[🇧🇩] Agriculture in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Govt-distributed onion seeds fail to germinate

Around 9,200 onion farmers in Rajbari and Faridpur are suffering after onion seeds that they received from the government failed to germinate. As a result, onion farmers are anticipating that onion production will fall across these two districts, which are known for being the top producers of on

www.thedailystar.net

Govt-distributed onion seeds fail to germinate
9,200 farmers suffering in Rajbari, Faridpur

Around 9,200 onion farmers in Rajbari and Faridpur are suffering after onion seeds that they received from the government failed to germinate. As a result, onion farmers are anticipating that onion production will fall across these two districts, which are known for being the top producers of onion in the country.

According to sources of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Faridpur, a total of 5,200 farmers received onion seeds of the Taherpuri, Bari-4 and Bari-6 varieties as government incentives this year, along with 20kg of fertiliser per farmer. Out of 5,200kg of onion seeds, 4,000kg of Taherpuri variety and 1200kg of Bari variety have been distributed.

On the other hand, according to sources of DAE in Rajbari, a total of 4,000 farmers got Taherpuri, Bari-1 and Bari-4 varieties under the same project.

Speaking to farmers, this correspondent learned that not even five percent of these seeds germinated.

Sanjit Mondal, an onion grower of Bastputi village under Nagarkanda upazila in Faridpur, said the government gave him only one kg of Bari-4 variety seeds. He then sowed these seeds on 45 decimals of land, but most of the seeds did not germinate.

Ahsan Molla, a farmer of Kagdi village under Saltha upazila, said he received only one kg of Taherpuri variety seeds as a government incentive. To cultivate onions on 105 decimals of land, he also purchased an additional one kg of seeds from the market. But the seeds received from the government did not germinate. However, the seeds purchased from the market are germinating well.

Nazrul Mia, a farmer from Kaichail village in Nagarkanda upazila, along with Muktar Hossain, a farmer of Madhupur village under Balikandi upazila in Rajbari, echoed Ahsan and Sanjit.

Rafiqul Islam, sub-assistant agriculture officer in Baliakandi upazila, said, "Onion seeds were provided by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Under this incentive scheme, BADC procured onion seeds from their own farmers and other sources. However, the seeds are distributed through sub-assistant agriculture officers from the sub-district agriculture offices under the Directorate of Agricultural Extension. But most of the seeds did not germinate."

Tilok Kumar Ghosh, sub-assistant agriculture officer in Nagarkanda upazila, said their work was only to distribute. BADC (seed marketing) officers are responsible for seed testing.

"We have come to learn that out of the seeds distributed by the government, only 10 percent germinated."

Syed Kamrul Haque, deputy director of BADC (seed marketing) in Faridpur, said, "We collect these seeds through our designated farmers. A farmer is given one kg of seeds as an incentive. This is insufficient for them. Farmers buy seeds from the market and sow them. Farmers bought seeds from the market on their own initiative and sowed them in the lands where seedlings did not germinate."

Md Shahaduzzaman, deputy director of DAE in Faridpur, said that in this regard, a meeting was held at Faridpur deputy commissioner's office on November 27. In that meeting, a four-member inquiry committee was formed to investigate the matter. The committee will report next Thursday.

Apart from identifying the culprits, recommendations will be made on how to compensate the affected farmers, he added.​

 

[Saif]

Fields of struggle: Navigating the challenges in agriculture sector

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Bangladesh's economy, contributing around 12 per cent of its GDP and providing employment to nearly 40 per cent of the population. This sector is essential for food security and economic stability, given that rice, wheat, jute, and vegetables are staple crops that no

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Fields of struggle: Navigating the challenges in agriculture sector
Md Sadat Anowar
Published :
Dec 09, 2024 11:37
Updated :
Dec 09, 2024 11:37

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Bangladesh's economy, contributing around 12 per cent of its GDP and providing employment to nearly 40 per cent of the population. This sector is essential for food security and economic stability, given that rice, wheat, jute, and vegetables are staple crops that not only meet domestic demand but also generate export revenue. Bangladesh has seen considerable growth in food production, largely due to small-scale farming, which feeds millions domestically and supports the livelihoods of rural communities. Additionally, agricultural exports, including tea, fish, and tropical fruits, play an important role in diversifying the country's economy, helping to reduce poverty and improve rural incomes. However, climate change, resource constraints, and infrastructure gaps threaten its productivity, making government investment and climate-resilient practices crucial for sustainable growth. Bangladesh's agriculture sector faces numerous challenges threatening production and food security. Key issues include climate vulnerability, insufficient infrastructure, limited access to markets, and financial constraints.

