🇧🇩 Agriculture in Bangladesh

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Global actors pledge to collaborate on transformation of Bangladesh agriculture

Key global actors gathered at Wageningen University, a global leader in agri-science located in the Netherlands, and pledged to collaborate on making Bangladesh agriculture risk-proof, resilient, profitable and sustainable for small farmers as well as for entrepreneurs. They were participants at a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Global actors pledge to collaborate on transformation of Bangladesh agriculture
UNB
Published :
May 06, 2024 22:19
Updated :
May 06, 2024 22:19

Key global actors gathered at Wageningen University, a global leader in agri-science located in the Netherlands, and pledged to collaborate on making Bangladesh agriculture risk-proof, resilient, profitable and sustainable for small farmers as well as for entrepreneurs.

They were participants at a roundtable on 'Future of Bangladesh Agriculture', convened by the Bangladesh Embassy.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, M Riaz Hamidullah, moderated and shared the context of the roundtable, especially how the global agri-tech community may tap potential opportunities in Bangladesh.

Over 230 experts and researchers from different parts of the world joined the discussion. Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), University of Saskatchewan (Canada), partnered the event.

Six Presentations by leading experts focused on tackling the key challenges in Bangladesh: rapidly increasing crop yield; developing resilient supply chain; scaling up farm mechanization; meeting skill gaps through training.

FAO and World Bank HQs shared their perspectives as well. Agriculture Secretary, Wahida Akhter, reflected the Government's thinking on transforming agriculture in Bangladesh.

The Vice President of University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Baljit Singh, pledged to enhance the university's cooperation in agri-research in Bangladesh.

Minister, Dr Abdus Shahid, said that agriculture is the key priority in cooperation with the Netherlands, particularly to introduce some of the transformative technology, innovation and research capabilities to Bangladesh. He also said that "I am a farmer turned politician. For seven decades in my life, I have seen how millions of our small and marginal farmers battled out challenges in our delta."

At the end, Wageningen University, Saskatchewan University and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) together launched a tripartite Arrangement for longer-term engagements to pilot impact-driven initiatives at the grassroots in Bangladesh.

The Netherlands today is the 2nd largest agro-food exporter globally, annually exporting US$ 123 billion (2022). To date, they have conducted 7 Market Scans on agri-business potential in Bangladesh.

This high-level roundtable comes as a result of continuing efforts of the Bangladesh Embassy. In 2022, the Bangladesh Embassy convened a first-ever such discussion, together with Wageningen University, on future opportunities in Bangladesh Agriculture future, especially to empower small and marginal farmers.​

 

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https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/prospect-of-organic-farming-for-food-security

Prospect of organic farming for food security
NILRATAN HALDER
Published :
May 09, 2024 22:19
Updated :
May 10, 2024 21:40

Notwithstanding amazing success in agricultural production, both food security and safety in Bangladesh are now suspect. The myth of self-sufficiency in food — actually meaning staples or more precisely rice — has got busted. Earlier there was a litany of rhetoric that the country was producing enough or near enough foods to feed its population.

All that has become evident now is the government's inability to protect the consumers' rights when traders take undue advantage of output shortfall or even when there is a sufficient stock of some essentials. It routinely happens in case of staples and onion. Although the production of the spice-cum-vegetable has been more than the country needs — if the official data are to be believed, the prices fluctuate merely on India's announcement of export restriction or its withdrawal. Right at this moment market is witnessing such a fall in its prices after an arbitrary rise even in the peak harvesting period.

Even potato which year after year had to be disposed of at throwaway prices or even fed to cattle or simply left to rot on account of low prices at a level that did not cover even the carrying cost, has become costliest ever this harvesting season. The potato glut in the market earlier was not a myth and it was exported to countries like Russia to buoy up prices. The reach of trade coteries' power is so long that it can make and unmake facts. Of course, official data are at variance from one organisation to another. In case of agricultural yields, therefore, there is no way to be sure about the authenticity of figures.

Well, cooking oil and sugar — the two items the country has mostly to import because domestic production is negligible — are even strong candidates for business manipulation. The unethically motivated coteries do not disappoint in this regard as their limitless avarice prompts them to make the most of the crisis. There is no doubt that much of the woe caused by high inflation, by extension, a lack of access to quality foods is manmade.

However, the recent heat waves and unnatural rains in the Middle East as part of a natural scheme of things have brought to the fore the ugly truth that countries – rich or poor – may have to brace for farming practices never known before. It looks like more formidable villains in the form of climate change are joining hands with people driven by only profit motive here. Climate-resilient agriculture has by now become a parlance among agriculture scientists. It is exactly at this point environmentalists the other day protested the experiment with 'golden rice' and 'Bt brinjal or eggplant'. They complain that genetically modified crops can do more harms than good in the long run if those become resistant to antibiotics.

In fact, by inserting a gene from soil bacterium Bacillus thuringenisis (Bt) into eggplant, the new variety was created by US giant Monsanto. Attempts were made to introduce it in India and the Philippines but in the face of strong protests, its cultivation was put on hold. Pest-resistant, the eggplant gives 30 per cent more yields. Similarly, Golden rice is also genetically engineered to fortify it with vitamin A. The Court of Appeals in the Philippines, on scrutiny of the evidence presented, issued on April 17, 2024, 'a cease-and-desist order on the commercial propagation' of the two GM crops — Golden rice and Bt eggplant, citing a lack of 'full scientific certainty' in relation to their impacts on human health and environment.

If India and the Philippines do not approve of the GM crops, Bangladesh has no reason to go ahead for their introduction until their full scientific certainty has been ascertained. Then there is the threat from pesticide use to fight pests for maintaining high yields of crops, which is not environmentally sound. Bangladesh also has the additional problem of artificial ripening of fruits and preservation of perishable vegetables by application of harmful chemicals.

Clearly both food security and safety are under threat in the more challenging conditions of climate turmoil. Then what can be a reasonable farming practice for Bangladesh and other countries facing food insecurity? The World Bank said as late as Monday last that changes in farming practices could slash one-third of global greenhouse gas emission by the end of the decade. If changes in the agro-food systems can do so, what are the alternatives? Reduction of one-third greenhouse gas emission is a lucrative proposition but the details of what the WB says "affordable and readily available actions" should be made public.

The WB suggests that the middle-income countries which are the top 10 gas emitters including the top three — China, India and Brazil can make a number of changes such as moving to low-emission livestock practices and making more sustainable use of land. Use of 'land such as forests and ecosystems', the WB goes further, can cut emissions. But then it urges for technical assistance from the US, the fourth-largest polluter. This is ambiguous and looks like targeting agriculture instead of factories and industries? Just 57 oil, gas, coal and cement producers have been responsible for 80 per cent of the global CO2 emissions since the 2016 Paris climate agreement.

So investment is needed for cleaner and sustainable agricultural practices. Bangladesh has already developed an economised irrigation system and a number of educated young farmers are practising organic farming with tremendous success. The need is to replicate those methods and multilateral agencies can make funds available for farmers to do so in poor countries.​

 

[Saif]

Lichi cultivation a success in Pirojpur

In the recent years, many farmers in Pirojpur district switched from paddy cultivation to growing different varieties of seasonal fruits.

www.thedailystar.net

Lichi cultivation a success in Pirojpur

In the recent years, many farmers in Pirojpur district switched from paddy cultivation to growing different varieties of seasonal fruits.

The farmers said they found it hard to retain their production costs in paddy cultivation whereas fruit cultivation has been a successful initiative to many of them.

"We can cultivate paddy only a year as our lands are very low lying and remain inundated for most of the time of the year. As such, paddy cultivation was not beneficial for us. So, many farmers are now cultivating different seasonal fruits including jujube, mango, guava and lichi," said Manmatho Edbor, a grower from Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur.

In particular, litchi cultivation has become quite popular among growers in Pirojpur. Many are cultivating Mujaffarpuri and China-3 varieties of litchi successfully.

"Lichi is a highly valued and popular fruit, so we don't face any trouble to sell our harvest to buyers from different areas profitably," Manmatho added.

Hansapati Mistry from Tarabuniya village under the upazila, said, "I began litchi cultivation first in our area. Later on, many others followed me to grow the delicious fruit. At present, I am waiting to harvest litchi from around 500 trees in my orchard."

Mentioning that the recent hot spell was a concern to the growers in the area, Hansapati said rainfall ahead of the harvest will help the fruit mature well and enhance yield.

Md Khalid Hossain Sajal, chairman of Shakharikathi union in the upazila, said cultivation of fruits including litchi has been playing an important role in the local economy.

After meeting local demand, farmers can transport litchi to other areas of the country, he added.

Pankaj Kumer Boral, sub-assistant agriculture officer in Nazirpur, said this year, litchi has been cultivated in 55 hectares of land in Pirojpur, and a good yield is expected.​

 

[Saif]

কম ফলনে হতাশ সোনারগাঁয়ের আগাম জাতের লিচু চাষিরা

বারো ভূঁইয়ার শাসনামলে সোনারগাঁ বাণিজ্যের জন্য খুবই বিখ্যাত ছিল। পর্তুগিজরা প্রথম এ অঞ্চলে লিচুর চারা নিয়ে আসেন, তখন থেকেই এখানে লিচু চাষ হয়।

bangla.thedailystar.net

কম ফলনে হতাশ সোনারগাঁয়ের আগাম জাতের লিচু চাষিরা
বারো ভূঁইয়ার শাসনামলে সোনারগাঁ বাণিজ্যের জন্য খুবই বিখ্যাত ছিল। পর্তুগিজরা প্রথম এ অঞ্চলে লিচুর চারা নিয়ে আসেন, তখন থেকেই এখানে লিচু চাষ হয়।

স্টার ফাইল ছবি

আগাম জাতের হওয়ায় নারায়ণগঞ্জের সোনারগাঁ উপজেলার লিচু বাগানগুলোতে তুলনামূলক দ্রুত ফল আসে। তবে এ বছর টানা তাপদাহ ও শিলাবৃষ্টিতে লিচুর উৎপাদন কম হয়েছে। বাগান মালিকদের আশঙ্কা, এবার আশানুরূপ মুনাফার দেখা পাওয়া যাবে না।

বাগান মালিক ও কৃষি কর্মকর্তাদের সঙ্গে কথা বলে জানা যায়, নারায়ণগঞ্জের মাটি ও আবহাওয়া লিচু চাষের উপযোগী। যদিও, কেবল সোনারগাঁ উপজেলাতেই লিচুর চাষ হয়। এ বছর উপজেলার ১২টি গ্রামের অন্তত ১০৭ হেক্টর জমিতে ৭৮০টি বাগানে লিচুর বাণিজ্যিক চাষ করা হয়েছে। সাধারণত কদমি, পাতি ও চায়না-৩; এই তিন জাতের লিচু গাছ আছে এসব বাগানে।

সোনারগাঁ উপজেলা কৃষি কর্মকর্তা আফরোজা ইসলাম দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, গতবছর বাগানগুলোতে ৭০০ মেট্রিক টন লিচু উৎপাদন হয়েছিল। এ বছর বাগানের সংখ্যা বাড়ায় উৎপাদন বেশি হবে বলে আশা ছিল। কিন্তু অত্যধিক গরম ও শিলাবৃষ্টির কারণে এ বছরও ৭০০ মেট্রিক টন উৎপাদন হতে পারে।

গত মঙ্গলবার সোনারগাঁওয়ের ঐতিহ্যবাহী পানাম নগর, চিলারবাগ, উত্তর ষোলপাড়া গ্রামে ঘুরে রাস্তার দুইপাশে সারি সারি লিচু বাগান দেখা যায়। অধিকাংশ বাগানের মালিক মৌসুমি ব্যবসায়ীদের কাছে আগাম বাগান ইজারা দেন। গাছে ফুল আসা থেকে ফলের পরিচর্যা ও লিচু বাজারজাত করা পর্যন্ত সবকিছুই করেন ব্যবসায়ীরা।

মৌসুমি লিচু ব্যবসায়ী রনি আহমেদ এবার ৩০ শতাংশ আয়তনের একটি বাগার ৮৫ হাজার টাকায় ইজারা নিয়েছেন। গাছের পরিচর্যা ও অন্যান্য কাজে বিনিয়োগ করেছেন আরও ২৫ হাজার টাকা। তবে, ভালো ফলন না হওয়ায় হতাশ রনি।

'আমি অন্তত ৩০ হাজার লিচু পাওয়ার আশা করছিলাম। গত দুই দিনে লিচু পেয়েছি মাত্র ২০ হাজার। অথচ দুই বছর আগেও এই বাগান থেকে ৩৬ হাজার লিচু পেয়েছি। এ বছর সময়মতো বৃষ্টি হয় নাই, সেই সঙ্গে ভীষণ গরম ছিল। এজন্য লিচু ঠিকমতো বড় হয়নি। শেষে শিলাবৃষ্টিতে অনেক লিচু নষ্ট হয়ে গেছে', বলেন তিনি।

গাছ থেকে লিচু পেড়ে কুমিল্লার দাউদকান্দিতে একটি আড়তে বিক্রি করার সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছেন রনি। তিনি বলেন, 'বাগানভাড়া ও অন্যান্য খরচ বাদ দিলে হাতে কিছু টাকা থাকবে। কিন্তু পুরো মৌসুমে যে পরিশ্রম করছি এর তুলনায় এটা কিছু না।'

প্রায় একই অভিজ্ঞতার কথা জানান এ অঞ্চলের বড় বাগানের মালিকরা।

উত্তর ষোলপাড়া গ্রামে ২৭০ শতাংশেরও বেশি জমিতে একটি লিচু বাগান করা হয়েছে। এ বাগানে লিচু গাছ আছে ৮৬টি। মঙ্গলবার দুপুরে বাগানটিতে কয়েকজনকে লিচু পেড়ে বাজারে নিয়ে যাওয়ার প্রস্তুতি নিতে দেখা যায়।

এই বাগানের দেখাশোনা করেছেন ৫৯ বছর বয়সী বেনু মোল্লা। দীর্ঘ ৩৫ বছর বিভিন্ন লিচু বাগানে কাজ করা এই প্রবীণ দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, মাঘ মাসের শেষ দিকে সোনারগাঁয়ের লিচু গাছে ফুল দেখা যায়। লিচু পাড়া শুরু হয় বৈশাখের মাঝামাঝি সময়ে। লিচুর ফলন ভালো হওয়ার জন্য পর্যাপ্ত বৃষ্টি ও অনুকূল আবহাওয়া জরুরি।

বাগানটি ভাড়ায় নেওয়া মো. হানিফ বলেন, 'এবার গাছে ভালো ফুল আসছিল। এইটা দেইখা অন্যবার একটি বাগান লিজ নিলেও এবার তিনটা নিছি। কিন্তু এখন পড়ছি মুশকিলে। রইদের তাপে কোনো সমস্যা ছিল না, যদি সময়মতো বৃষ্টি হইতো। যেই আশায় তিনটা বাগান লিজ নিছিলাম সেই আশা পূরণ হইবো না। কারণ ফলন কম।'

আশানুরূপ ফলন না হলেও লিচু বাজারজাত করতে কোনো ঝামেলা পোহাতে হয় না বলে জানান বাগান মালিক ও মৌসুমি ব্যবসায়ীরা। বেশিরভাগ লিচু উপজেলার মোগরাপাড়া বাজারে ফলের আড়তে বিক্রি হয়। সেখান থেকে রাজধানী ও আশেপাশের এলাকার ফলের বাজারে পৌঁছে যায় লিচু। প্রতি হাজার লিচু তিন-পাঁচ হাজার টাকায় বিক্রি হচ্ছে এ বছর। তবে চায়না-৩ জাতের লিচুর দাম তুলনামূলক বেশি।

এছাড়া, সোনারগাঁ লোক ও কারুশিল্প জাদুঘর এবং পানাম নগরে বেড়াতে আসা দর্শনার্থীরাও লিচু কিনে নিয়ে যান বলে জানান বাগান মালিকরা।

কৃষি কর্মকর্তা আফরোজা দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, বারো ভূঁইয়ার শাসনামলে সোনারগাঁ বাণিজ্যের জন্য খুবই বিখ্যাত ছিল। পর্তুগিজরা প্রথম এ অঞ্চলে লিচুর চারা নিয়ে আসেন, তখন থেকেই এখানে লিচু চাষ হয়। তবে বাণিজ্যিক চাষ গত কয়েকবছর ধরে বেড়েছে।

'সোনারগাঁয়ের লিচু দেশের অন্যান্য অঞ্চলের তুলনায় অন্তত একমাস আগে বাজারে আসে। দিনাজপুরের লিচু বাজারে আসে আরও কিছুদিন পর। এসব কারণে সোনারগাঁয়ের লিচুর কদর বেশি। বর্তমানে রাজধানীর কাওরানবাজারসহ বিভিন্ন এলাকার বাজারে যেসব লিচু পাওয়া যাচ্ছে এর ৯০ শতাংশই সোনারগাঁয়ে উৎপাদিত।'

এদিকে, এ বছর ফলন কম হওয়ার পেছনে আরও একটি কারণের কথা জানালেন এ কৃষি কর্মকর্তা।

তিনি বলেন, 'এই উপজেলায় অনেক বাগানমালিক আছেন যারা বাগান ভাড়া দিয়ে দেন। ভাড়াটে চাষিরা অনেক সময় গাছের সঠিক পরিচর্যা করেন না। এমনকি কৃষি কর্মকর্তাদেরও পরামর্শ নিতে আসেন না। তীব্র তাপদাহে নিয়মিত পানি ব্যবহার ও সেচের প্রয়োজন আছে। তাছাড়া, লিচু পাড়ার পরও বাগানের পরিচর্যা করতে হয়, নইলে পরের বছর ভালো ফলন পাওয়া যায় না। এক্ষেত্রে অনেকেই উদাসীন।'

তবে, নিজেদের সীমাবদ্ধতার কথা জানিয়ে আফরোজা বলেন, 'বাগান মালিক ও চাষিদের আমরা সবসময় পরামর্শ দিয়ে সহযোগিতা করি। গাছে কীটনাশক ছিটানোর মেশিনও দেওয়া হয়। কিন্তু আমাদের কাছে পর্যাপ্ত মেশিন নেই। এজন্য উপজেলা নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তার কাছে চাহিদাপত্র দেওয়া আছে।'​

 

[Saif]

Heatwaves, droughts threaten rice yields in Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces immense challenges in keeping up its rice production amid frequent heatwaves and droughts in the absence of heat-tolerant rice varieties and...

www.newagebd.net

Heatwaves, droughts threaten rice yields in Bangladesh
Emran Hossain 17 May, 2024, 23:49

Bangladesh faces immense challenges in keeping up its rice production amid frequent heatwaves and droughts in the absence of heat-tolerant rice varieties and the low yield of unpopular drought-tolerant varieties that the country has.

