population of about 170 million people, with 1,151 people per square kilometre, puts immense pressure on agricultural resources, thus making it challenging to keep pace with the country’s growing food needs. Over the past decade, agricultural growth has been modest (3–4 per cent) compared to stronger growth in national gross domestic product (6–8 per cent). IFPRI has estimated that growth in the agricultural sector is 3.1 times more effective in reducing poverty than equivalent growth in nonagricultural sectors of the economy. Ipso facto, a comprehensive as well as aggressive approach that promotes yield-increasing technological change and a shift to higher-value agricultural production is essential for enhanced agricultural growth and faster poverty reduction.
Disparities in land ownership tend to persist. Roughly 60 per cent of rural households are landless, ranging from about 50 per cent in Khulna division to about 70 per cent in Chattogram. It could be observed that 40 per cent of all farm households were ‘pure’ tenants, and about 36 per cent cultivated only their own land. Most of Bangladesh’s agricultural land is used for monocropping; rice production alone accounts for nearly three-quarters of the country’s gross cropped area.
Despite more than 100 modern rice varieties released over the past few decades, 70 per cent of farmers grow just two popular rice varieties in boro season: BRRI Dhan 28 and BRRI Dhan 29, both of which were released three decades ago. Salinity in both surface and groundwater largely explains the low level of irrigation coverage in coastal regions. Grain yields have increased significantly over time. In Bangladesh, maize is primarily grown for human consumption but also as a key feed ingredient for poultry, livestock, and fish. Fruit leads in profitability, while wheat and rice have the lowest margins. Fruit production has the highest gross margin, followed by flowers and vegetables. By contrast, wheat has the lowest profitability, followed by rice. Crop diversification is low, with most farmers only cultivating rice.
Most rural households do not produce enough rice to feed themselves. Overall, one-quarter of rural households were net sellers of rice. Against this backdrop, 74 per cent of rural households were net buyers; their consumption exceeded production and relied on purchasing additional rice.
Bangladesh relies heavily on imported fertilisers, making it vulnerable to price fluctuations and global supply disruptions because only a quarter of fertiliser comes from domestic sources. ‘Access to finance is essential for farmers to invest in productive resources, enhance agricultural productivity, and provide a cushion against economic shocks. However, financial access remains constrained, particularly for smallholder farmers, who face significant obstacles in obtaining formal financing from banks’. So, farmers turn to higher-cost credit sources with high interest rates and less favourable repayment terms.
Limited access to agricultural extension hinders development. Unfortunately, many farmers in Bangladesh, especially smallholders, lack access to support such as essential knowledge, skills, and techniques to enhance their agricultural practice. Although marginal and small-scale farmers constitute the largest share of farmers in Bangladesh, contact with agricultural extension officials among these groups is very low and considerably less than for medium- and large-scale farmers. For example, about 23 per cent of all farmers received extension services in 2018–19.
Farm mechanisation holds significant potential to address labour shortages. Since the mid-2000s, real rural wages have increased significantly, which has reduced farmers’ profitability. Mechanisation has been sweeping the sector over time. The fisheries subsector signalled robust growth and share in GDP but bedevilled due to reduced productivity growth from high feed costs and declines in the fish export trade. The livestock subsector has experienced steady growth hovering around 3 per cent in the recent couple of years.
Poverty has declined substantially over time, and those living below the lower poverty line, or extreme poverty, also decreased dramatically, accounting for roughly 6 per cent. This decline has been especially pronounced in rural areas. Increases in income have improved access to food; real agricultural wages have risen sharply since 2006. By 2020, the rice-equivalent wage had risen to about 14 kilogram of rice. However, since 2021, the situation has changed for the worse. The rice-equivalent wage declined, averaging around 11 kilogram of rice per day through 2023. Food inflation surged in July 2024 amid political upheaval. In July 2024, food inflation reached a record high of 14.1 per cent, driven largely by major disruptions to the food supply chain. This surge occurred amid a nationwide student-led movement that disrupted logistics, transportation, and food distribution networks. The growing public discontent culminated in the fall of the Awami League-led government on August 5.
Following the government’s collapse, activists curtailed local extortion activities, which had previously added costs for traders and distributors. With these pressures lifted, retail food prices began to decrease in August 2024, easing inflation as supply chains normalised. However, food inflation continues to cripple consumers amidst deteriorating law and order situations.
The IFPRI report discusses trends in rice yield, social safety nets, malnutrition, and other important aspects and provides policy prescriptions for each type of constraint that grips agriculture and food security. The report should be useful for the new government when making new policies on food security.
Abdul Bayes, a former professor of economics and vice chancellor at Jahangirnagar University, is now an adjunct faculty member at East West University.
by Abdul Bayes 12 November, 2024, 00:00
New Age/ Mehedi Haque
THE comprehensive and evidence-based report on food security and nutrition in Bangladesh by the International Food Policy Research Institute can be very useful for policymaking. It focuses on the core dimensions of availability, access, and utilisation. The main objectives of the report are to expose the current state of food security with attendant attributes and suggest ways and means to the development of policies.