Most farming households in Bangladesh are marginal or smallholder farmers who hold less than 1.5 acres of land. According to a recent report published by IFPRI, marginal and smallholder farmers constitute about 83 per cent of the farming community and operate on about half of the cultivable land. Moreover, the study highlighted that land is crucial for agricultural production, yet 56 per cent of rural households are landless. Furthermore, arable land in Bangladesh has declined at a rate of about 0.3 per cent per year, severely constraining overall food production.

Bangladesh faces increasing weather irregularities, including more frequent droughts, floods, and storms, which affect crop yields and soil fertility. Climate projections suggest these challenges will only intensify, demanding urgent adaptation and resilience strategies in the sector. Barisal, once dubbed the granary of Bangladesh, is now lagging in terms of rice crop productivity, which can be attributed to frequent cyclones and increased salinity due to sea-level rise. According to the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) 2018-19 data, a nationally representative rural survey conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), rice yields per hectare in Barisal are about 36 and 33 per cent lower than in Rangpur and Khulna, respectively. Moreover, the recent price hikes of potatoes can also be attributed to erratic weather conditions.

Reduced subsidies in the national budget have left farmers struggling to afford essential inputs like fertilisers and seeds. Despite recent budget increases, subsidy allocations are still insufficient to meet rising production costs, causing strain on farmers and reducing the competitiveness of domestic agriculture. Farmers also require subsidy support for fuel, as most irrigation pumps in Bangladesh are powered by diesel or electricity.

The long-term trend in rice production shows a seasonal shift in importance from the wet, rainy season to the dry winter season, as Boro rice has emerged as the most important rice crop in Bangladesh. More than half of the total rice production comes from Boro rice, while the rest comes mostly from Aman rice, with a meagre percentage from Aus rice. This phenomenon can be explained by climate change. Due to heavy, erratic rainfall, floods, and cyclones, a significant portion of Aus and Aman rice is destroyed annually. In contrast, Boro, being a dry-season crop, remains relatively unaffected by adverse climatic shocks. To ensure the sustainability of Boro rice production, it is crucial to provide farmers with proper irrigation systems, as Boro rice is almost entirely irrigated and cannot survive on rainfall alone. The government needs to ensure sufficient electricity supply to support irrigation for Boro rice fields.

The sector is hindered by inadequate storage facilities and a fragmented supply chain, leading to high rates of crop spoilage. Poor transportation infrastructure also limits farmers' ability to efficiently distribute their produce, restricting access to larger markets and lowering potential profits. Significant price gaps exist between growers and final consumers. Research on the agrifood system in Bangladesh indicates that these price gaps can be attributed to the existence of syndicates and inefficiencies in market mechanisms. Policymakers must formulate effective strategies to address this dual problem, ensuring growers receive fair prices while consumers gain relief from high food price inflation.

Urban expansion is decreasing the availability of arable land, intensifying land-use competition. As rural populations migrate to urban centres, the agricultural workforce shrinks, posing risks to food production as demand continues to grow. Research shows surplus agricultural labour in the western region of the country, whereas districts in the east face labour shortages. Based on basic supply-demand rules, agricultural labourers in the western region receive lower wages compared to other regions. Initiatives should be undertaken to improve mobility and address the wage gap.

On the international stage, Bangladeshi agricultural products face strong competition from neighbouring countries like India and Vietnam, which offer lower prices and higher-quality produce due to more advanced technology and infrastructure. Products made from jackfruit, currently in abundant supply in Bangladesh, present lucrative export opportunities. Ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural commodities is crucial for penetrating international markets effectively. The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) can play a pivotal role in this regard.