Over the years, the state-owned Bangladesh Rice Research Institute developed 115 rice varieties, largely focusing on increasing yields, apparently under the same favourable weather conditions.

The improved varieties have increased Bangladesh's rice production by about three-and-a-half-fold since 1971, a remarkable achievement crucial for feeding the country's millions of people.

Bangladesh produced about 4 crore tonnes of rice in 2023, up from 3.1 crore tonnes in 2010.

Some adjustments, such as advancing planting times and irrigating fields more than ever before, have kept rice production intact amidst harsh weather conditions in recent years, agriculturists said, pointing out that these temporary solutions cannot hold it for long and that a fall in rice production is inevitable.

While temperatures kept soaring, the need to lift more groundwater for rice cultivation left vast swathes in desert-like conditions, rendering them unable to produce other crops such as fruits and vegetables as well, agriculturists said, creating a greater economic and nutrition crisis.

'Food and nutrition security is clearly under threat unless new crop varieties capable of withstanding increased temperatures and droughts are developed,' said professor ASM Golam Hafeez, who teaches agricultural economics and rural sociology at Bangladesh Agricultural University.

'Otherwise, food inflation cannot be checked. Heat will reduce production on the one hand and increase labour and irrigation costs on the other,' he explained.

Bangladesh recorded its longest-ever heatwave of 37 days starting from the last day of March this year, with day temperatures frequently exceeding 40C over vast swathes in central and northern areas, the main rice grain-producing areas.

The second-longest heatwave of 23 days occurred last year when many areas saw day temperatures reach record or near-record levels.

A heatwave occurs when the day temperature reaches or exceeds 36C, which is considered excessively hot for living beings.

Bangladesh is currently in the grip of yet another heatwave that began five days ago.

On Friday, the country's highest maximum day temperature of 39.6C was recorded in Chuadanga with a fresh two-day heat alert issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Officials in the BRRI said that Bangladesh's rice varieties best perform in the temperature range of 20C to 30C. Days getting hotter than 33C during the flowering stage could trigger sterility in paddies, depleting rice production.

Khandakar Iftekharuddaula, head of the plant breeding division, BRRI, claimed that Bangladesh was very close to having its first-ever heat-tolerant rice variety.

'It might take two more years,' he said.

The eight drought-tolerant varieties released since 2011 are not at all popular with farmers, who cultivate varieties imported from India or depend on frequently irrigating their fields.

'Rising temperatures have already put Bangladesh in a precarious situation. The rice cultivation calendar is no longer as it used to be,' said Iftekhar.

Bangladesh cultivates three major types of rice – boro, aus and aman. While boro accounted for more than half of all rice production, aman accounted for 40 per cent of all rice production, and aus 8 per cent.

Boro is planted in winter but harvested in early summer when temperatures rapidly rise. In 2021, standing boro crops covering over 21,000 hectares were destroyed after a hot spell of wind blowing for three hours left paddy fields scalded in over a dozen districts in early April.

Boro, an irrigation-intensive crop, has only one drought-tolerant variety, BRRI 92, which was cultivated in 4.15 per cent of areas where rice was cultivated last year, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension.

Aus, a summer-season rice, usually planted between March and May and harvested between July and August, has only four drought-tolerant varieties – BRRI-42, BRRI-43, BRRI-83, and BRRI-98. The drought-tolerant varieties were released between 2004 and 2020.

The adoption rate of BRRI-42 dropped from 1.93 per cent in 2018 to 0.84 per cent in 2022 while the adoption rate of BRRI-43 dropped from 2.90 per cent in 2017 to 0.96 in 2022. The varieties of BRRI-83 and BRRI-98 are not cultivated anywhere.

The summer rice cultivation area was reduced by two-thirds compared with 1972. Aus production, however, increased due to the development of high-yielding varieties.

Aman, on the other hand, is planted in two periods – between March and April and June and July. Aman is a rain-fed crop, but it has faced serious challenges because of both excessive rain and temperatures over the past few years. Aman is harvested between October and December.

Aman has three drought-tolerant varieties – BRRI 56, BRRI-66 and BRRI-71. The adoption rate of BRRI 56 hit 3.18 per cent in 2022, while BRRI 66 was not cultivated in the field. The BRRI 71, released in 2015, reached an adoption rate of 0.73 per cent in 2022.

A drought-tolerant variety is somewhat heat-tolerant. The BRRI 71 is the most potential variety, which can survive without rain for up to three weeks during the flowering stage. But its adoption is very poor.

'Farmers use locally released varieties less because they have access to better-performing varieties from India,' said Siddikur Rahman, a senior scientific officer of agricultural economy at BRRI.

Some DAE officials seeking anonymity said that the performance of drought-tolerant varieties is not the same as described by the BRRI.

High temperatures and droughts impact rice plants at every stage of their growth. The higher the temperature, the more the rice plant uses its energy to cool off rather than forming grain. High temperatures and drought also dry up the sticky substance on which pollen is stuck in the process of pollination.

BRRI officials explained that the temperature staying above 36C even for a very brief period could seriously hamper flowering, particularly between the hours of 9:30am and 11:30am.

The BRRI advises farmers to maintain a water depth of five to seven centimetres in rice fields when a heatwave blows.

A recent study released by the BMD revealed that heatwaves became more frequent from late March to October in much of Bangladesh, particularly after 2000.

The report also revealed that the temperature also increased across all seasons between 1980 and 2023.

During the longest heatwave, the country's highest day temperature of 43.8C was recorded in Jashore on April 30, the hottest day in over three decades.

Districts such as Chuadanga and Jashore saw day temperatures stay at 40C or above for almost three weeks between mid-April and early May.

Day temperatures frequently exceeded 40C in Dhaka, which saw its peak at 40.5C on April 30, the second hottest day in the capital in the past 64 years.​

 

[Saif]

ADAPTING LIFE IN SATKHIRA: Turning saline wastelands into fertile fields

Breaking News, International News & Multimedia

thedailynewnation.com

ADAPTING LIFE IN SATKHIRA: Turning saline wastelands into fertile fields
18 May 2024, 12:05 am

Staff Reporter :

The community in Satkhira, a district in Bangladesh afflicted by high soil salinity due to the unauthorized withdrawal of water from trans-boundary rivers by India, initially abandoned traditional crop cultivation.

They briefly shifted to shrimp farming, but as the soil's salt content worsened and freshwater became scarce, this too became untenable. Faced with dwindling options, the community resorted to digging ponds to store fresh water for year-round use.

The situation in Satkhira, as well as in the broader areas of Khulna and Jashore, reflects a harsh transformation from multi-crop farmlands to areas capable of supporting only one crop per year, if any. Many farmers, unable to sustain even a single annual crop, migrated to Jashore or began creating reservoirs to collect sweet water.

In areas like Khutikata village in the Kashimari Union under Shyamnagar Upazila, farming had ceased for decades due to severe salinity. However, recent efforts involving the construction of rainwater ponds have revitalized agriculture, enabling the growth of corn, vegetables, and other crops.

Farmers have successfully cultivated a variety of crops including gourd, pumpkin, papaya, dherash, puishak, ucche, and cucumber. These successes are inspiring neighboring farmers and showing a promising future for agriculture in the area.

Nirmal Sarkar, a local farmer, reported significant improvements thanks to assistance from Syngenta, which has provided ponds, fertilizers, seeds, and other agricultural inputs. This support has not only allowed crops to flourish on saline lands but also significantly boosted farmers' incomes, with earnings of Tk 30,000 to 50,000 per bigha.

Hedayet Ullah, Managing Director of Syngenta Bangladesh Limited, highlighted that the innovative agricultural practices introduced by Syngenta have enabled farmers to cultivate up to three different crops per year, despite the challenging conditions. This has markedly improved both the capacity and the quality of life for the farmers.

The efforts align with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serve as a model for combating climate change risks. The Go Grow project, backed by the Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE), BINA, DA's SAC Scheme, and SRDI, has expanded from an initial group of 40 farmer families and continues to grow.

Training programmes cover various modern agricultural techniques including vermicompost production, solar-powered irrigation, and optimized use of seeds and pesticides.

Satkhira District Commissioner Mohammad Humayun Kabir emphasized the critical need to develop sustainable agricultural practices to ensure economic independence and resilience against natural calamities like storms, floods, drought, and salinity.

These efforts not only aim to restore agricultural productivity but also to secure a stable and prosperous future for the farmers of Satkhira."​

 

[Saif]

Agriculture and the youth

BANGLADESH’S identity as primarily an agricultural nation underscores the pivotal role of its farming sectors in driving economic prosperity. Therefore, fostering a profitable, sustainable, and eco-friendly agricultural framework is imperative to safeguarding long-term food security for...

www.newagebd.net

Agriculture and the youth
Mrinmoy Sanyal 21 May, 2024, 00:00

| — New Age
BANGLADESH'S identity as primarily an agricultural nation underscores the pivotal role of its farming sectors in driving economic prosperity. Therefore, fostering a profitable, sustainable, and eco-friendly agricultural framework is imperative to safeguarding long-term food security for its populace. Over the past two decades, agricultural production value has surged steadily, marking an annual growth rate of 3.54 per cent. Recent provisional estimations by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics reveal that agriculture's contribution to the gross domestic product for the fiscal year 2021–22 stands at approximately 11.50 per cent.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Agriculture credit disbursement rises

Agriculture credit disbursements in Bangladesh grew 12.46 percent year-on-year to Tk 23,690 crore in the July-February period of the current fiscal year, central bank data showed.

www.thedailystar.net

Agriculture credit disbursement rises

Agriculture credit disbursements in Bangladesh grew 12.46 percent year-on-year to Tk 23,690 crore in the July-February period of the current fiscal year, central bank data showed.

The government has set the farm loan disbursement target at Tk 355,000 crore for 2023-24, up 13.60 percent from the year prior, as per the central bank's monthly report on agriculture and rural finance.

This year's target is 6.61 percent higher than the actual disbursements made in 2022-23. But with Tk 23,690 crore lent so far, 67.69 percent of the disbursement goal has already been achieved.

According to the agricultural credit programme of the Bangladesh Bank, state-owned commercial banks have been given a target to allocate Tk 3,280 crore in FY24 while state-owned specialised lenders have been asked to lend Tk 8,750 crore.

The allocation target for private commercial banks has been set at Tk 21,923 crore while it is Tk 1,047 crore for foreign commercial banks.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Agri sector should get focus as key economic driver: experts

Experts and economists on Thursday said that Bangladesh’s agriculture sector should get focus as one of the key economic drivers, beyond food security...

www.newagebd.net

Agri sector should get focus as key economic driver: experts
Staff Correspondent 23 May, 2024, 22:37

An aerial view shows a farmer ploughing an agricultural land with a tractor in Sherpur recently. Experts and economists on Thursday said that agriculture sector should get focus as one of the key economic drivers, beyond food security. | Md Saurav

Experts and economists on Thursday said that Bangladesh's agriculture sector should get focus as one of the key economic drivers, beyond food security.

At a seminar 'The Political Economy of Agrarian Futures in Bangladesh' organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies at the BIDS Conference Room in the capital Dhaka, they said that the fair prices of agricultural products for the farmers should be ensured to make the supply chain efficient and to ensure food security.

Agriculture economists also said that the social system of agriculture was undergoing a process of disarticulation and rearticulation to accommodate the intrusion of capital, along with the involvement of various stakeholders and economic actors associated with this transformation.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Why agri-magic falling flat to Bangladesh farmers?

Soon after its independence in 1971, western communities and foreign development agencies largely wrote off Bangladesh. Food insecurity for roughly 70 million people in a war-torn nation was the reason for labelling the country a "bottomless basket." But the country's agri-might has largely proven

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Why agri-magic falling flat to Bangladesh farmers?
SOHEL MAHAMUD
Published :
May 23, 2024 22:15
Updated :
May 23, 2024 22:15

Soon after its independence in 1971, western communities and foreign development agencies largely wrote off Bangladesh. Food insecurity for roughly 70 million people in a war-torn nation was the reason for labelling the country a "bottomless basket." But the country's agri-might has largely proven these assumptions wrong.

Despite declining farmland and almost annual crop devastation from natural disasters, Bangladeshi farmers have managed to feed a population that has grown to 180 million. This agri-magic, powered by farmers' remarkable ability to increase crop production up to sixfold since 1971, is appreciated by the majority of the population. However, Mabroor Mahmood challenges this rosy picture.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.

 

[Saif]

‘Investment in agriculture should be given importance in the budget’

Breaking News, International News & Multimedia

thedailynewnation.com

'Investment in agriculture should be given importance in the budget'
24 May 2024, 12:00 am

Staff Reporter :

The investment in agriculture should be given importance in the budget so that the technologies developed for food security and the transformation of agriculture can reach the village level," Binayak Sen, director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), said at a programme on Thursday.

"Food security not only requires rice but also poultry and fisheries products. Budget support should be given to maintain their production.

For this, the agricultural technologies that have been invented should be prioritised so that they can easily reach the village level," he said at the seminar on a research titled "The Political Economy of Agrarian Futures in Bangladesh."

"If this can be achieved, a significant change will come," he hoped.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Is the family farm disappearing?

tThe depeasantisation thesis associated with Kautsky and popularised as “the Agrarian Question” needs to be subtly understood in Bangladesh.

www.thedailystar.net

The Agrarian Question in Bangladesh
Is the family farm disappearing?