The availability of and access to food are being considered as important elements of food security in a conventional context. But the authors include a third condition for a healthy life, the effective biological utilisation of food. Of course that depends on a number of other factors, such as the health and sanitation environment and household or public capacity to care for vulnerable members of society.
Admittedly, the growing population of Bangladesh is straining its agricultural resources. A large population of about 170 million people, with 1,151 people per square kilometre, puts immense pressure on agricultural resources, thus making it challenging to keep pace with the country’s growing food needs. Over the past decade, agricultural growth has been modest (3–4 per cent) compared to stronger growth in national gross domestic product (6–8 per cent). IFPRI has estimated that growth in the agricultural sector is 3.1 times more effective in reducing poverty than equivalent growth in nonagricultural sectors of the economy. Ipso facto, a comprehensive as well as aggressive approach that promotes yield-increasing technological change and a shift to higher-value agricultural production is essential for enhanced agricultural growth and faster poverty reduction.
Disparities in land ownership tend to persist. Roughly 60 per cent of rural households are landless, ranging from about 50 per cent in Khulna division to about 70 per cent in Chattogram. It could be observed that 40 per cent of all farm households were ‘pure’ tenants, and about 36 per cent cultivated only their own land. Most of Bangladesh’s agricultural land is used for monocropping; rice production alone accounts for nearly three-quarters of the country’s gross cropped area.
Despite more than 100 modern rice varieties released over the past few decades, 70 per cent of farmers grow just two popular rice varieties in boro season: BRRI Dhan 28 and BRRI Dhan 29, both of which were released three decades ago. Salinity in both surface and groundwater largely explains the low level of irrigation coverage in coastal regions. Grain yields have increased significantly over time. In Bangladesh, maize is primarily grown for human consumption but also as a key feed ingredient for poultry, livestock, and fish. Fruit leads in profitability, while wheat and rice have the lowest margins. Fruit production has the highest gross margin, followed by flowers and vegetables. By contrast, wheat has the lowest profitability, followed by rice. Crop diversification is low, with most farmers only cultivating rice.
Most rural households do not produce enough rice to feed themselves. Overall, one-quarter of rural households were net sellers of rice. Against this backdrop, 74 per cent of rural households were net buyers; their consumption exceeded production and relied on purchasing additional rice.
Bangladesh relies heavily on imported fertilisers, making it vulnerable to price fluctuations and global supply disruptions because only a quarter of fertiliser comes from domestic sources. ‘Access to finance is essential for farmers to invest in productive resources, enhance agricultural productivity, and provide a cushion against economic shocks. However, financial access remains constrained, particularly for smallholder farmers, who face significant obstacles in obtaining formal financing from banks’. So, farmers turn to higher-cost credit sources with high interest rates and less favourable repayment terms.
Limited access to agricultural extension hinders development. Unfortunately, many farmers in Bangladesh, especially smallholders, lack access to support such as essential knowledge, skills, and techniques to enhance their agricultural practice. Although marginal and small-scale farmers constitute the largest share of farmers in Bangladesh, contact with agricultural extension officials among these groups is very low and considerably less than for medium- and large-scale farmers. For example, about 23 per cent of all farmers received extension services in 2018–19.
Farm mechanisation holds significant potential to address labour shortages. Since the mid-2000s, real rural wages have increased significantly, which has reduced farmers’ profitability. Mechanisation has been sweeping the sector over time. The fisheries subsector signalled robust growth and share in GDP but bedevilled due to reduced productivity growth from high feed costs and declines in the fish export trade. The livestock subsector has experienced steady growth hovering around 3 per cent in the recent couple of years.
Poverty has declined substantially over time, and those living below the lower poverty line, or extreme poverty, also decreased dramatically, accounting for roughly 6 per cent. This decline has been especially pronounced in rural areas. Increases in income have improved access to food; real agricultural wages have risen sharply since 2006. By 2020, the rice-equivalent wage had risen to about 14 kilogram of rice. However, since 2021, the situation has changed for the worse. The rice-equivalent wage declined, averaging around 11 kilogram of rice per day through 2023. Food inflation surged in July 2024 amid political upheaval. In July 2024, food inflation reached a record high of 14.1 per cent, driven largely by major disruptions to the food supply chain. This surge occurred amid a nationwide student-led movement that disrupted logistics, transportation, and food distribution networks. The growing public discontent culminated in the fall of the Awami League-led government on August 5.
Following the government’s collapse, activists curtailed local extortion activities, which had previously added costs for traders and distributors. With these pressures lifted, retail food prices began to decrease in August 2024, easing inflation as supply chains normalised. However, food inflation continues to cripple consumers amidst deteriorating law and order situations.
The IFPRI report discusses trends in rice yield, social safety nets, malnutrition, and other important aspects and provides policy prescriptions for each type of constraint that grips agriculture and food security. The report should be useful for the new government when making new policies on food security.
Abdul Bayes, a former professor of economics and vice chancellor at Jahangirnagar University, is now an adjunct faculty member at East West University.