Addressing these issues requires increased investment in infrastructure, expanded access to financial resources for farmers, and a strategic approach to climate resilience. Particularly, significant investments are needed to improve storage facilities across the country. A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model could be explored to achieve this transformation. Collaborating with private sector stakeholders, especially in areas of technological innovation and logistics, could modernise Bangladesh's agriculture and improve both productivity and sustainability. Increased investment in research and development of newer, high-yielding crop varieties is also vital. While the Government of Bangladesh allocates substantial funds for farmer subsidies, these programmes should be carefully assessed to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

The writer is a Research Analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).​

 

[Saif]

Sitakunda farmers cash in on early bean cultivation

Hundreds of farmers in Chattogram’s Sitakunda upazila have reaped good profits by cultivating Rupban, an early bean variety, in the hilly areas this year.

www.thedailystar.net

Sitakunda farmers cash in on early bean cultivation

Hundreds of farmers in Chattogram's Sitakunda upazila have reaped good profits by cultivating Rupban, an early bean variety, in the hilly areas this year.

The farmers found high demand for their bean harvest as it matures earlier compared to other varieties of beans. As such, they managed to sell the crops profitably.

Visiting the Kumira area in the upazila recently, this correspondent observed that farmers were harvesting beans from their land.

Sitakunda's hilly land is famous for producing high-yielding varieties of beans, tomatoes, gourds and pumpkins every year.

Farmers in this area usually cultivate winter beans, but in recent years cultivation of early beans in summer has become popular for profitability.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension in Sitakunda upazila, at least 300 farmers cultivated Rupban beans on 40 hectares of hilly lands in the upazila.

The farmers planted the bean seeds in April, and within two months, bans were ready for harvest from June.

Mohi Uddin, a farmer from Kumira area, said he had cultivated early beans on two acres of land this year spending Tk 1,25,000 and is now selling his produce at Tk 140-150 per kilogramme.

"I am expecting a profit of Tk 1.5 lakh," he added.

"These early beans are in high demand. Sometimes, we cannot meet the demand of the buyers as the supply of beans is inadequate," said Hasmot, 55, another farmer.

Mentionable, beans cultivated in this upazila last year were exported to the Middle-east.

Contacted, Habib Ullah, agricultural extension officer in Sitakunda, said, "Sitakunda's weather condition is favourable for early bean cultivation, making farmers more interested in it day by day."

"We are communicating with the growers regularly to help them tackle any kind of crop disease," he added.​

 

[Saif]

Organic fertiliser spurs high yields for farmers

Vermicompost is an organic fertiliser made by composting cow dung, eggshells, vegetable scraps, used tea leaves, and rotting tree bark with the help of earthworms

www.thedailystar.net

Organic fertiliser spurs high yields for farmers

A farmer spreads vermicompost on his cropland in Chawratari village, Lalmonirhat. Photo: S Dilip Roy/Star

Farmers in five districts under the Rangpur division -- Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari -- are delighted as their winter vegetable yields have significantly increased after using vermicompost, following advice from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Vermicompost is an organic fertiliser made by composting cow dung, eggshells, vegetable scraps, used tea leaves, and rotting tree bark with the help of earthworms.

The DAE has long recommended that farmers use vermicompost for cultivating vegetables, as it enhances yields and improves soil health.

Azaharul Islam, 45, a farmer from Chawratari village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, shared that he has been cultivating vegetables with organic fertilisers for the past four years.

"I produce some vermicompost at home and purchase the rest from the local market. I have been achieving good crop yields while also improving soil fertility," he said.

Echoing him, Dhaniram Chandra Das, 65, a farmer from Mahipur village in Rangpur's Gangachhara upazila, said, "Earlier, I used chemical fertilisers before switching to vermicompost. This organic fertiliser is toxin-free, cost-effective, and provides better yields."

According to DAE sources, around 15,000 farmers across the five districts of the Rangpur division have been benefiting from producing, using, and selling vermicompost. Each farmer produces up to 10 tonnes of vermicompost annually at a cost of Tk 6-7 per kilogram, which is then sold for about Tk 12-13. Over the years, the use of vermicompost for vegetable cultivation has gained popularity, particularly among small and marginal farmers.