If lumpy machinery like tractors, pump sets and combine harvesters offer prospects of higher productivity and returns to land, then how is a small farmer with scattered, fragmented plots supposed to access those opportunities? FILE PHOTO: MOHAMMAD MONIRUZZAMAN

In 1899, Kautsky predicted that the peasantry in Russia would be squeezed out of existence by larger-scale capital and that such rural people would become proletarianised labour as the country industrialised. Lenin and Trotsky adopted this stance and in effect sought to hasten the process, supported by Preobrazhensky, but were thwarted by the post-revolutionary food crisis, thus adopting the New Economic Policy instead, which encouraged markets and kulaks producing higher net marketable surplus under quasi-capitalist conditions. The rise of the kulaks as a political force then encouraged Stalin to lead a process of collectivisation, communes and state-enforced targets for surplus grain to the cities. However, resistance to this direction came from Chayanov, who mobilised statistics to demonstrate a distinctive peasant mode of production—drudgery-averse production for immediate family consumption, calibrated to the family's life cycle and changing dependency ratio (workers over consumers within the family) so that additional land from the village authorities could be added to the family farm, with its worker members just working harder to feed its larger numbers. Chayanov ended up in jail for arguing that the farmer (i.e. peasant) should not be separated from this family consumption (subsistence) motive by being forced into collectivisation. Sholokhov's novels, such as Virgin Soil Upturned and Harvest on the Don, vividly tell this story of peasant alienation.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Prioritising agriculture for national benefit

In one of the most densely populated nations on earth, food security naturally is of utmost importance for Bangladeshi policymakers. For many years, national policymaking has been geared towards industrialisation out of the feeling that it would better serve employment generation and help attract a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Prioritising agriculture for national benefit
FE
Published :
May 25, 2024 23:02
Updated :
May 25, 2024 23:02

In one of the most densely populated nations on earth, food security naturally is of utmost importance for Bangladeshi policymakers. For many years, national policymaking has been geared towards industrialisation out of the feeling that it would better serve employment generation and help attract a greater volume of foreign direct investment (FDI). There is no denying that such policies have paid off and the country has emerged as a global industrial powerhouse in textiles and apparel. This transformation has largely helped the country cut its poverty rate by half in a matter of three and a half decades. However, alongside industrialization, agriculture has taken giant steps in modernisation and crop diversification despite a declining share of the sector in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Smart agriculture practices can increase productivity by 30%: DCCI

Smart agriculture practices can fuel farmers’ income by 40%, the leading chamber said in a seminar on smart agriculture

www.thedailystar.net

Smart agriculture practices can increase productivity by 30%: DCCI
Smart practices can fuel farmers' income by 40%, the leading chamber said in a seminar on smart agriculture

Adoption of smart agriculture practices could potentially increase agricultural productivity by 20-30 percent in Bangladesh, said Ashraf Ahmed, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

Smart agriculture practices also reduce input costs by up to 20 percent and increase farmers' income by 30 to 40 percent, he said today.

The Dhaka chamber president shared the information at a seminar on "Smart agriculture: issues and challenges in value chain development" organised by the DCCI at its office in the capital.

"We see at least 40-45 percent post-harvest loss from the farmers to the consumers," Ahmed said.

To mitigate post-harvest losses, availability of cold chain and smoother transportation systems are necessary, he said.

"Moreover, we should develop a waste management system so that we can recycle the agriculture wastages into other products."

Inefficiencies in the supply chain, market access barriers and limited value addition are few bottlenecks for the development of value chain in Bangladesh's agriculture sector, the leading trade body chief said.

He also emphasised the need for building an updated database to create a smart agriculture environment.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu said a need-based locally-tailored farmer-friendly technology is required to implement smart agriculture system in the country.

The state minister said it is equally important to ensure better and logical prices both for the producers and the consumers and for that the presence of a smooth supply chain is a must.

The Logistic Policy-2024 is going to be a game changer for the businessmen, Titu said.

ICT-backed research and innovation will be needed to diversify Bangladesh's export basket, he said.​

 

[Saif]

Agriculture enters a new evolutionary stage with AI

The Indian subcontinent has a rich heritage of more than a millennium as an agrarian society, where nature and daily human lives are closely linked. Today, people face problems like climate change and an imbalanced nature. Technological development offers a beacon of hope as the challenges of cli

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Agriculture enters a new evolutionary stage with AI
IFTEKHARUL ISLAM
Published :
May 30, 2024 16:03
Updated :
May 30, 2024 16:03

Representational image

The Indian subcontinent has a rich heritage of more than a millennium as an agrarian society, where nature and daily human lives are closely linked. Today, people face problems like climate change and an imbalanced nature.

Technological development offers a beacon of hope as the challenges of climate change and an imbalanced nature loom. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how people farm and care for the environment, ushering in a new era of sustainable farming practices. This transformative potential of AI in agriculture is a cause for optimism, promising to address the pressing issues we face today.

AI has recently revolutionized industries, from digital content creation to media editing, increasing creativity and efficiency. Now, its revolutionary impact extends to agriculture, reviving the fight for environmental conservation and agricultural growth.

Markets and Markets predicts that the AI technology sector in agriculture will grow to be worth $11 billion by 2025. This surge is driven by AI's potential to transform farming techniques.

According to the World Economic Forum, AI can reduce irrigation water usage by half and pesticide use by 60%, providing a lifeline to farmers facing resource constraints and pollution.

In India, groundbreaking projects by Google's Partner Innovation and AnthroKrishi teams prove AI's transforming potential in agriculture. Using Google's AI capabilities, these teams have launched initiatives to provide farmers with relevant insights gathered from agricultural data.

At the heart of their efforts is a foundational model called 'landscape understanding,' which uses machine learning algorithms to calculate land boundaries and assess soil conditions.

Equipped with this information, AI systems create customized farming plans, improving irrigation tactics and reducing resource waste.

AI-powered solutions are not just a buzzword but a practical reality in agriculture.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Insects for agricultural development: A blessing or a curse?

In this current age, the agricultural sector is experiencing a revolution with technology, bioengineering, and even artificial intelligence. Implementing genetic engineering in agriculture has always raised profound questions about the alliance between humanity and the insect kingdom. Like Ant-Ma

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Insects for agricultural development: A blessing or a curse?
IFTEKHARUL ISLAM
Published :
May 30, 2024 16:22
Updated :
May 30, 2024 16:22

Representational image

In this current age, the agricultural sector is experiencing a revolution with technology, bioengineering, and even artificial intelligence. Implementing genetic engineering in agriculture has always raised profound questions about the alliance between humanity and the insect kingdom.

Like Ant-Man from Marvel comics, who commands his legion of tiny insects against his opponents, can genetic engineering harness such power over insects to become allies in agricultural development, or will it have a terrible effect in the future?

DARPA, the enigmatic research wing of the United States military, is famous for its daring pursuit of cutting-edge technology. DARPA made an ambitious choice by allocating an astounding $27 million to the Insect Allies project, which aims to kickstart a new era of genetic engineering at the crossroads of insects and agriculture.

This unique attempt seeks to use insects' natural abilities to change vital crops such as maize and tomatoes genetically, paving the path for robust agricultural systems in the face of rising environmental challenges.

At the heart of the research is a new technique for genetic engineering, genetically engineered viral vectors that use insects to transfer specific genes into crops. Unlike traditional testing methods, this unique approach can spread genetic modifications across vast farmlands.

Imagine a world where crops are fortified against the effects of climate change, with insects acting as unintentional agents of agricultural transformation.

Amidst these technological marvels, there are valid concerns and fears. The dual nature of powerful technologies, capable of serving good and evil purposes, comes into play.

While DARPA asserts that the Insect Allies project is solely focused on bolstering national security through agricultural resilience, many critics are alarmed about the potential for unforeseen consequences. Could this seemingly innocuous project morph into a covert bioweapon, posing a threat to global ecosystems and food security?

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Cut in agri subsidy will hurt farmers

Economists say allocation for the agriculture sector in the new budget is inadequate, and it will not only hurt farmers but may also affect food production.

www.thedailystar.net

Cut in agri subsidy will hurt farmers
Say experts; allocation reduced by Tk 272cr in proposed budget compared to the current one

Economists say allocation for the agriculture sector in the new budget is inadequate, and it will not only hurt farmers but may also affect food production.

In the 2024-2025 budget placed at parliament by Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Thursday, the allocation for farming and food security is Tk 38,259 crore, which accounts for 4.80 percent of the total.

In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the allocation for farming was 4.97 percent, in the following year, it was 4.71 percent.

In the new budget, the Ministry of Agriculture gets Tk 27,214 crore, up from Tk 25,118 crore in the current fiscal year.

But the subsidy for the agriculture sector in the proposed budget is Tk 17,261 crore, down from Tk 17,533 crore.

Agricultural economist Jahangir Alam said, "Rice production in Bangladesh has grown by just 0.52 percent annually over the last three years, while the population has increased by 1.3 percent.

"When there is not enough investment in the sector, food prices rise. In order to boost grain production, more subsidies for farmers are crucial."

Moreover, fertiliser and oil prices have fallen in the global market, but not in Bangladesh.

"When the Russia-Ukraine war began, fertiliser and oil prices surged. Although the prices fell significantly last year, people in Bangladesh did not benefit from it," he added.

In his speech, Finance Minister Ali said, "Existing incentives to the agriculture sector will be continued since food security is of the highest importance here. We have given the highest priority to the agriculture sector in our budget."

However, many farmers were disappointed by the new budget.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh sees record food grains production

According to the FAO report, of the 64.3 million tonnes of cereal outputs, paddy was 58.6 million tonnes

en.prothomalo.com

Food and agriculture
Bangladesh sees record food grains production
Iftekhar MahmudDhaka
Published: 12 Jun 2024, 17: 36

Nazma Begum, keeping her toddler son Zarif on a side, along with another woman lays paddy to dry on a terrace. She will earn Tk 300 as her daily wage from this labour. Photo taken from Madla area in Shajahanpur upazila of Bogura on 3 March 2024.Soyel Rana

Bangladesh witnessed production of a record 64.3 million tonnes of food grains, including rice, maize and wheat, in 2023. The food production is estimated to rise further between last April and this June despite various natural calamities.

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) revealed this data in a report released from its headquarters in Rome, Italy on 5 June.

The report also highlighted a crisis in food in the country and a drop in the import of required amounts of food. Overall, the number of people experiencing food insecurity rose by 900,000.

According to the FAO report, of the 64.3 million tonnes of food grain production, rice was 58.6 million tonnes, maize 4.7 million tonnes and wheat was 101 million tonnes. Food grain production increased to 63.13 million tonnes in the 2022-23 marketing year from 60.92 million tonnes in 2018.

The report said, "Localised crop losses were caused by pockets of dryness and heatwaves in April in parts of the country, while hail, strong winds and localised flash floods, brought by the passage of Cyclone Remal, affected crops, particularly in Khulna Division.

"Harvesting of the 2024 boro paddy crop, which is mostly irrigated and accounts for about 55 per cent of the annual output, finalised at the end of May and production prospects are favourable," it read.

Planting of the 2024 aman paddy crop, accounting for about 35 per cent of the annual output, started in late May. Planting of the 2024 aus paddy crop, accounting for about 10 per cent of the annual output is ongoing, supported by favourable soil moisture conditions and harvesting will start in late June 2024.

Harvesting of the 2024 winter maize crop, accounting for about 85 per cent of the annual output, finalised in April and production is estimated at a record level, mostly reflecting large sowings driven by high prices at planting time. Favourable weather conditions and the widespread use of high-yielding seed varieties resulted in above-average yields, the FAO predicted.

The 2024 summer maize crop, accounting for about 15 per cent of the annual output, is currently at flowering and grain-filling stages, and crop conditions are generally favourable. Production of the 2024 wheat crop, harvested in April, is estimated at an average level of 1.1 million tonnes, according to the FAO report.

State of food grains import

Imports of food grains consist mostly of wheat plus some minor quantities of rice and maize. According to the FAO report, Bangladesh set a target to import 7.1 million tonnes of food grains in the 2023-24 marketing year, and that was below the average level for the second consecutive year.

"This is mainly due to the country's low import capacity, caused by dwindling foreign currency reserves and the significant depreciation of the taka from May 2022 to July 2023," the FAO said.

Yet, the food ministry set a target to import 400,000 tonnes of rice in calendar 2024.

Food secretary Md Ismail Hossain told Prothom Alo said that prices of rice and wheat have increased slightly, but farmers are getting fair prices from this additional price, resulting in a rise in production. Besides, no crisis of rice arose in the country despite the low imports.

However, the record food grains harvests in 2022, 2023 and half of 2024 have improved food availability in the country.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Bilal9]

কম ফলনে হতাশ সোনারগাঁয়ের আগাম জাতের লিচু চাষিরা

বারো ভূঁইয়ার শাসনামলে সোনারগাঁ বাণিজ্যের জন্য খুবই বিখ্যাত ছিল। পর্তুগিজরা প্রথম এ অঞ্চলে লিচুর চারা নিয়ে আসেন, তখন থেকেই এখানে লিচু চাষ হয়।

bangla.thedailystar.net

কম ফলনে হতাশ সোনারগাঁয়ের আগাম জাতের লিচু চাষিরা
বারো ভূঁইয়ার শাসনামলে সোনারগাঁ বাণিজ্যের জন্য খুবই বিখ্যাত ছিল। পর্তুগিজরা প্রথম এ অঞ্চলে লিচুর চারা নিয়ে আসেন, তখন থেকেই এখানে লিচু চাষ হয়।

View attachment 5912
স্টার ফাইল ছবি

আগাম জাতের হওয়ায় নারায়ণগঞ্জের সোনারগাঁ উপজেলার লিচু বাগানগুলোতে তুলনামূলক দ্রুত ফল আসে। তবে এ বছর টানা তাপদাহ ও শিলাবৃষ্টিতে লিচুর উৎপাদন কম হয়েছে। বাগান মালিকদের আশঙ্কা, এবার আশানুরূপ মুনাফার দেখা পাওয়া যাবে না।

বাগান মালিক ও কৃষি কর্মকর্তাদের সঙ্গে কথা বলে জানা যায়, নারায়ণগঞ্জের মাটি ও আবহাওয়া লিচু চাষের উপযোগী। যদিও, কেবল সোনারগাঁ উপজেলাতেই লিচুর চাষ হয়। এ বছর উপজেলার ১২টি গ্রামের অন্তত ১০৭ হেক্টর জমিতে ৭৮০টি বাগানে লিচুর বাণিজ্যিক চাষ করা হয়েছে। সাধারণত কদমি, পাতি ও চায়না-৩; এই তিন জাতের লিচু গাছ আছে এসব বাগানে।

সোনারগাঁ উপজেলা কৃষি কর্মকর্তা আফরোজা ইসলাম দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, গতবছর বাগানগুলোতে ৭০০ মেট্রিক টন লিচু উৎপাদন হয়েছিল। এ বছর বাগানের সংখ্যা বাড়ায় উৎপাদন বেশি হবে বলে আশা ছিল। কিন্তু অত্যধিক গরম ও শিলাবৃষ্টির কারণে এ বছরও ৭০০ মেট্রিক টন উৎপাদন হতে পারে।

গত মঙ্গলবার সোনারগাঁওয়ের ঐতিহ্যবাহী পানাম নগর, চিলারবাগ, উত্তর ষোলপাড়া গ্রামে ঘুরে রাস্তার দুইপাশে সারি সারি লিচু বাগান দেখা যায়। অধিকাংশ বাগানের মালিক মৌসুমি ব্যবসায়ীদের কাছে আগাম বাগান ইজারা দেন। গাছে ফুল আসা থেকে ফলের পরিচর্যা ও লিচু বাজারজাত করা পর্যন্ত সবকিছুই করেন ব্যবসায়ীরা।

মৌসুমি লিচু ব্যবসায়ী রনি আহমেদ এবার ৩০ শতাংশ আয়তনের একটি বাগার ৮৫ হাজার টাকায় ইজারা নিয়েছেন। গাছের পরিচর্যা ও অন্যান্য কাজে বিনিয়োগ করেছেন আরও ২৫ হাজার টাকা। তবে, ভালো ফলন না হওয়ায় হতাশ রনি।

'আমি অন্তত ৩০ হাজার লিচু পাওয়ার আশা করছিলাম। গত দুই দিনে লিচু পেয়েছি মাত্র ২০ হাজার। অথচ দুই বছর আগেও এই বাগান থেকে ৩৬ হাজার লিচু পেয়েছি। এ বছর সময়মতো বৃষ্টি হয় নাই, সেই সঙ্গে ভীষণ গরম ছিল। এজন্য লিচু ঠিকমতো বড় হয়নি। শেষে শিলাবৃষ্টিতে অনেক লিচু নষ্ট হয়ে গেছে', বলেন তিনি।

গাছ থেকে লিচু পেড়ে কুমিল্লার দাউদকান্দিতে একটি আড়তে বিক্রি করার সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছেন রনি। তিনি বলেন, 'বাগানভাড়া ও অন্যান্য খরচ বাদ দিলে হাতে কিছু টাকা থাকবে। কিন্তু পুরো মৌসুমে যে পরিশ্রম করছি এর তুলনায় এটা কিছু না।'

প্রায় একই অভিজ্ঞতার কথা জানান এ অঞ্চলের বড় বাগানের মালিকরা।

উত্তর ষোলপাড়া গ্রামে ২৭০ শতাংশেরও বেশি জমিতে একটি লিচু বাগান করা হয়েছে। এ বাগানে লিচু গাছ আছে ৮৬টি। মঙ্গলবার দুপুরে বাগানটিতে কয়েকজনকে লিচু পেড়ে বাজারে নিয়ে যাওয়ার প্রস্তুতি নিতে দেখা যায়।

এই বাগানের দেখাশোনা করেছেন ৫৯ বছর বয়সী বেনু মোল্লা। দীর্ঘ ৩৫ বছর বিভিন্ন লিচু বাগানে কাজ করা এই প্রবীণ দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, মাঘ মাসের শেষ দিকে সোনারগাঁয়ের লিচু গাছে ফুল দেখা যায়। লিচু পাড়া শুরু হয় বৈশাখের মাঝামাঝি সময়ে। লিচুর ফলন ভালো হওয়ার জন্য পর্যাপ্ত বৃষ্টি ও অনুকূল আবহাওয়া জরুরি।

বাগানটি ভাড়ায় নেওয়া মো. হানিফ বলেন, 'এবার গাছে ভালো ফুল আসছিল। এইটা দেইখা অন্যবার একটি বাগান লিজ নিলেও এবার তিনটা নিছি। কিন্তু এখন পড়ছি মুশকিলে। রইদের তাপে কোনো সমস্যা ছিল না, যদি সময়মতো বৃষ্টি হইতো। যেই আশায় তিনটা বাগান লিজ নিছিলাম সেই আশা পূরণ হইবো না। কারণ ফলন কম।'

আশানুরূপ ফলন না হলেও লিচু বাজারজাত করতে কোনো ঝামেলা পোহাতে হয় না বলে জানান বাগান মালিক ও মৌসুমি ব্যবসায়ীরা। বেশিরভাগ লিচু উপজেলার মোগরাপাড়া বাজারে ফলের আড়তে বিক্রি হয়। সেখান থেকে রাজধানী ও আশেপাশের এলাকার ফলের বাজারে পৌঁছে যায় লিচু। প্রতি হাজার লিচু তিন-পাঁচ হাজার টাকায় বিক্রি হচ্ছে এ বছর। তবে চায়না-৩ জাতের লিচুর দাম তুলনামূলক বেশি।

এছাড়া, সোনারগাঁ লোক ও কারুশিল্প জাদুঘর এবং পানাম নগরে বেড়াতে আসা দর্শনার্থীরাও লিচু কিনে নিয়ে যান বলে জানান বাগান মালিকরা।

কৃষি কর্মকর্তা আফরোজা দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, বারো ভূঁইয়ার শাসনামলে সোনারগাঁ বাণিজ্যের জন্য খুবই বিখ্যাত ছিল। পর্তুগিজরা প্রথম এ অঞ্চলে লিচুর চারা নিয়ে আসেন, তখন থেকেই এখানে লিচু চাষ হয়। তবে বাণিজ্যিক চাষ গত কয়েকবছর ধরে বেড়েছে।

'সোনারগাঁয়ের লিচু দেশের অন্যান্য অঞ্চলের তুলনায় অন্তত একমাস আগে বাজারে আসে। দিনাজপুরের লিচু বাজারে আসে আরও কিছুদিন পর। এসব কারণে সোনারগাঁয়ের লিচুর কদর বেশি। বর্তমানে রাজধানীর কাওরানবাজারসহ বিভিন্ন এলাকার বাজারে যেসব লিচু পাওয়া যাচ্ছে এর ৯০ শতাংশই সোনারগাঁয়ে উৎপাদিত।'

এদিকে, এ বছর ফলন কম হওয়ার পেছনে আরও একটি কারণের কথা জানালেন এ কৃষি কর্মকর্তা।

তিনি বলেন, 'এই উপজেলায় অনেক বাগানমালিক আছেন যারা বাগান ভাড়া দিয়ে দেন। ভাড়াটে চাষিরা অনেক সময় গাছের সঠিক পরিচর্যা করেন না। এমনকি কৃষি কর্মকর্তাদেরও পরামর্শ নিতে আসেন না। তীব্র তাপদাহে নিয়মিত পানি ব্যবহার ও সেচের প্রয়োজন আছে। তাছাড়া, লিচু পাড়ার পরও বাগানের পরিচর্যা করতে হয়, নইলে পরের বছর ভালো ফলন পাওয়া যায় না। এক্ষেত্রে অনেকেই উদাসীন।'

তবে, নিজেদের সীমাবদ্ধতার কথা জানিয়ে আফরোজা বলেন, 'বাগান মালিক ও চাষিদের আমরা সবসময় পরামর্শ দিয়ে সহযোগিতা করি। গাছে কীটনাশক ছিটানোর মেশিনও দেওয়া হয়। কিন্তু আমাদের কাছে পর্যাপ্ত মেশিন নেই। এজন্য উপজেলা নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তার কাছে চাহিদাপত্র দেওয়া আছে।'​

I will add English transliteration so non-Bengali speakers can understand the content.

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Early variety litchi farmers in Sonargaon are disappointed with low yield

During the reign of Baro Bhuiyan, Sonargaon was very famous for trade. The Portuguese first brought litchi seedlings to the region, and since then litchi has been cultivated here.

As it is an early variety, litchi gardens of Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj bears fruit relatively quickly. But this year litchi production has decreased due to continuous heat and hail. Garden owners are afraid, this time they will not see the expected profit.

Talking to garden owners and agricultural officials, it is known that Narayanganj's soil and climate are suitable for litchi cultivation. However, litchi is cultivated only in Sonargaon upazila. This year litchi has been cultivated commercially in 780 gardens on at least 107 hectares of land in 12 villages of the upazila. Usually Kadami, Pati and China-3; There are three types of litchi trees in these gardens.

Sonargaon Upazila Agriculture Officer Afroza Islam told The Daily Star that 700 metric tons of litchi were produced in the gardens last year. This year the production was expected to increase by increasing the number of gardens. But due to excessive heat and hailstorm this year too 700 MT production may be reduced.

Last Tuesday, visiting traditional Panam Nagar, Chilarbagh, North Sholpara village of Sonargaon, rows of litchi gardens can be seen on both sides of the road. Most orchard owners lease orchards in advance to seasonal traders. The traders do everything from flowering the trees to tending the fruit and marketing the litchi.

Roni Ahmed, a seasonal litchi trader, has leased a 30 percent area for Tk 85,000. He invested another 25 thousand rupees in tree care and other works. However, Ronnie is disappointed because of the poor yield.

'I was expecting at least 30,000 litchis. I got only 20 thousand litchi in last two days. But two years ago, I got 36 thousand litchi from this garden. This year it didn't rain on time and it was very hot. That's why litchi did not grow properly. At the end, many litchis have been destroyed by the hailstorm', he said.

Rony has decided to sell litchis to a farm in Daudkandi, Comilla. He said, 'If garden rent and other expenses are excluded, there will be some money in hand. But it's nothing compared to the hard work I've been doing all season.'

Almost the same experience was reported by the owners of large gardens in the region.

A litchi garden has been planted on more than 270 percent of the land in North Sholpara village. There are 86 litchi trees in this garden. On Tuesday afternoon, some people could be seen in the garden preparing to take litchis to the market.

This garden is looked after by 59 year old Benu Molla. This veteran, who has worked in various litchi gardens for 35 years, told The Daily Star that flowers are seen on the litchi trees of Sonargaon at the end of the month of Magh. Lychee harvest begins in the middle of Baisakh. Sufficient rainfall and favorable weather conditions are essential for good yield of litchi.

The garden was rented. Hanif said, 'This time the tree was getting good flowers. Seeing this, I took one garden lease last time, but this time I took three. But now I am reading with difficulty. Raid had no problem with the heat, if it rained in time. The hope with which I had leased three gardens will not be fulfilled. Because the yield is low.'

Garden owners and seasonal traders said that even if the yield is not as expected, there is no problem in marketing litchi. Most of the litchi are sold as fruit in the Mograpara market of the upazila. From there, litchi reaches the fruit markets of the capital and surrounding areas. Every 1000 litchi is being sold for 3-5 thousand rupees this year. However, the price of China-3 type litchi is relatively high.

Apart from this, visitors to Sonargaon Folk and Crafts Museum and Panam Nagar also buy litchis, the garden owners said.

Agriculture officer Afroza told The Daily Star that Sonargaon was very famous for trade during Baro Bhuiyan's rule. The Portuguese first brought litchi seedlings to the region, and since then litchi has been cultivated here. However, commercial cultivation has increased over the past few years.

'Sonargaon's litchi comes to the market at least a month earlier than other parts of the country. Litchi of Dinajpur comes to the market after a few days. Sonargaon litchi is highly valued for these reasons. At present, 90 percent of the litchis that are available in the markets of Kawran Bazar and other areas of the capital are produced in Sonargaon.

Meanwhile, the agricultural officer said another reason behind the low yield this year.

He said, 'There are many garden owners in this upazila who rent gardens. Tenant farmers often do not take proper care of the trees. Even the agriculture officials do not come to take advice. In severe heat, regular water use and irrigation is required. Moreover, even after planting the litchi, the garden needs to be tended, otherwise the next year will not produce a good harvest. Many are indifferent in this regard.'

However, Afroza said about their limitations, "We always advise and support garden owners and farmers. Machines are also provided to spray pesticides on trees. But we don't have enough machines."

For this reason, a demand-requisition letter has been submitted to the upazila executive officer to provide more machines.

 

[Saif]

Climate Change: Bangladesh may lose a third of agri output by 2050

Climate variability could result in the loss of one-third of Bangladesh’s agricultural GDP by 2050, said a recent World Bank report.

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Climate Change: Bangladesh may lose a third of agri output by 2050
Says a recent WB report

File photo

Climate variability could result in the loss of one-third of Bangladesh's agricultural GDP by 2050, said a recent World Bank report.

By 2040, it could cause the loss of 6.5 percent of the country's cropland, said the report titled 'Framework for Implementing Green Growth in Bangladesh'.

The report, which was released yesterday, said climate variability could result in the loss of 18 percent of the cropland in southern Bangladesh.

Bangladesh faced an estimated average annual loss of $1 billion (0.7 percent of GDP) from tropical cyclones alone.

Also, the coastal population is at risk from events such as 100-year coastal floods, which could become more frequent.

"Climate and other environmental hazards have greater impacts on the poor and other vulnerable groups. Efforts to reduce poverty, particularly amongst populations whose livelihoods rely heavily on natural resources, continue to be hampered by climate change," the WB said in the report.

Green growth -- which balances economic prosperity with environmental compliance, benefits and protection -- can be a strong and sustainable driver of growth.

Subsequently, the report proposed nine key policy directions that aim to achieve three overarching objectives: effective environmental governance and energy transition, new engines and skills for green growth and a just transition to a resilient, green and healthy society.

The policy directions include strengthening environmental governance, promoting renewable energy trade, promoting inclusive connectivity through green transport and logistics systems, investing in green industries and human capital, and improving public health and wellbeing, among others.

It is important that all the recommended policies work together for them to be successful, the report said.

"Global experience shows that growth that harms the environment cannot be sustained. On the other hand, green growth can offer a strong and effective way to reduce poverty while safeguarding our environment, essentially serving as a catalyst for growth," said Abdoulaye Seck, the WB's country director for Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Highlighting several shortcomings of budget implementation in climate financing, the report says Bangladesh has multiple environmental laws, regulations and plans and yet demonstrates weak performance in environmental management.

Implementation challenges primarily relate to two issues.

One is a case for prioritisation of public investment within the annual development programme managed by the planning ministry together with line ministries.

Second, limited coordination exists between the ADP formulation process and the annual budget process, which is managed by the finance ministry.

"These shortcomings have resulted in an inefficient public investment management system, with insufficient budgetary allocations to investment projects and a low execution rate," the WB said in the report.

Bangladesh's climate-related allocation currently stands at 7.5 percent of the total budget or 0.8 percent of GDP.

The report also highlighted weaknesses in Bangladesh's financial sector weaknesses.

Structural weaknesses in Bangladesh's banking system and institutional bottlenecks pose some of the biggest challenges to increasing the volume and range of green financing instruments, resulting in green investments being perceived as riskier than non-green ones.

To read the rest of the news, please click mon the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Centres opened to help farmers get fair price

Agritech startup Fashol Dotcom Limited and SAFE have collaborated to establish three farmers\' centres in the Barendra region, notably in Natore, Rajshahi and Bogura districts, to address challenges farmers encounter when selling their produce....

www.newagebd.net

Centres opened to help farmers get fair price
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 14 June, 2024, 19:58

| UNB photo.

Agritech startup Fashol Dotcom Limited and SAFE have collaborated to establish three farmers' centres in the Barendra region, notably in Natore, Rajshahi and Bogura districts, to address challenges farmers encounter when selling their produce, according to a press release on Friday.

The Fashol Farmers' Centres were opened last Monday in the presence of nearly 300 farmers. Among those who attended the event were SAFE founder Arifa Jesmin Kanika, Fashol founder and CEO Sakib Hossain, SAFE co-founder Nasima Akter Nisha, Singra Municipality Mayor Md Jannatul Ferdous, Fashol co-founder Mamunur Rashid, agricultural officers from the three sub-districts and Fashol's head of distribution Nasir Uddin.

According to government agricultural officers, these three sub-districts are home to about 4,00,000 farmers. These farmers sell their agricultural products to buyers across the country via multiple intermediaries, where they are frequently subjected to uncertainty and receive low prices for their production.

Farmers can use these Fashol Farmers' Centres to send their products all across the country without the need for intermediaries. Currently, about 25 to 30 per cent of produce is lost during transportation to customers; however, with supply chain technology and Fashol's direct supply chain, this may be reduced to less than 4 per cent, they said.

SAFE founder Arifa Jesmin stated that Bangladesh was an agricultural country. However, the amount of fertile land available for agriculture decreases rapidly year after year. To boost production on available land, the essential actions must be implemented. In this regard, SAFE has collaborated with Fashol to help farmers develop in agriculture. These Fashol Centres provide farmers with a wide range of services.

Farmers can sell their agricultural products at good prices at these centres, receive 24-hour agricultural assistance, purchase contemporary technology and obtain correct seeds to boost output.

According to the press release, Fashol Dotcom Limited, one of the country's major vegetable supply chain networks, has launched a new project to bring about necessary improvements in the agriculture industry.

Company's CEO Sakib Hossain said that they had intended to establish 300 Fashol Centres by the end of 2025, each connected via Fashol's supply chain technology. These Farmers' Centres will allow about 1 million farmers in more than 40 districts to sell their products.​

 

[Saif]

Chittagong Hill Tracts transform into a new hub of agriculture

“You are being transferred to the Chittagong Hill Tracts.”

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From Bare To Bountiful
Chittagong Hill Tracts transform into a new hub of agriculture

Photo: Laltanlian Pangkhua

"You are being transferred to the Chittagong Hill Tracts."

This was a popular dialogue in the climactic scene of Bengali movies in the 1990s, when the hilly regions were looked upon as the backwoods of the nation, a place where government employees would be posted as a punitive measure.

However, the 'backwards' CHT of the past now stands as a beacon of massive economic, educational, and social progress. Once, thousands of acres were uncultivated in the CHT. Now, the areas are full of various crops and fruits.

A few hundred years ago, rice, tea, and oilseeds were cultivated in the plains between the valleys of the CHT, earning it the acclaim of being known as Karpas Mahal (land of cotton) during the Mughal Empire.

But as times changed, so did the mode of cultivation. Jhum cultivation, also known as slash and burn agriculture, was the dominant force in the region in the past. While it remains a tradition, it is no longer the way of life.

Now, the region is filled with all kinds of crops throughout the year as the community cultivates cashew nuts, coffee, pineapples, mangoes, jackfruits, bananas, oranges, guavas, dragon fruits, strawberries, lemons, papayas, custard-apples, wood apples, ginger, and turmeric.

Vegetables are also produced, with most being organic as they hardly apply fertilisers since the soil is fertile and naturally yields abundantly. At present, orchards upon orchards of fruit are being cultivated in the hills.

The three hilly districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban -- now produce about 20 percent of the total fruit in Bangladesh, according to officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). This is a result of modern farming methods.

Once a rare sight in the CHT, power tillers, pumps, and tractors combined with modern irrigation systems and the use of improved seed varieties have replaced the traditional farming system.

Mohammed Basirul Alam, acting deputy director of the DAE of Khagrachhari, said there are around 3,500 people in the district who cultivate mangoes on around 4,150 hectares.

According to DAE estimates, Khagrachhari will produce around 49,000 tonnes of mangoes this year. Alam believes mangoes worth around Tk 200 crore are grown in the district annually.