Sahera Banu, 55, from Thanahat village in Kurigram's Chilmari upazila, said she produces 300kg of vermicompost and 15kg of earthworms every month at home, which she sells profitably.

"I also grow vegetables in my yard year-round using some of the vermicompost I produce," she added.

Mobarak Hossain, 60, from Panchagram village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said, "I produce vermicompost at home, keep a portion for my own vegetable cultivation, and sell the rest to local fertiliser dealers, who then sell it to other farmers."

When contacted, Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy director of the DAE in Kurigram, emphasised that the use of vermicompost is essential for producing toxin-free vegetables and maintaining soil fertility.

"We have been encouraging farmers to use vermicompost for cultivation. In recent years, its use has increased significantly, benefiting many marginal farmers in the region," he added.​

 

[Saif]

Farmers warned of rain on Dec 20-22

The Bangladesh Agro-Meteorological Information Service (BAMIS) has suggested farmers in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions to take measures to protect their in-field products as the areas could be hit by medium to heavy rainfall on December 20-22 this year.

www.thedailystar.net

Farmers warned of rain on Dec 20-22

The Bangladesh Agro-Meteorological Information Service (BAMIS) has suggested farmers in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions to take measures to protect their in-field products as the areas could be hit by medium to heavy rainfall on December 20-22 this year.

The BAMIS also recommended farmers collect Aman paddy before and after the rainfall and remove additional water from the seed beds of Boro paddy along with other paddies, potatoes and lentils.

It also suggested farmers collect matured vegetables quickly and cover milk cows and calves with sacks during the mornings and evenings when it rains to protect them from Pneumonia.

The BAMIS made the recommendations by analysing the data produced by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

The agro-meteorological information service also said mustard could be affected by a fungal disease of Alternaria blight in the given condition, for which, if needed, insecticide should be applied.​

 

[Saif]

Fresh Aman fetching higher prices

Farmers are getting higher prices for Aman season paddy this year than the previous year, amidst apprehensions of a fall in yields for heavy rainfall and recurrent floods in the eastern regions.

www.thedailystar.net

Fresh Aman fetching higher prices

Aman paddy accounts for roughly 40 percent of the country’s annual rice production. Farmers and millers said the relatively coarse grains are selling for over Tk 1,400 per maund (around 38 kilogrammes) now, up from Tk 1,100 a year ago. The photo was taken at Tebunia Bazar in Pabna sadar upazila last Sunday. PHOTO: AHMED HUMAYUN KABIR TOPU

Farmers are getting higher prices for Aman season paddy this year than the previous year, amidst apprehensions of a fall in yields for heavy rainfall and recurrent floods in the eastern regions.

This paddy accounts for the second-biggest amount of rice harvested in a year, or roughly 40 percent of the country's annual rice production.

Farmers and millers said the relatively coarse grains are selling for over Tk 1,400 per maund (around 38 kilogrammes) now, up from Tk 1,100 a year ago.

"It appears that there is a deficit of both rice and paddy," said KM Layek Ali, senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners Association.

"Crops alongside rice stocks in households were damaged due to floods in the eastern region in August and September. Many farmers could not replant," he said.

"This is the main reason for the increase in prices of paddy," he added.

Data of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) showed that overall acreage of Aman paddy was at 58.34 lakh hectares this year, higher than that a year ago.

As of this week, 87 percent of the crop has been harvested, said a senior official of the DAE.

He said many farmers replanted Aman seedlings on the flood-affected areas and claimed that overall yield was good this year.

Chitta Majumder, managing director of the Majumder Group of Industries, a leading rice miller and importer, did not agree.

"Heavy rainfall and unfavourable weather affected crops in many areas. So, production suffered this year," he said.

Majumder said some large rice mills were buying paddy over apprehensions that India might restrict export of rice to Bangladesh. But prices will fall if imported grains arrive, he said.

Rice prices began rising since March this year from Tk 47 per kilogramme at retail in February this year.