Md Altaf Hossain, chief scientific officer of the Hill Agriculture Research Station under the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Station in Khagrachhari, said fruit production increased substantially in the three hill districts in the past 15 years on the back of the improvement in the communication systems and growing entrepreneurial mindset.

He is also the project director of the "Cashew nut and coffee research project".

Once, mangoes would be brought to the CHT from Rajshahi, but according to Hossain, the three districts now meet over 20 percent of the country's demand for the delicious fruit.

Although it would be impossible to pinpoint the moment that things began to shift, the introduction of mobile networks to the region in 2008 undoubtedly shaped its economic destiny. Numerous infrastructure development projects since 2009, including the widening of roads and bridges boosted connectivity in the remote areas of the CHT. That played a major role, as did the connection to the national electricity grid.

Such bold initiatives brought a change in the mindset of the educated young generation, who began investing and profiting. Seeing that success, the next generation was encouraged to invest in agriculture.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

IMF charts path out of farm subsidy

The International Monetary Fund has suggested an alternative to reducing agricultural subsidies -- raising fertiliser prices and providing cash or vouchers for certain farm inputs to support poor farmers.

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IMF charts path out of farm subsidy

The International Monetary Fund has suggested an alternative to reducing agricultural subsidies -- raising fertiliser prices and providing cash or vouchers for certain farm inputs to support poor farmers.

The global lender also recommended removing incentives for remittance and gradually reducing subsidy on electricity.

The IMF made the suggestions in its programme document as the lender approved $1.15 billion in the third tranche of the $4.7 billion loan to Bangladesh on Monday.

The government has assured the IMF of progressively reducing the subsidy on power by hiking the prices four times a year, but it did not say anything about cutting or withdrawing the subsidies on remittance and agriculture.

"Increases in fertiliser prices could be coupled with cash transfers or vouchers for a range of agricultural inputs (including fertiliser) targeted at small or poor farmers," the IMF said.

It said several options can be considered to lessen the fertiliser subsidy bill.

Raising domestic production of fertiliser by increasing the natural gas supply to existing fertiliser factories could also help cut the reliance on expensive imports. The impact of a reduction in gas supply to other sectors would need to be carefully considered, the IMF said.

In April 2023, the World Bank provided Bangladesh $500 million for agricultural and rural transformation. With the funding, the government will build a comprehensive database of farmers and experiment with e-vouchers for fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.

The IMF said the new database and the findings are expected to yield valuable information that the authorities can use for a rethink of the agricultural subsidy system and put current budget allocations for fertiliser subsidies to more productive uses.

It said the current fixed price system -- under which farmers purchase fertiliser at a set price irrespective of quantity procured or farmer characteristics -- provides a universal and untargeted subsidy that favours the use of fertiliser over other agricultural inputs.

"As a result, farmers may overuse fertilisers while underinvesting in other inputs such as high-yielding seed varieties and precision irrigation systems."

Better agricultural extension services could help lower dependence on fertilisers and achieve the same agricultural output with a smaller amount of fertiliser inputs, the global lender said.

A sharp rise in global prices of these commodities since 2021 has led to a significant increase in subsidy claims in recent years. This is concentrated in the electricity and agricultural sectors, where domestic price adjustments have failed to keep pace with the rise in costs, according to the IMF.

Whereas natural gas and fuel prices were raised broadly in line with international prices, concerns about food security and affordability amid an already inflationary environment led the government to limit price increases on fertilisers and power, it said.

"As a result, subsidy claims by electricity and fertiliser producers and importers have risen substantially and were met in part through arrears and the issuance of special, low-interest bonds to commercial banks to offset outstanding loans to electricity and fertiliser companies."

The government allocated more than Tk 1 lakh crore for subsidies and incentives in the current fiscal year. The same amount has been allocated in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

As per the IMF report, the government has recognised the unsustainable nature of the current subsidy bill and signalled its intention to raise power prices in 2024 and beyond.

It said the government intends to avoid incurring new arrears and enable the gradual clearing of arrears and eventual phasing out of power subsidies over five years.

To this end, the authorities implemented a first round of increase in the retail electricity price by 4 percent in February 2024 and are expected to continue raising prices gradually with around four price adjustments per year.

"Electricity subsidies are thus expected to start declining from FY25."

The IMF said avoiding new domestic arrears and clearing arrears is crucial to safeguarding fiscal prudence.

Increased subsidy demands from independent power producers and fertiliser suppliers since FY22 have resulted in domestic arrears of Tk 52,000 crore, which is about 1 percent of the GDP.

"The issuance of special bonds to commercial banks at below-market interest rates to pay off outstanding debts of electricity and fertiliser companies in lieu of subsidy payments should be discontinued," the IMF said.

Since January, the government has issued special bonds worth Tk 26,200 crore, which is 0.5 percent of the GDP.

The bonds carry interest rates equal to the repo rate, below prevailing market rates for treasury bonds of comparable maturity (8-10 years) and can be used as collateral against liquidity facilities from the Bangladesh Bank, it said.

The repo rate is the rate at which the central bank lends money to commercial banks.

The government now provides 2.5 percent incentives for remittance.

The IMF said the recent exchange rate reforms make such an incentive for attracting inflows unnecessary.

"Consequently, the government is encouraged to reduce this subsidy below 2 percent and eliminate it eventually."​

 

[Saif]

Agri product export rises, but amount remains below par

Bangladesh’s agricultural product exports increased in the July-May period of the 2023-24 financial year compared with that in the same period of the previous financial year, but exporters expressed disappointment over the amount, saying that the export performance was below par...

www.newagebd.net

Agri product export rises, but amount remains below par
Staff Correspondent 29 June, 2024, 22:20

A file photo shows a man arranging jackfruits at a roadside makeshift shop in the capital Dhaka recently. Bangladesh's agricultural product exports increased in the July-May period of the 2023-24 financial year compared with that in the same period of the previous financial year, but exporters expressed disappointment over the amount, saying that the export performance was below par. | New Age photo

Bangladesh's agricultural product exports increased in the July-May period of the 2023-24 financial year compared with that in the same period of the previous financial year, but exporters expressed disappointment over the amount, saying that the export performance was below par.

Bangladesh has failed to fully realise the potential of its agricultural product exports to the global market due to a shortage of air cargo, excessively high freight costs, and increased production costs of vegetables, exporters said.

They urged the government to ensure the availability of air cargo at competitive rates for agricultural products to maintain competitiveness on the global market, as competitor countries like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are capturing potential market share in the Middle East and the United Kingdom.

According to Export Promotion Bureau data, Bangladesh's agricultural product exports in the 11 months of FY24 increased by 8.2 per cent to $846.33 million compared with that of $782.19 in the same period of FY23.

'We should not be complacent with the 8 per cent growth in the sector, instead, we must remember that export earnings from the sector exceeded $1 billion in FY21 and FY22,' Mohammad Monsur, chairman of the FBCCI standing committee on import and export of fruits and vegetables, told New Age on Saturday.

He observed that exports in the sector had been decreasing for the past three years due to lack of adequate cargo space for perishable goods, high freight costs, a shortage of scanners at the country's airports and increased production costs of agricultural products.

Monsur, also managing director of Monsur General Trading Company, claimed they were facing a severe shortage of cargo space as air shipments of readymade garments had increased in recent months due to the Red Sea crisis.

Additionally, he mentioned that Biman Bangladesh increased freight rates 10 times in the past two months, with costs rising to $4.30 a kilogram from $2 a kilogram in February.

The EPB data showed that, Bangladesh's vegetables exports in July-May of FY24 increased by 52.23 per cent to $88.92 million compared with that of $58.03 million in the same period of fY23.

Dry food exports in the period increased by 6.45 per cent to $200.96 million.

The data showed that the country's fruits exports in the first 11 months of FY24 increased to $22.33 million from less than $1 million in the same period of the previous financial year.

Monsur said that although the data showed significant increase of fruits exports in July-May of FY24 and the earnings mostly came from India as exporters were forced to send mangoes, litchis and jackfruits to India through land ports instead of the UK and the Middle East due to lack of cargo space.

He also said that the earnings could have increased if exporters could send the fruits directly to the European and Middle East markets.

The exporter also said that in exporting vegetables Bangladesh had failed to gain its potential market share in the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as competitor countries, including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were sending low-cost vegetables with lower freight costs than Bangladesh.

The government data showed that Bangladesh's export earnings from vegetables in FY23 decreased to $61.14 million compared with that of $164 million in FY20.

The country's vegetables exports were at $99.91 million in FY22.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry has recently urged the government to ensure sufficient air cargo capacity to expand the export of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products.

FBCCI president Mahbubul Alam said that the apex trade body had already held high-level discussions with the government to address issues related to the import and export of goods.​

 

[Saif]

AI set to revolutionise agriculture in Bangladesh

Agriculture, the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy, is on the brink of a technological revolution. With agriculture contributing approximately 13.6 percent to the national GDP and employing nearly half of the workforce, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) offer an unprecedented...

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AI set to revolutionize agriculture in Bangladesh

Agriculture, the backbone of Bangladesh's economy, is on the brink of a technological revolution. With agriculture contributing approximately 13.6 percent to the national GDP and employing nearly half of the workforce, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) offer an unprecedented opportunity to enhance productivity and sustainability in the sector.

Bangladesh, like many developing countries, faces technological backwardness in agriculture. AI can act as a catalyst, fast-tracking the adoption of advanced technologies.

Empowering farmers with disease identification

Identifying plant diseases early and accurately has been a perennial challenge for Bangladeshi farmers. Traditional methods often require expert knowledge and significant time investment, resources that smallholder farmers frequently lack. AI technology is poised to change this dynamic.

Leveraging image recognition, AI systems can identify plant diseases with remarkable accuracy. Farmers can photograph an affected plant using a smartphone, and the AI will diagnose the disease and suggest remedies. This innovation saves time and prevents crop losses, ensuring better yields and income for farmers.

Accessible consultations for illiterate farmers

A significant number of Bangladeshi farmers are illiterate or have limited formal education. Traditional dissemination methods, like written manuals, are often ineffective for these farmers.

AI-powered systems can provide consultations over the phone, using natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to queries in local languages. This voice-based interaction makes it easier for farmers to receive expert advice, improving their farming practices and decision-making. This also solves the dependency on smartphones, a blocker to reaching out to many farmers in the country.

Adapting agricultural education

To effectively implement these technological advancements, agricultural universities in Bangladesh must adapt quickly. Updating curricula to include the latest technologies and AI applications is essential.

Equipping students with knowledge and skills in modern agricultural practices will ensure a future-ready workforce capable of driving the sector forward.

Role of start-ups in bringing new technology

Agritech start-ups in Bangladesh are emerging as key players in introducing new technologies. Though still few, some start-ups have gained recognition and secured funding.

Notable examples include iFarmer, Khamar-e, Integrated Precision Agriculture and Engineering Bangladesh (iPAGE), Krishi Shwapno, Bhalo Social Enterprises, and Fashol. These start-ups are at the forefront of integrating AI and other advanced technologies into agriculture, providing innovative solutions that enhance productivity and sustainability.

Global success stories

AI's transformative potential in agriculture is evidenced by success stories worldwide. In India, the AI-powered app Plantix helps farmers identify pests and diseases by analysing photos of crops, significantly reducing crop loss and improving yields.

In the United States, Blue River Technology, acquired by John Deere, uses machine learning to develop precision agriculture equipment that identifies and manages individual plants, reducing herbicide use and improving crop management. In Africa, AI-powered drones for precision farming have improved irrigation management, soil analysis, and crop monitoring, increasing productivity and sustainability.

The integration of AI into agriculture in Bangladesh promises a transformed landscape. By enabling disease identification, providing accessible consultations, supporting start-ups, updating educational curricula, and learning from global success stories, AI can significantly enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

As Bangladesh strides towards a technologically advanced future, AI will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping its agricultural success.

The author is chief of staff of ShopUp.​

 

[Saif]

Supporting small farmers to ensure nation's food security

Small farmers, who constitute 28 per cent of the country's population and work on farmlands that have been shrinking at an alarming rate of about 16,000 hectares annually, thanks to unplanned urbanization, development work and expanding settlements, are obviously in dire straits. As they contribute

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Supporting small farmers to ensure nation's food security
Published :
Jul 02, 2024 22:09
Updated :
Jul 02, 2024 22:09

Small farmers, who constitute 28 per cent of the country's population and work on farmlands that have been shrinking at an alarming rate of about 16,000 hectares annually, thanks to unplanned urbanization, development work and expanding settlements, are obviously in dire straits. As they contribute in a big way to the nation's food security, protecting them involves preventing the agricultural lands on which they still work from further receding. At the same time, they would need policy support including cheap credit to procure the crucial agricultural inputs to continue with their farming activities. Needless to say, they would also need the support from the scientific community to come up with new farming techniques to make the best use of the agricultural land still available through preserving its fertility and increasing productivity by introducing newer varieties of rice and other food crops that can withstand the onslaught of climate change.

All such issues of huge national significance were the subject of deliberations at a recent seminar hosted in the city by the government-supported policy think tank, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). The experts at the discussion could not agree more with the factors already delineated in the foregoing that are coming in the way of the small farmers' capacity to go on with their farming activities sustainably. Consider the target of producing 47.2 million tonnes of rice by 2050, as projected by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), which does research and develop ways to improve rice production. It may be argued that encouraging commercial agriculture more aggressively, the nation can meet that target using modern farming technology. But in that case, the challenge would be to protect the small farmers and their livelihood. In fact, protection of the small farmers also includes preservation of their agricultural practices handed down from previous generations and the culture that go with them.

True, commercialisation of agriculture that requires investment of bigger capital promises higher profit. And that often comes at the expense of the existing farming practices that focus more on protecting the environment and the ecosystem of land, water, and the farming community than on just yield. And how thoughtless use of fertllisers and pesticides wreaked havoc on land fertility and agricultural ecology in the name of the mid-twentieth century's so-called 'Green Revolution' is now history.

A developing, land-scarce nation facing the challenge of feeding an ever-growing population, Bangladesh can ill-afford to put all its eggs in one basket. So, a mix of commercial, scientific and traditional farming culture would be required to protect the existing farming community as well as boost production of food grains. In this connection, discussants at the said seminar suggested bringing over 4.4 million hectares of land in 17 coastal districts under three-season cultivation. The policymakers in the agriculture sector need to think seriously about the idea keeping in mind that the worst challenge to food security will be coming from the country's coastal districts, home to around 29 per cent of the population. As rising sea level has increased salinity of coastal lands, the farmers of those districts will require such varieties of food crops which can fight salinity, floods and other vagaries of nature effectively.

Saving the small farmers is not just about serving a humanitarian cause. For it is important that a sector that accounts for 40 per cent of national employment is well-protected through necessary state intervention in the form of financial inclusion of small farmers so their living condition is improved. In that case, they won't have to switch to other professions or migrate en masse to the cities in search of a livelihood.​

 

[Saif]

Traditional farming now at risk

Small farmers are now in danger of leaving the profession altogether. In the face of severe shortcomings, the traditional small holding farmer can no longer afford to stay true to the profession of his forefathers and that has raised alarm bells across the board from policymakers to agriculture exp

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Traditional farming now at risk
SYED MANSUR HASHIM
Published :
Jul 02, 2024 22:03
Updated :
Jul 02, 2024 22:03

Small farmers are now in danger of leaving the profession altogether. In the face of severe shortcomings, the traditional small holding farmer can no longer afford to stay true to the profession of his forefathers and that has raised alarm bells across the board from policymakers to agriculture experts. And although the country has pivoted towards gradual industrialisation and trade, food security remains a cornerstone of State policy because of the large population that must be fed. In the midst of the increasing trend of big business groups branching into large-scale commercial farming, the lot of the average farmer has fallen on hard times.

These matters and others came up for discussion at a seminar organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) last Sunday. Experts have opined that traditional agriculture needs to evolve and in a developing nation like Bangladesh, more targeted policy support is needed to save small farms. Increasingly, agri-commercialisation is elbowing out small farmers, who form the backbone of agriculture in this country. The fact that Bangladesh needs to raise rice output to 47.2 million tonnes by 2050 isn't going to happen on its own, and a lot depends on these subsistence farmers surviving and continuing to grow crops. While technological advancements have made it possible for the country to feed its 165 + million populace till date, experts opined that some 4.4 million hectares of land in 17 coastal districts need to be brought under the three-season cropping system.

Policymakers must be acutely aware of giving space to small farmers if it wishes not only to uplift millions out of subsistence living but also ensure food security. However, changing weather patterns - ample historical data that is available through research in Bangladesh and collaborative works between Bangladeshi and foreign agencies, reveal that adverse conditions point to a declining trend of arable land. While there has been progress made in introducing multiple stress-tolerant varieties of crop, policy support will be essential to bring more land under cultivation.

Entire generations of farmers are quitting farming and this has everything to do with the fact that they cannot get their money's worth during harvest season. Market imperfections run rampant and not much has happened to cut out the middlemen who make windfall profits at the cost of farmers who often sell at a loss. The lack of proper logistics is another major impediment that hasn't been sorted out satisfactorily for farmers to get their harvested crops or other produce to markets cost effectively.

As pointed out by one expert, the government should give them support in terms of mechanisation, i.e. provide the financial regime whereby small farmers can leapfrog into the 21st century with time-saving equipment that could seriously increase food production at field level. Despite some breakthroughs, not enough research is being done to bring multiple varieties of crops and other foodstuffs to the farmers which could help them increase the variety of things they can grow or rear on land. A gamut of policy initiatives that will range from reaching not just financial support, but also work out the nagging problems of supply chain, which includes addressing problems with the cold chain. Bangladeshi farmers produce in abundance many essential items - a significant portion of which rots due to unavailability of sufficient cold storage facilities.

Experts and agriculturists agreed that many issues need to be worked out, without which, traditional agriculture employing tens of millions of people will increasingly be at risk. Extortion on roads, transport management and the presence of syndicates which need to be treated as a law-and-order problem and dealt with accordingly. It is not the job of the government to manage the market, rather it ought to be involved heavily in ensuring fair market practices.​

 

[Saif]

Urea output plummets on feeble gas supply

Bangladesh is mostly relying on imports for urea as gas shortage has brought local fertiliser production to a near halt, in a development that will cost the country dearly in terms of foreign currency reserves and food inflation.

www.thedailystar.net

Urea output plummets on feeble gas supply
Imports meeting fertiliser needs ahead of aman season

Bangladesh is mostly relying on imports for urea as gas shortage has brought local fertiliser production to a near halt, in a development that will cost the country dearly in terms of foreign currency reserves and food inflation.

The country's six urea factories need 329 million cubic feet of gas a day (mmcfd), according to Petrobangla. Since February, Petrobangla has been providing only 107 mmcfd to the fertiliser sector. Subsequently, four of the six factories have halted production.

Only Ghorashal Polash Fertiliser (GPFPLC) and Karnaphuli Fertiliser (Kafco) are getting their required gas and are in operation. Of the two, the government has to purchase fertiliser at the prevailing rate in the global market from Kafco, a joint venture between the government and private investors from Bangladesh, Japan, Denmark and the Netherlands.

It means the government is getting urea from only GPFPLC out of five state-owned producers at a lower cost.

Currently, there is no fertiliser crisis, according to Md Saidur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).

"If we don't get gas from one or two more factories in the near future, there might be a problem," he said, adding that if the energy division were able to supply adequate gas, the factories would have been running in full swing.

The Aman season, which accounts for about 40 percent of Bangladesh's rice production, begins in July-August and ends in November-December. If the gas crisis continues, fertiliser supply may be hampered in the upcoming Aman season, which can go on to fuel food inflation.

In the absence of local urea production, the government is relying more and more on costly imports.

This gives rise to two problems: exhaustion of limited dollar stockpile and ensuring a strict shipment schedule of fertilisers, said Jahangir Alam, an agriculture economist.

As of June 30, foreign currency reserves stood at $21.8 billion, enough to meet about three-and-a-half months' import bills, according to data from the Bangladesh Bank.

"If we rely completely on imports during the farming season, there might be hold-ups in getting steady supply of fertilisers. Rather, it will be beneficial for all if we increase gas supply to the fertiliser plants," Alam added.

Gas supply to the fertiliser plants was reduced to make way for increased supply to the gas-fired power plants for higher electricity generation during the summer months, said a top official of Petrobangla on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly on the matter.

"The gas crisis has been going on for a long time, so the supply has to be rationed," he added.

Between July last year and April this year, Jamuna Fertiliser could meet just 42 percent of its production target for want of gas, while Shahjalal Fertiliser managed 57 percent, according to the latest report of BCIC.

Chittagong Urea Fertiliser met 74 percent of its production target and Ashuganj Fertiliser and Chemical Company 69 percent, the report said.

The four factories are shut now, which means they fell short of their production target for fiscal 2023-24 by a wider margin, according to BCIC officials.

Besides the urea, Bangladesh consumes DAP and TSP fertilisers, both of which are mostly imported.

The lone DAP factory achieved only 36.6 percent of its production target and the TSP factory achieved about 66 percent in April.

Last fiscal year, as much as $5 billion was spent on fertiliser imports, according to data from BCIC. In fiscal 2020-21, fertiliser imports stood at $1.4 billion. In the previous years, imports were even lower.

About 15 years ago, BCIC was producing 70 percent of the fertiliser required, according to Alam, also a director of Dhaka School of Economics. Now, local production accounts for 25 to 30 percent of the demand.

"BCIC became import dependent instead of focusing on scaling up local production, which was the main duty of the organisation. We have the advantage and ability to produce nearly 100 percent of required urea locally, but due to gas shortage, the import dependency has been increasing," Alam added.

If the government purchased fertiliser from local producers, the cost for per metric tonne of urea would be about Tk 25,000, according to BCIC officials. It costs more than Tk 45,000 to bring the same volume of urea from abroad. For urea purchases from Kafco, the rate is about Tk 40,000.

 

[Saif]

Potential of seaweed farming looks bright

Seaweed typically grows in salty sea water or on rocks below the high-water marks. It is an aquatic resource that is rich in iodine, vitamins and minerals and has been used widely in food supplements and pharmaceutical products. Research in many nations has shown that it has properties to help figh

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Potential of seaweed farming looks bright
SYED MANSUR HASHIM
Published :
Jul 12, 2024 21:27
Updated :
Jul 13, 2024 21:41

Seaweed typically grows in salty sea water or on rocks below the high-water marks. It is an aquatic resource that is rich in iodine, vitamins and minerals and has been used widely in food supplements and pharmaceutical products. Research in many nations has shown that it has properties to help fight various diseases in the human body and yet this natural resource has hardly been given the attention to it deserves in Bangladesh. Our farmers at large are not aware that this could very well provide a valuable source of income if farmed correctly.

While it is easy to talk about the 'Blue Economy', steps have not been taken at policy level to popularise seaweed cultivation. According to one study by a UN body, the annual global production of seaweed until recently was 33 billion tonnes with an economic value of US$11.80 billion. In Bangladesh, farmers are currently producing roughly 400 tonnes with an economic value of roughly $0.5 billion. The global market production is projected to double by 2024.

These are serious numbers and it's time to take cognizance of the fact that Bangladesh needs to diversify its exports. For too long the discourse in the country has revolved around diversification of readymade apparels, which constitutes 85 per cent of exports. The narrative has revolved around industrial production. While it is easy to forget that around 40 per cent of the workforce is still engaged in agriculture, and climatic changes are effecting changes in weather patterns that are adversely affecting traditional crops, it is time the government started thinking about other things like, seaweeds. As stated before, seaweeds have multiple applications and use ranging from food supplements to and for fodder (for cattle), chemicals, medicines, construction materials, to name but a few.

Another major advantage is that the production of this resource requires no land, fertilisers or pesticides - it simply grows on its own. All it requires is proper cultivation in the coastal belts of the country. According to researchers, there are some 32 types of seaweed available in Bangladesh and "14 of these species are commercially viable but only four variants are being farmed, that too on a small scale."

While the applications for this aquatic resource are well documented, as is the commercial value of it, there is no national plan to develop the resource on a large scale and numerous problems have been identified which hold back the growth of this sector. Cox's Bazaar area remains a prime location for planned seaweed production. Some efforts have been taken by the UNDP to train and financially equip some members of the community and the exercise has shown its viability. But it is one thing to ramp up seaweed production that adheres to international standards, quite another to introduce proper packaging and marketing of the product in question. Seaweed is a product and like all products, it requires a proper supply chain, marketing and promotion.

The global market for this product already exists, but there are numerous uses for it locally. In other countries, seaweed has been used to make fodder for cattle and that has direct application in our agriculture. If the supply of seaweed could be ensured in a large quantity at domestic level, the country's pharmaceutical industry would procure it as a raw material, and the surplus could be exported.

With introduction of large-scale seaweed cultivation, Bangladeshi farmers could get the benefit of opening up a secondary source of income and nutrition - not just by farming it, but also partly processing it, which would be considered "value addition" to fetch better prices. This could generate employment in the coastal belt. At the end of the day, since the demand is there, why not use this nature's gift to help generate income to reduce poverty and better the livelihoods of people along the coastal belt? Experience in other countries has shown that that seaweed is in vogue in developed nations as a food and new applications for this versatile resource is being found every day.

For any of this to happen, policymakers need to take stock of what is needed to develop a seaweed sector. Some of the impediments include lack of technology and knowhow, a trained labour force to harvest seaweed, etc. But these are hardly issues because workers can be trained and joint-ventures can be set up with foreign companies that can introduce the technology needed to make modern farms. State research organisations can also reach out to other countries which are global leaders in seaweed production. What is needed is policy direction and the will to effect change and only the State has the resources to imitate the changes needed in terms of rules and regulations and introduce the right policies to encourage what could be, a budding industry with serious export potential.​

 

[Saif]

Agro-processors for allowing aromatic rice export

Agro-processors have urged the government to allow the export of aromatic rice to increase earnings, according to a press release of Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (Bapa).

www.thedailystar.net

Agro-processors for allowing aromatic rice export

Agro-processors have urged the government to allow the export of aromatic rice to increase earnings, according to a press release of Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (Bapa).

Bapa said the domestic market for fragrant rice is small.

Exports of aromatic rice will result in the shipment of other products, enhancing the export basket, said the trade body after its 23rd annual general meeting (AGM) at Dhaka Club on Saturday.

The commerce ministry last year banned the export of fragrant rice in an effort to contain prices in the domestic market.

At the AGM, Bapa members expressed discontent over the government's latest move of reducing incentives on the export of agro-processed products from 15 percent to 10 percent.

Bapa demanded a reduction of the source tax for export from one percent.​

 

[Saif]

Banks release Tk 30,104cr in farm loans in 10 months

Banks disbursed Tk 30,104 crore in agricultural loans in July-April of the 2023-24 financial year, which accounts for 86 per cent of the total disbursement target for FY24, according to Bangladesh Bank data...

www.newagebd.net

Banks release Tk 30,104cr in farm loans in 10 months
Staff Correspondent 14 July, 2024, 22:26

Banks disbursed Tk 30,104 crore in agricultural loans in July-April of the 2023-24 financial year, which accounts for 86 per cent of the total disbursement target for FY24, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The recovery amount of agricultural loans reached Tk 28,949 crore in the 10 months of FY24, which was 7.66 per cent higher than that of the same period of the preceding year.

The disbursement target for agricultural credit in FY24 was Tk 35,000 crore, an increase of 13.6 per cent from the previous financial year's target of Tk 30,811 crore.

The outstanding balance, including interest, stood at Tk 56,487 crore in July-April, marking a 9.35-per cent increase from the previous financial year.

Overdue of agricultural credit stood at Tk 9,994.9 crore at the end of April 2024, which is 43.83 per cent higher than the overdue of Tk 6,949 crore at the end of April 2023.

State-owned commercial banks and specialised banks aimed to disburse Tk 12,030 crore, while private banks and foreign commercial banks targeted to release Tk 22,970 crore in farm loans in FY24.

Crop sub-sector received 45 per cent of the disbursed credit, followed by live-stock and poultry 24 per cent, fisheries 15 per cent, others 10 per cent and poverty alleviation 6 per cent.

In April 2024, Grameen Bank and 10 large non-government organisations disbursed Tk 12,584.73 crore as microcredit and recovered Tk 15,030.21 crore.

As agriculture plays a vital role in the country's economy, issuing credit to farmers has become crucial to keeping the agriculture-based rural economy vibrant, especially amid the ongoing global economic crisis.

More than 40 per cent of the country's workforce is directly employed in the agriculture sector.

Farm loans enable farmers to invest in inputs like seeds, fertilisers and machinery, leading to increased productivity and economic growth.

Farm loans also contribute to rural development by providing income opportunities and improving infrastructure in rural areas.

On May 22, 2022, the central bank instructed the country's banks to disburse agricultural credit at a concessional interest rate of 4 per cent for cultivating import substitute crops, including pulses, oilseeds, spices and maize.

In FY23, farmers received Tk 32,829 crore in loans and repaid Tk 33,010 crore.

Most of these loans were channelled through NGOs, which charge interest rates ranging from 24 to 30 per cent.

To address the challenge of reaching remote areas, banks allocated loan amounts to NGOs.

To encourage direct lending to farmers, the Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to disburse a minimum of 50 per cent of their total disbursements through their own channels.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladeshi mangoes approved for export to China: Embassy

China’s General Administration of Customs has made an announcement giving approval for Bangladeshi mangoes’ export to China. On July 26, the General Administration of Customs of China issued an announcement on phytosanitary requirements for importing fresh mangoes from Bangladesh. On

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladeshi mangoes approved for export to China: Embassy
UNB
Published :
Jul 29, 2024 18:44
Updated :
Jul 29, 2024 18:44

China's General Administration of Customs has made an announcement giving approval for Bangladeshi mangoes' export to China.

On July 26, the General Administration of Customs of China issued an announcement on phytosanitary requirements for importing fresh mangoes from Bangladesh.

On July 10, Bangladesh and China signed "Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Exporting of Fresh Mangoes from Bangladesh to China" witness by the two leaders of the countries in Beijing.

The release of the announcement is an important measure to implement the outcomes of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to China, which will provide a huge Chinese consumer market to Bangladeshi high-quality mangoes and help Bangladesh achieve its export diversification goals, said the Embassy of China in Dhaka on Monday.

The Embassy said it vividly demonstrates the essential features of mutually beneficial and win-win results of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.​

 

[Bilal9]

The commerce ministry last year banned the export of fragrant rice in an effort to contain prices in the domestic market.

It is rather easy to fathom why they did this.

Orders from New Delhi. This kneel-down servile Hasina philosophy in deference to Modi is bound to invade every export sector of Bangladesh.

In fact if Bangladeshi Awami amlas could scale back our apparel exports to help Indian apparel exports, they'd gladly do it.

Unfortunately - the Indian apparel export sector is, shall we say - deemed not "salvageable", even by Indian insider economists. Because of inbuilt inefficiencies and hampered by preponderance of small scale producers. They cannot compete with Bangladesh.

Witness, how Modi's lapdog WB BJP supremo Shuvendu was recently called into Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata today. Hilarious!

Maybe they are trying to do a mini regime change in WB.

Didi's police resisted but gave in at the last minute.



I guess these days Didi and Hasina don't really see eye-to-eye.

Essentially Modi runs Hasina's foreign policy and even Didi cannot say anything about that.

 

[Saif]

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/opinions/mango-export-to-china-bd-should-grab-the-opportunity

Mango export to China: BD should grab the opportunity
Mir Mostafizur Rahaman
Published :
Jul 31, 2024 21:54
Updated :
Jul 31, 2024 21:54

Bangladesh has a huge trade gap with China. In the FY22-23 the gap was worth over US$15.48 billion. For long, Bangladesh has been trying to reduce the gap but it could hardly make any headway in its pursuit. Bangladesh's export to the second largest economy of the world has hovered around one billion dollar mark.

Against this backdrop, the announcement by the Chinese authorities allowing Bangladesh to export its fresh mangoes is a welcome ove. According to reports, the General Administration of Customs of China issued the 'Announcement No. 94 of 2024' titled 'The Announcement on phytosanitary requirements for importing fresh mangoes from Bangladesh' on Friday last.

The announcement followed the signing of "Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Exporting of Fresh Mangoes from Bangladesh to China" in Beijing during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is a major breakthrough because through this announcement, Bangladesh has got the certification from the Chinese authorities for exporting fresh mangoes as well as the opportunity to explore 172 billion US dollar fruit market of China.

Besides opening up a huge Chinese consumer market to Bangladeshi high-quality mangoes, this decision will also help Bangladesh achieve its export diversification goals given the fact that nearly 90 per cent of the country's export basket is filled by only RMG products. For long, China has been showing its keen interest in importing mangoes and other fruits, including jackfruit and guava, from Bangladesh.

They also announced their decision to send an expert team to Dhaka to assess the feasibility and quality of Bangladeshi fresh mangoes. The team visited Bangladesh in June and the customs authority of China gave clearance regarding export of Bangladeshi mango to the market of the world's second largest economy based on the report of the team.