In October, coarse grains were traded at Tk 54.2 per kilogramme, up 20 percent year-on-year, according to data of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

However, the increase in prices have not brought joy for many farmers who had already suffered losses for floods, inclement weather and rising production costs.

Take the case of Abdus Salam, a farmer in Chatmohar upazila of the northwest district of Pabna.

He cultivated Aman paddy on 10 bighas of land and the entire field was submerged with rainwater for floods throughout the season.

Due to the massive waterlogging, most of the crops were affected. "So, I might get, at best, 10 maunds of paddy from each bigha this year," he said.

"This is the lowest Aman production in the last few decades for me," Salam claimed.

But, he said, if the price remains high, many farmers would be able to recover production costs.

Some farmers who did not see any flood also claimed a fall in yields.

Md Mokhlesur Rahman, a farmer of Harinakundu upazila of Jhenidah district, planted Aman paddy on five bighas of land.

"This year, I got a maximum of 13 maunds of paddy from each bigha whereas I bagged 17—18 maunds last year from the same field," he said.

Farmers in the northwestern districts of Dinajpur and Rangpur reaped bumper Aman harvests this season, surpassing expectations.

However, Abu Belal, a 57-year-old farmer from Biral upazila of Dinajpur, is not that much upbeat.

He said production cost behind each bigha of land, including labour and transportation, stood at Tk 20,000.

During a conversation earlier this month, he hoped to get 28 maunds of paddy from each bigha and sell it for around Tk 35,000, as per rates prevailing in his locality.

"I am labouring to save costs and secure some profit margins," said Belal.​

 

[Saif]

Impact of sustainable agriculture

SUSTAINABLE agriculture seeks to meet today’s food needs while it shoul ensure that future generations can also thrive. It is about finding the right balance between social fairness, economic stability and environmental care. In Bangladesh, where agriculture, which supports nearly 40 per cent of...

www.newagebd.net

Impact of sustainable agriculture
Md Kamrul Bari, Saad Hasan and Mohammad Rashedul Hoque 18 December, 2024, 00:00

International Trade Centre

SUSTAINABLE agriculture seeks to meet today’s food needs while it shoul ensure that future generations can also thrive. It is about finding the right balance between social fairness, economic stability and environmental care. In Bangladesh, where agriculture, which supports nearly 40 per cent of the work force, is a cornerstone of the economy, embracing sustainable practices is more important than ever. These practices have the potential to improve food security, reduce poverty and combat the growing threat of climate change.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, accounting for around 11.02 per cent of gross domestic product in 2024. It employs millions, ensures food security and is critical to export, particularly rice, jute and fish. As Export Promotion Bureau data show, the country saw an export of around $5.1 million in the 2022 financial year from rice. The average annual export of jute and jute goods amounts to $1 billion, as Bangladesh Investment Development Authority data show. As EPB data show that Bangladesh earned $329 million from shrimp export and $12.3 million from crab export only to China.

Bangladesh is the fifth largest fish producers in the world. It is the third largest producer of rice and the second largest producer of jute. The standing can certainly be further pushed up with the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices. Furthermore, the challenges such as population pressure, shrinking farm land, water scarcity and climate change issues also necessitate a shift towards sustainable agriculture practices.

Now the question is: what is sustainable agriculture? Sustainable agriculture has on three core objectives: maintaining environmental health, ensuring economic viability and promoting social and economic equity.

Sustainable agriculture practices are required to ensure that the existing and traditional approach of using chemical fertilisers and pesticides can be replaced with organic fertilisers. The use of chemical fertilisers have many negative side-effects. For example, an excessive use of nitrogen may lead to reduced production of biomass and less diversity of plant species, eventually increasing the probability of droughts. In addition, chemical fertilisers also cause a gradual increase in acidity in the soil.

Studies show that only 0.1 per cent of the pesticides eventually reaches the plants they are targeted for, leaving the rest to the environment for only degrading its own health. Essential sustainable agriculture practices include diversifying crops, adopting organic farming methods, practising conservation tillage, implementing integrated pest management and optimising water use. Sustainable agriculture practices ranges from organic farming, integrated pest management and agroforestry up to the implementation of precision agriculture.