China was the second-largest global importer of mangoes, mangosteens and guavas after the US, buying around 380,000 tonnes in total in 2020. China's annual imports of mangoes - both fresh and processed - have steadily increased over the years, with a five-fold spike between 2019 and 2020.

On an average, China annually imported nearly 100 thousand tonnes of mangoes in the last several years. And its procurement price is not unattractive, as according to reports, the price of a 16-kg basket of mangoes supplied to China ranged from $16.56-24.84, depending on quality.

The Ministry of Agriculture reports that mango exports from Bangladesh reached approximately 310 tonnes in the fiscal year 2018-19, followed by 283 tonnes in 2019-20, 1,632 tonnes in 2020-21, and 1,757 tonnes in 2021-22. This represents a remarkable 467 per cent growth in mango exports over the past three years.

Middle Eastern countries have been the primary destinations for Bangladeshi mangoes, while the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany are also considered potential markets. Now, China emerges as another market for Bangladeshi mangoes. So, it is expected that the country's mango exporters would try their best to enter the Chinese market strongly.

Presently, neighbouring countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia are major mango exporters to China. As Bangladesh is given an opportunity, the concerned authorities should take an all-out effort to ensure that the mango exports to China can be launched smoothly.

The agriculture extension department has a critical responsibility in this regard. They should ensure that the farmers are able to get the necessary inputs for mango farming easily and at a reasonable price.

They should also impart necessary training to the mango farmers on how to maintain export quality of their harvests. The authorities concerned should also take necessary precautions so that no irregularities can take place in this case.

One can hardly forget the fact that on several occasions in the past, the country's image was dented abroad due to malpractices indulged in by a section of exporters to cheat the importers, in terms of quality and standard of export items.

And, due to malpractices indulged in by exporters concerned, shrimp exports from Bangladesh to the EU market had faced restrictions for a long time. Bangladesh has witnessed a significant increase in mango exports over the past few years, with taste of the fruit playing a vital role in overcoming competitors despite challenging conditions.

Let us hope that the country's export earnings would get a boost through exploring this new avenue.

If mango exports can be continued smoothly, it will also help Bangladesh to get certification for other fruits. One need not forget the huge market that China offers to the world.​

 

[Saif]

Biotechnology and agricultural productivity

Is biotechnology the next best resort to reach the desired levels of agricultural productivity? With the fast-increasing hungry mouths worldwide, the need to ensure food for all does call for methods to raise agricultural productivity twice its current state in the next decade or so. This has nece

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Biotechnology and agricultural productivity
Wasi Ahmed
Published :
Aug 13, 2024 22:19
Updated :
Aug 14, 2024 21:17

Representational photo

Is biotechnology the next best resort to reach the desired levels of agricultural productivity? With the fast-increasing hungry mouths worldwide, the need to ensure food for all does call for methods to raise agricultural productivity twice its current state in the next decade or so.

This has necessitated reinvigoration of agricultural research to increase crop productivity, and it is gaining more and more prominence not only in countries with farmland constraints but also in other nations where availability of land is no major problem. This is particularly so because innovations and technology have caused a huge watershed in crop productivity since the past decades necessitating a significant change in the patterns of cultivation, resulting in a manifold increase in the yield of crops of almost all varieties.

Gone are the days of conventional practices of cultivation reliant mostly on traditional knowledge handed down from generations. In Bangladesh, of late, the practice has attained a mix of conventional and semi-intensive methods of cultivation backed largely by positive experiments undertaken by the country's agro researchers. However laudable the efforts are, those barely go beyond innovation of newer seed varieties, use of fertiliser and the like. A great facilitator in the direction of boosting productivity is commonly believed to be the emerging genetically modified (GM) crops, cultured and fruitfully made use of by many countries. In a land-scarce country like ours with increasing population, raising productivity of agricultural products -- not just grains but a whole variety of horticulture products -- is crucial.

Agricultural productivity in the country has witnessed a sea change with grain production trebling between 1975 and 2020. Despite the laudable success, there are serious constraints to raising agricultural productivity due mainly to small holdings, declining soil fertility and various stress factors such as drought, flooding and intrusion of saline water. Besides, availability of cultivable land is declining because of urbanisation, construction of homesteads on crop fields in rural areas prompted by an increase in population and also land degradation. It has been estimated that currently the country has 8.3 million hectares of land available for crop production.

It is in this context that experts are strongly in favour of biotechnology to play an important role in increasing yield and addressing environmental stresses. Experts also hold the view that biotechnology provides powerful tools for sustainable development in agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry as well as the food and pharmaceutical industries.

It is quite clear that over the past several decades, technological developments and modernisation have grown concomitantly. Specifically, advances in genetic engineering have made possible the manipulation of crops to increase yield, ensuring food supplies for the increasing world population. The benefits of such agricultural modernisation have mostly favoured developed countries, whereas people living in developing and underdeveloped countries suffer widespread hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Hence, there is a necessity to create policies in order that the advances in biotechnology are translated into better agricultural practices that can meet the ever-growing food demand. The agricultural modernisation process, however, must consider that sustainable development is imperative in modern societies and that there is an increasing desire for consuming organic foods based on the idea that these foods have a higher quality and stimulate regional agricultural production.

Biotechnology has helped increase crop productivity by introducing such qualities as disease resistance and increased drought tolerance to the crops. Now, researchers can select genes for disease resistance from other species and transfer them to important crops.

Farmers use crop-protection technologies because they provide cost-effective solutions to pest problems which, if left uncontrolled, would severely lower yields. Crops such as corn, cotton, and potato have been successfully transformed through genetic engineering to make a protein that kills certain insects when they feed on the plants. In some cases, an effective transgenic crop-protection technology can control pests better and more cheaply than existing technologies.

Recognising the importance and impact of bio-technology in agricutural productivity, concerns have, however, been expressed from some quarters which feel that inadequate effort has been made to understand the problems in the use of transgenic crops, including their potential long-term impact. Genetically modified (GM) crops should be used for consumption after those have been subjected to rigorous tests to find if there are adverse impacts. This, no doubt, is a matter that should be looked into carefully and methodically. While there should not be any roadblock to innovations, it is important to remain alert to the adverse impacts that might accompany the brighter aspects of innovation and research. In Bangladesh, given that bio-technology is at a nascent stage, the country's researchers and scientists should bear with the odds, if any, while embracing innovations in this regard.​

 

[Saif]

Govt must prioritise smallholder farmers, farms

BUSINESS syndication and extortion on the road and at markets have for long been identified as major reasons for price increase of essentials. While consumer rights campaigners have continuously asked the government to address the issues, the authorities have failed to stop the menaces. The...

www.newagebd.net

Govt must prioritise smallholder farmers, farms
21 August, 2024, 00:00

BUSINESS syndication and extortion on the road and at markets have for long been identified as major reasons for price increase of essentials. While consumer rights campaigners have continuously asked the government to address the issues, the authorities have failed to stop the menaces. The failure has had negative implications on consumers, small farmers and their farms. Marginal farmers’ platform Bangladesh Poultry Association on August 19 once again demanded an immediate government action to break syndicates of big companies in the poultry sector to protect the interests of consumers and small farmers. The association says that a syndicate of a few corporate companies manipulates the prices of feed and day-old chicks, resulting in high production costs of chicken and eggs. The association alleges that 100,000 out of 160,000 small farms were forced to shut down because of a syndicate of 4–5 corporate companies, which gained an additional profit of Tk 5,920 crore in the past year through feed and chick market syndication. The prices of feed, day-old chicks and the production cost of an egg in Bangladesh are almost double the amounts in neighbouring countries because of market manipulation.

The price of feed is Tk 40–50 a kilogram, of a day-old chick Tk 25–35, the production cost of an egg Tk 5 and of broiler chicken Tk 76–86 a kilogram in India while the price of feed is Tk 60–72 a kilogram, of a day-old chick Tk 60–100, the production cost of an egg Tk 10.29 and that of broiler chicken Tk 155–170 a kilogram in Bangladesh. Marginal farms face, as the association claims, a loss of Tk 40–60 a kilogram of chicken and the financial strain leads to the closure of many small farms. The association also blames the livestock services department for favouring corporates. The government on various occasions admitted the presence of market manipulation and fined some businesses for this. The Competition Commission on January 23 fined two poultry farms, Diamond Egg Limited and CP Bangladesh, Tk 3.5 crore for their alleged collusive practices in artificially increasing egg prices. Market manipulation by business cartels is believed to have also caused a sharp increase in prices of other goods, too. When farmers cannot make even a marginal profit for their agricultural produces, intermediaries and big businesses make abnormal profits. In Bangladesh, 35 per cent of the final retail price goes to processors and intermediaries.

The authorities must realise that smallholder farmers are key to ensuring food security and facilitating them is the best way to ensure fair prices for producers and consumers. The authorities must, therefore, make adequate intervention to break business syndicates and show the dynamism needed to contain food inflation and save smallholder farmers. It must establish an effective market monitoring mechanism and empower smallholder farmers through effective policies and ground-level interventions.​

 

[Saif]

'Deshi Sarbi' banana farming popular in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, Aug 19: Banana cultivation is gaining popularity in Sadar upazila of the district as farmers are getting fair prices from the produce this year. Akkas Ali Mollah, 60, a farmer of village Bowalia, said he cultivated 'Deshi Sarbi' banana on five bighas (260 decimal) of land this current

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

'Deshi Sarbi' banana farming popular in Gopalganj
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Published :
Aug 20, 2024 09:32
Updated :
Aug 20, 2024 09:32

A farmer nursing his banana field at Bowalia in Sadar upazila of Gopalganj — FE Photo

GOPALGANJ, Aug 19: Banana cultivation is gaining popularity in Sadar upazila of the district as farmers are getting fair prices from the produce this year.

Akkas Ali Mollah, 60, a farmer of village Bowalia, said he cultivated 'Deshi Sarbi' banana on five bighas (260 decimal) of land this current year and its harvest already been start.

"I've got good price through selling the banana. Per (one) pone Banana (20 quartet) is being selling (wholesale) at the rate of Tk 250," he said.

Akkas also said this cash crop (Banana) farming also began commercially in this region and growers highly benefited from this Banana produce.

According to the Department of Agric-ultural Extension (DAE), Gopalganj official sources said a total of 189 hectares of land have been brought into Banana cultivation in the district this year. As many as 73 hectares are in Sadar upazila.

Liton Bala, Sub-Assi-stant Agriculture Officer (SAAO), Gopinathpur union under Gopalganj Sadar upazila in the district, told the FE that Banana farming profitable crop for farmers in this region and a farmer can harvest the banana from only 60 to 70 days from planting and farmers got at least 160 pcs of Banana from a Banana tree which wholesale price is Tk 500.

He more added when a farmer planting a Banana tree (seeding tree) and its continuing minimum three years long, due to growth its root & there is no need further planting SAAO, Liton said.

Now, the growers in this region farming this cash crop commercially. The farming areas are Gosherchar, Manikdha, Char Sonakoir, Podda-rerchar, Haridashpur, Bowalia, Charpathalia and Char Suktail with etc under Gopalganj Sadar upazila in the district, sources said.

Mofiz Sharif, 55, a Banana farmer of village Gopinathpur, Ward No. 5, under Gopinathpur union of Sadar upazila in the district, said he cultivated 'Dashi Sarbi' Banana on 25 decimal of land this current year.

Where investment about Tk 10,000 but I will got nearer Tk 50,000 from its produce, net profit Tk 40,000, Mofiz further said.

A farmer can harvest Banana around 60 to 70 days since its planting. It is not only that easy farming and short duration besides more profit, Mofiz said.

Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director (DD) Agriculture, Gopalganj told The FE that Banana cultivation is more profitable cash crop for farming in this region. About 1,150 farmers involved in this farming in the district this current year. Of them 450 farmers involved under Gopalganj Sadar upazila and those farmers are earning nearer taka 80,000 from one local bigha (52 decimal) of land but investment Tk only 20,000.

So, farmers are more interested on this Banana farming. Side by side our field workers SAAO closely monitoring on this farming and continuing collaborating them for this Banana cultivation, DD added.​

 

[Saif]

Agri product exports growing slowly. Here’s why

Even though Bangladesh is an agricultural country, its agricultural product exports grew at a slower pace compared to other goods over the past decade due to a lack of policy support, high costs and the absence of good agricultural practices.

www.thedailystar.net

Agri product exports growing slower than others. Here’s why

Even though Bangladesh is an agricultural country, its agricultural product exports grew at a slower pace compared to other goods over the past decade due to a lack of policy support, high costs and the absence of good agricultural practices.

The country's annual export earnings soared 114 percent to $50 billion in fiscal year 2022-23 in around a decade.

And while data for the whole of fiscal year 2023-24 is not yet available, it stood at $40 billion in the July-May period, according to data of the Bangladesh Bank.

The country's export of agricultural products was worth $536 million in fiscal year 2012-13 and it rose by 57 percent to $843 million by the end of fiscal year 2022-23.

In the 11 months of the last fiscal year, it was $846 million, the data showed.

And while there are several barriers to exporting agricultural products, the main one is a lack of policy support, said Md Iqtadul Hoque, general secretary of Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA).

For instance, aromatic rice exports were banned over apprehensions that it could put the country's food security at risk. "But this type of rice is not an essential food so it is not linked with food security," he added.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh annually produces up to 19 lakh tonnes of aromatic rice, of which it exports only about 10,000 tonnes.

As such, the government has the scope to earn a huge amount of foreign currency by allowing the export of aromatic rice, said Hoque.

There are many other examples of how policy support is lacking, including a reduction of cash incentives from 20 percent to 15 percent from fiscal year 2024-25, he said.

The high cost of raw materials is another reason that local exporters are lagging in international competition, he said, adding that the price of sugar has more than doubled in Bangladesh compared to India and Pakistan.

The price of wheat is also higher in the country, and sugar and wheat are two major ingredients of juice and snack items. "So how will we compete with others?" he asked.

Container freight costs also rose 4 to 5 times here. Besides, food producers need to import specialised packaging and pay a high duty to this end, which pushes up their input cost, said Hoque.

At present, there are 486 manufacturers of processed agricultural products, of which 241 are exporters while the rest cater to the domestic market.

Bangladesh exports cereal grains, tea, vegetables, tobacco, flowers, fruits, spices, dry food and other processed agricultural products to more than 145 countries.

Although the export earnings of the agricultural sector are not soaring, it is helping to ensure food security while also saving the country's foreign currency by providing import substitutes, Hoque added.

By fiscal year 2022-23, Bangladesh's food crop production had increased by around 38 percent to 467 lakh tonnes, as per data of the finance ministry.

Eleash Mridha, managing director of PRAN Group, said the export of agricultural products dropped in the last two years mainly due to the ban on exporting aromatic rice.

He also blamed high prices of sugar and flour and the rise in freight costs, saying cargo freight costs have not increased over the last couple of years in India and Thailand but it did rise in Bangladesh.

"So, we lag behind in competition," he added.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a good market for Bangladesh and so, the government could sign a free trade agreement with the ASEAN member countries in order to grab the market, he said.

Bangladesh's agro-processing sector has huge potential as most of the raw materials are locally produced, Mridha said, adding that the demand for their products is also high abroad.

As a result of the revolution in agricultural production, Bangladesh ranks third globally in the production of rice, vegetables, and onions while it is second in jute production, fourth in tea production and seventh in potato and mango cultivation.

Crop production in the country has risen in recent years thanks to farm mechanisation.

For example, around 6 percent of the agricultural land in Barishal has been lost due to urbanisation and other causes between 2014 and 2019. However, rice production in the region has not decreased and instead rose by 1.5 times owing to modern cultivation techniques.

In this situation, the country needs to focus on two things before putting in the effort on exports and securing a good position in global markets, said Md Nazim Uddin, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).

The first is to implement good agricultural practices and the second is to ensure the testing of products in laboratories accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), he said.

Good agricultural practices encourage moderate use of pesticides, organic and chemical fertilisers, and environment-friendly management of resources, he said.

In implementing these practices, it is important that uniform and correct procedures are adopted all throughout the way. It would ensure consumers' confidence as foreign buyers seek assurance of quality food, said Nazim Uddin.

Apart from Western countries, the Middle East has a huge demand for Bangladeshi products and other Asian countries are also exporting to this market comparatively easily, he said.

Sending agricultural products to the Middle East requires proper certification for ensuring food safety. Sometimes, ultrasonic washing and packaging can improve the quality, he added.

Nazim Uddin also said freight costs and a shortage of space for air cargoare major reasons for the low export of agricultural products.