Precision agriculture is a farming management approach that focuses on observing, measuring and responding to variability within and between fields to optimise crop production. Its primary benefits include increased yields and improved profitability for farmers. Additionally, precision agriculture enhances working conditions and supports environmental sustainability through a better resource management, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices.

Sustainable practices like organic farming and agroforestry generate jobs in rural areas. The focus on labour-intensive methods creates employment opportunities, particularly for women. Fish farming faces challenges such as low fish density, high feeding costs and poor pond habitat management, leading to reduced yields and increased mortality. Agriculture often suffers from imbalanced use of inputs such as fertilisers and water, leading to reduced productivity and efficiency. Traditional practices rely on surface broadcasting fertiliser, surface irrigation, and excessive pesticide application, which harm crop yields. The implementation of precision agriculture is not an easy task. There are several constraints that we need to encounter and overcome on a daily basis to ensure that we can change lives and improve the environmental health for the betterment of the country and her people.

Limited awareness and education: Farmers often lack knowledge of sustainable practices. Training programmes are the first steps towards bridging this gap. Significant hands-on trainings are often necessary throughout the implementation phase of precision agriculture projects to ensure that they understand the applicability of the novel technological marvels those are brought to them through PA solution providers.

Financial constraints: Adopting sustainable techniques requires significant initial investments for the service providers, which many small firms cannot afford. Working capital supports, grants and subsidies are critical for the research and development and growth phases of the start ups focusing on precision agriculture. Unfortunately, despite promises by the government and the financial institutions, precision agriculture startups can hardly receive working capital finance. Therefore, cash-strapped firms often find it difficult to accept large projects with extraordinary growth potential only due to lack of sufficient financing options from conventional banking system.

Some precision agriculture solutions are not feasible for share-croppers and small farmers. Therefore, an integrated ecosystem with entirely private sector partners or private-development-public sector partners or public-private partners are needed to make the solutions affordable for these marginalised community.

Policy and institutional barriers: While Bangladesh has policies promoting sustainable agriculture, implementation remains weak because of bureaucratic inefficiencies. Access to funds, people and technology are severely scarce. In addition, enabling policies are also lacking to establish and operate precision agriculture firms. The policymakers must understand that such firms need significant research and development investments throughout their operating lives. Direct and indirect subsidies along with efficient services at the policy sphere are vital for the survival and growth of the firms.

Climate change: Frequent floods, cyclones and droughts exacerbate the challenges of farming sustainably. Micro-insurance, crop insurance and other risk transfer mechanisms can effectively take care of these issues.

It is important to understand how sustainable agriculture can affect the economy by ensuring economic viability. Solar-powered irrigation systems promoted by the government under the Renewable Energy Policy 2008 have further reduced dependency on expensive diesel-powered pumps. This has saved farmers an estimated $127 per hectare annually in irrigation costs, reducing reliance on imported fuel and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves. The reliance of the sector on fossil fuels for irrigation has historically led to high input costs. Farmers consume a large volume of diesel and electricity subsidies for irrigation, the cost of which to the government is around $50 million annually.

Additionally, precision agriculture, which uses advanced technologies and data analytics to optimise farming practices, is creating significant job opportunities. By increasing productivity, enhancing resource efficiency and fostering sustainable agricultural practices, precision agriculture is reshaping the rural economy and the labour market. The adoption of precision agriculture requires the use of specialised technologies such as GPS-guided equipment, soil sensors and automated irrigation systems. As precision agriculture technologies become more widespread, there is growing demand for IT professionals, engineers and technicians to install, manage, and maintain these systems. The Department of Agricultural Extension has noted that the implementation of technologies like satellite mapping and variable rate irrigation systems has spurred job creation for tech experts and field engineers who can assist in setting up and troubleshooting these advanced systems. Additionally, analysts are required to process the large amounts of data generated by precision farming tools to guide decision-making.

Digital platforms and mobile apps that support precision agriculture also create jobs, especially for the younger population in rural areas. These platforms provide farmers with real-time data on soil health, weather conditions, and crop management. As a result, there is an increasing need for rural service providers who can facilitate access to these digital tools, train farmers on their use, and offer tech support.

Sustainable agriculture also ensures social equity. As sustainable agriculture practices emphasises an equitable access to resources such as land, water and financial support. In Bangladesh, programmes supporting smallholder farmers, particularly women and marginalised groups, can empower communities and reduce disparities in rural areas. Moreover, encouraging community participation in agricultural decision-making ensures that the voices of under-represented groups are heard. This approach, integrated with cooperative farming models, can reduce power imbalances and foster collective benefits.

Sustainable agriculture holds immense potential to transform the economy by ensuring food security, creating jobs and addressing environmental challenges. With supportive policies and investment, Bangladesh can lead the way in sustainable farming practices, securing a better future for its people.

Md Kamrul Bari is chief operating officer, Dr Saad Hasan is chair and chief executive officer and Dr Mohammad Rashedul Hoque is director of Nodes Digital Limited.​

 

[Saif]

Overcoming input crisis facing Boro cultivation

Short supply of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs or abnormal rise in their prices leaves a serious impact on farm production. Higher production cost discourages farmers from bringing more land under cultivation, especially when fair price of their produce is uncertain. It is more so in cas

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Overcoming input crisis facing Boro cultivation
Sarker Nazrul Islam
Published :
Dec 18, 2024 00:09
Updated :
Dec 18, 2024 00:09

Short supply of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs or abnormal rise in their prices leaves a serious impact on farm production. Higher production cost discourages farmers from bringing more land under cultivation, especially when fair price of their produce is uncertain. It is more so in case of rice production during the Boro season that contributes most to the country's annual rice production, some 55 per cent of the total. If production of the staple crop falls significantly, it will put food security at risk.

According to a report published in this paper, prices of urea and non-urea fertilisers have hit a record high--- much higher than the rates fixed by the government--- this year. Urea is being sold at Tk 33 per kilogram against the official rate of Tk 27 while the retail prices of Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and Muriate of Potash (MOP) have been increased to Tk 31-32 and Tk 29-30 per kilogram though the government set them at Tk 21 and Tk 20 respectively. These signify a 25-40 per cent increase in the prices of fertilisers on a year-on-year basis. Setting price caps is not enough; strict monitoring should also follow to make it effective.

During the dry season with scanty rainfall, success of Boro cultivation is predominantly dependent on irrigation. But irrigation cost this season has surged by up to 15 per cent, rising to Tk 3,500-4,500 per 33 decimals due to short and irregular supply of electricity. A reason behind the rise in irrigation cost is that power crisis has forced most of the irrigation pump owners to switch over to costly diesel for their operation. This increased irrigation cost is much beyond the affordability of the lower middle, poor and marginal farmers.

However, these are not all about the rising expenses for production; cost of such other inputs and accessories such as seed, plough, pesticides, transport and labour cost has undergone a double-digit growth. As has already been mentioned, farmers will feel discouraged to expand rice cultivation for lack of affordability on the one hand and for fear of product prices falling much below the cost of production on the other. The government has set a target of 22 million tonnes of rice production in this Boro season against a production of 21 million in FY 24. The target in itself does not seem unrealistic but, given the increased prices of inputs, it is very likely that the target will not be fulfilled. This poses a threat to the country's food security. In that case more rice will have to be imported to meet the shortfall. Needless to mention, the unscrupulous sections of the traders will take advantage of production shortfall.

There are more things to be worried about. The present stock of DAP, MOP and Triple superphosphate (TSP) is much lower than the actual requirement, hardly enough to meet the demand until January. Though, according to the report, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, along with private sector importers, is trying to bring in the required quantity of fertilizer, there is no guarantee it can be accomplished in time as the previous Awami League government failed to clear payments to some foreign suppliers. It was obligatory for the authorities to make up the shortfall in time but they could not. They should now accelerate the process of storing up the required quantities of the inputs and distributing the same at subsidised rates. Power supply should also be made steady so that rice production is not at all hampered anywhere.​