"There is a huge potential for agricultural exports as the international market is huge," he added.

Data of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority shows that the international agriculture market is projected to reach $19,000 billion with a compound annual growth rate of 9.1 percent by 2027.

Bangladesh's total market size for agricultural products was $47.54 billion till 2022. So, there is a huge potential to grow the industry to capture the market. In this situation, the focus should be on the agro-processing industry, Hoque said.

The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, a state-run research firm, also identified in a research paper that policy barriers have a major impact on the export process of fruits and vegetables.

Export expansion and demand from supermarkets is constrained by poor quality of produce and imposition of different sanitary and phytosanitary criteria by importing countries, it said while adding that the high cost of airfreight is another big barrier.

Although the industrial and service sectors grew fast over the past decade, even contributing to export earnings and GDP, employment in the agricultural sector remains the major contributor. This indicates that the agricultural sector can ensure a higher number of jobs.

In fiscal year 2016-17, jobs in the agricultural sector accounted for 41 percent of the total labour force while it rose to 45 percent in 2022.

Interestingly, more women are joining the agriculture sector in Bangladesh as their job opportunities in industries, especially garment factories, have stagnated while men are switching to non-farm sectors.

Of the 31.98 million people employed in agriculture, 18.43 million are female, the data showed.

BAPA's Hoque recommended that they be provided bonded warehouse facility and tax rebates so that they could compete with international competitors.

To increase the contribution of the agricultural sector, he suggested that banks should come forward to provide more loans and the government should promote and facilitate farm mechanisation.

BARI's Uddin recommended focusing on Middle Eastern and Asian countries and following good agricultural practices targeting the Western countries.

He also suggested that contract farming by corporates could be a good way of sending products abroad as they can properly meet the preconditions set by the destination countries.

PRAN's Mridha recommended reducing the duty on sugar and flour used by export-based agro-processing industries.​

 

[Saif]

Put yourself in farmers’ shoes

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur yesterday urged banks to be compassionate, humane and empathetic when dealing with farmers who fail to repay loans for genuine and understandable difficulties.

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Put yourself in farmers’ shoes
BB governor tells banks dealing with agri borrowers in difficulties

Bangladesh Bank has set a target to disburse Tk 38,000 crore in loans for agricultural and rural development in fiscal year 2024-25. Photo: Star/file

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur yesterday urged banks to be compassionate, humane and empathetic when dealing with farmers who fail to repay loans for genuine and understandable difficulties.

"…to understand the situation farmers are in, put yourself in their shoes," he said, quoting a former official of International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"If we look at the situation from the farmer's angle, we will automatically behave humanely," he added.

He was responding to a journalist citing instances of farmers being harassed by being handcuffed and tied with a rope around the waist when being taken to court for failing to repay loans of Tk 5,000 to Tk 1,000.

Meanwhile, people defaulting on substantial amounts of loans are going scot-free, said the journalist.

"Borrowers should be viewed through the humanitarian lens. Because anyone can fall in difficulties at any time irrespective of whether they are big or small (in terms of wealth and influence). So, the humanitarian aspect is very important," said Mansur.

There could be cases where a farmer's death or any other difficulty was causing suffering for his family due to his loans, he said.

"Will it be useful by harassing the family members by putting rope around their waist?" he asked.

Borrowers can default on loans for a variety of reasons and strict enforcement of the law may not always be reasonable, he said.

Loans which farmers are genuinely unable to repay should be written off instead of being kept in the records for years, said Mansur.

"I would say that the matter should be resolved humanely on getting to know about the genuine reason," he said.

Mansur further said farmers often end up requiring assistance when intending to avail loans and this is where they fall victim to harassment from "brokers".

So, banks should ensure that they reach the loans directly to the farmers, he said.

"We will conduct a study on whether the brokers are getting the loans or the farmers to understand the ground reality. Then, we will take steps accordingly. The brokers will be dealt with an iron fist if necessary," he said.

The interaction took place at the central bank, which announced the Agricultural and Rural Credit Policy for FY25, by setting a target for disbursing Tk 38,000 crore in loans for agricultural and rural development in fiscal year 2024-25.

The target is 8.57 percent higher than that of the previous year.

Banks disbursed Tk 37,154 crore in agricultural and rural loans against a target of Tk 35,000 crore last fiscal year, meaning they exceeded the target by 6.15 percent.

Of the loan target set for the ongoing fiscal year, the state-owned commercial and specialised banks have been tasked with disbursing Tk 12,615 crore while private and foreign commercial banks Tk 25,385 crore.

A bank must use its own networks, such as branches, sub-branches and agent banking, contract farming or any other relevant linkage to achieve at least 50 percent of its credit disbursement targets.

The rest can be disbursed through its partnerships with other lenders.

Moreover, 60 percent loans should go to the crop sector, 13 percent fisheries and 15 percent livestock.

Managing directors of various banks and officials of Bangladesh Bank were present on the occasion.​

 

[Saif]

Massive crop losses may hurt our food security

Farmers, who suffered heavily during the floods, need help

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Massive crop losses may hurt our food security
Farmers, who suffered heavily during the floods, need help

VISUAL: STAR

After the recent floods, which claimed at least 71 lives, it is evident that a long, painful rebuilding process awaits affected communities even if they are not out of the woods yet, with the Met office warning about potential short-term flooding again later this month. Saddled simultaneously with the challenges of rebuilding homes and regaining livelihoods, these people will need continued help to weather this crisis. One area of recovery that deserves particular attention is agricultural rehabilitation.

According to an estimate, the recent floods have damaged crops worth Tk 3,346 crore, with about 14.14 lakh farmers in as many as 23 districts affected. A total of 986,214 tonnes of crops—including Aush and Aman paddy, vegetables, ginger, turmeric, fruit orchards, chilies, betel leaf, watermelon, papaya, and tomatoes—have been destroyed. Among the crops, paddy production has suffered the most significant damage. The inundation of Aman paddy fields and seedbeds has resulted in 6,85,000 tonnes of Aman paddy being wiped out, while 1,06,000 tonnes of Aush paddy have suffered the same consequence. That means, Tk 2,519 crore worth of paddy alone has been destroyed. Overall, crops were grown on over 14.3 lakh hectares, about 14.58 percent of which has been damaged.

This is a huge loss for the farmers, and a blow to our food security, with its impacts already being felt in the markets. Fields that swayed with the promise of a bountiful harvest even a few weeks ago now lies barren, their crops rotting in the mud. Beyond crops, the devastation of seedbeds and fish enclosures has further deepened the crisis. In the fisheries sector, the losses in 12 most-affected districts have exceeded Tk 1,590.36 crore. Add to that the damage caused to livestock, poultry, animal feed, aquaculture infrastructure, etc. In the face of such overwhelming loss, the need for swift action to rehabilitate farmers, especially paddy farmers, cannot be overstated.

One of the immediate priorities is to make agricultural inputs—including seeds and fertilisers—readily available for replanting crops. So the authorities must reach out to all farmers in need of help. Reportedly, the government is placing the highest priority on setting up Aman seedbeds to ensure replanting in ravaged fields. Many have still complained of a crisis of seeds and lack of official help. This has to be addressed. One silver lining in this regard, as with the rescue and relief efforts throughout this flood, has been the support of volunteers, particularly students and teachers from various agricultural universities, who are collecting and preparing seeds to help farmers.

Their collaboration and coordination will be a big part of the agricultural rehabilitation process, and they must keep up these efforts. They should also ensure that fish and vegetable farmers and entrepreneurs are not left out. We must bear in mind that many of the farmers have also lost their homes and savings, and without proper financial assistance, they will be unable to purchase the necessary inputs or invest in the recovery of their land. Low-interest loans, grants, and subsidies can be made available to help them get back on their feet.​

 

[Saif]

Enough fertilizer in stock to last till December: Agriculture Secretary

There will be no crisis with the stock of fertilizers, whether urea or non-urea, in the country till December, according to the secretary to the Agriculture Ministry on Sunday. There is at present a stock of 10.63 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizer, Secretary Emdad Ullah Mian said on Sunday. &ldquo

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Enough fertilizer in stock to last till December: Agriculture Secretary
UNB
Published :
Sep 08, 2024 22:17
Updated :
Sep 08, 2024 22:17

There will be no crisis with the stock of fertilizers, whether urea or non-urea, in the country till December, according to the secretary to the Agriculture Ministry on Sunday.

There is at present a stock of 10.63 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizer, Secretary Emdad Ullah Mian said on Sunday.

“With the current stock of fertilizers, the demand can be met till December. However, there is still some crisis in opening the LC of fertilizer import but we are constantly working to resolve the issue,” he said, while speaking at a view-exchange meeting with Bangladesh Agriculture Reporters Forum (BARF) at the ministry.

However, the process to provide incentives to the affected farmers in the flood-hit areas is ongoing, he said.

So far, Tk 193 crore has been allocated for the farmers which will be used for agriculture rehabilitation in phases, he added.

More than 14 lakh farmers in 23 districts have been affected by the floods, but mainly 11 districts have suffered extensive damage and most of the incentives are being given to the farmers of these districts, said secretary Emdad.

Besides, seedbeds of Aman have been made in all the unused lands of the agriculture department in these affected districts and adjoining districts which will be distributed among Aman farmers.

Under the rehabilitation programme, 80,000 small and marginal farmers of nine districts will be given free seeds of Ufsi variety, 10 kg of fertilizer assistance and Tk 1000 cash through mobile banking services for cultivating one bigha of land, he said.

Meanwhile, around 1.5 lakh farmers in 22 districts will be given seeds of different varieties of vegetables and Tk 1,000 in cash for early winter vegetable cultivation at homesteads.

The floods were caused by the onrush of water from upstream and torrential rainfall from August 16 to August 30, he said.

Almost ten lakh metric tonnes of produce including paddy, fruits and vegetable were damaged in the flood, incurring a damage of Tk 3,346 crore.

Besides, a total of 3,72,733 hectares of land have been damaged in the flood.​

 

[Saif]

Women in agriculture: Breaking barriers, shaping futures

Women comprise half of the country's population, yet they still lack equal access to the formal workforce. In the informal sectors, such as household work and rural farm and non-farm activities, they play a vital role that often goes unrecognised. There is, however, hope that the situation will gra

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Women in agriculture: Breaking barriers, shaping futures
Published :
Sep 08, 2024 21:53
Updated :
Sep 08, 2024 21:53

Women comprise half of the country's population, yet they still lack equal access to the formal workforce. In the informal sectors, such as household work and rural farm and non-farm activities, they play a vital role that often goes unrecognised. There is, however, hope that the situation will gradually improve as more and more women are joining the mainstream workforce. Over the past decade, Bangladesh has witnessed a quiet but powerful transformation in its agricultural sector. Women are now stepping forward from management of household chores to undertaking of commercially run small and medium farming enterprises across the country. This shift is not only altering the face of agriculture but also changing the dynamics of the labour force, where females are increasingly outpacing their male counterparts in participation and entrepreneurship. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2022, women aged 15 and above now account for 26.2 per cent of the agricultural workforce, compared with 19.2 per cent of men. This represents a significant 7-percentage-point gap, with women taking the lead in agriculture and its sub-sectors, including poultry, livestock, fisheries, and horticulture.

A recent report published in the Financial Express shed ample light on the success stories of female agro-entrepreneurs. The story of one woman entrepreneur highlights the scope of this transformation. Starting with a modest cattle farm, she has expanded into a thriving enterprise with croplands, fisheries, and livestock. Her journey, along with countless others, signals a broader trend of women turning household farming into commercial operations. Women, often viewed as supplementary contributors to family farming, are now the driving force behind many agricultural enterprises. This not only increases their economic independence but also empowers them to take control of their lives and play important roles in their communities. Women's growing participation in agriculture is also important to meet the shortage of farm labourers as most of the male farmers are migrating to urban areas or abroad with the hope of earning more money. Here, women can fill the vacuum left by their male counterparts.

Analysts believe that this gender shift in agriculture can further boost Bangladesh's agricultural productivity, provided women's capacity is continually upgraded. Various stakeholders-including local startups, banks, and international organisations-are already stepping in to support these efforts. Companies like iFarmer are facilitating access to finance, inputs, and markets, ensuring that women farmers have the resources they need to grow their businesses. These collaborations are dismantling long-standing barriers that have held women back.

In today's world, women are seen as active agents of change. The increase in the number of women in farming and entrepreneurship is just one example of how women are overturning long-standing gender norms that have confined many to household chores for generations. As women continue to cement their foothold in various sectors, it is essential to address the obstacles that may hinder their progress, such as the gender pay gap and sexual harassment. Moreover, to sustain this momentum, government agencies, commercial banks and development partners must intensify their efforts to provide the necessary support. Thus women's access to the same resources and opportunities as their male counterparts can be ensured. Training, access to technology, and financial inclusion are crucial to helping their transition from small-scale operations to larger, more impactful enterprises.​

 

[Saif]

Govt to train 32,000 Farmers

The government has launched an initiative to train 32,000 farmers on climate change adaptation strategies in an effort to build resilience against the growing impact of climate change

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Govt to train 32,000 Farmers

Photo: Collected

The government has launched an initiative to train 32,000 farmers on climate change adaptation strategies in an effort to build resilience against the growing impact of climate change.

As part of this project, 800 farmer groups from nine upazilas across five districts will be selected to participate in the training.

The plan was revealed at a National Validation Workshop on Vulnerability Risk Assessment held today.

The training aims to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to changing environmental conditions, helping secure agricultural productivity in the face of climate challenges.

According to officials, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is funding this project.

The project, with a budget of Tk 66 crore, began in July 2023 and is expected to be completed by June 2028.

Of the total budget, Tk 56 crore has been allocated to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), while Tk 10 crore is set aside for the Department of Environment.​

 

[Saif]

Averting a potential threat to agriculture

Any possible threat to a vital sector of the national economy, agriculture to be precise, raises alarm and great concern. A back-page story of the Financial Express on Saturday shed light on a looming fertiliser crisis that could hit agricultural output hard during the upcoming Rabi season in Janua

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Averting a potential threat to agriculture
Published :
Sep 29, 2024 21:34
Updated :
Sep 29, 2024 21:34

Any possible threat to a vital sector of the national economy, agriculture to be precise, raises alarm and great concern. A back-page story of the Financial Express on Saturday shed light on a looming fertiliser crisis that could hit agricultural output hard during the upcoming Rabi season in January. The recent floods have already severely impacted crop production in 23 districts, affecting over 1.41 million farmers. A total of 986,214 tonnes of crops, including Aush and Aman paddy, vegetables, ginger, turmeric, fruit orchards, chilies and tomatoes, have been completely destroyed. Now a fertiliser shortage, as warned by different government agencies including the agriculture ministry and the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), poses a double threat to the sector.

The economic hardship farmers have been facing due to the devastation of crops caused by the vagaries of nature is undoubtedly a matter of grave concern. The most alarming aspect of this situation, with potentially devastating consequences for the future of agriculture, is the failure of relevant government bodies to import sufficient fertiliser. Thanks to the unparalleled resilience of farmers against all odds, they will somehow recuperate from the losses caused by the floods. However, what will happen to them, to agriculture, and to the national economy if farmers are not supplied with an adequate amount of fertiliser in time? The gravity of this issue cannot be overemphasised. Experts have pointed out that a significant shortage of fertilisers could lead to severe disruptions in agricultural production, potentially spiralling into widespread unrest across the nation.

Despite the government's efforts to manage the situation, including approving the procurement of 140,000 tonnes of fertilisers and seeking to source supplies from various countries, including Russia, there remains an urgent need for coherent and coordinated action. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) currently owes $80 million in bills to international suppliers, a situation that has prompted major suppliers to halt shipments of fertilisers to Bangladesh. Projections indicate that by January 2025, the country's fertiliser stocks will dwindle to critical levels, potentially standing at just 0.438 million tonnes, which is insufficient to meet the needs of farmers during the peak Rabi season. Stakeholders are, therefore, asking the government to increase fertiliser imports and ensure timely payments to suppliers. Moreover, a number of fertiliser factories at home have been closed for months due to gas shortages, exacerbating the situation. It is imperative to ensure that fertiliser production facilities receive adequate gas supplies to resume operations.

Against the backdrop of poor performance in different sectors, the country's agriculture achieved sterling successes over the years in terms of research and development of new strains of crops, crop diversification and a near self-sufficiency in food production. These achievements of the sector not only contributed to the relative economic stability of the country but also to an increased calorie intake of the people and poverty reduction. No laxity should be allowed to vitiate the prospect of this vital sector. Fertiliser and quality seeds are the most fundamental inputs on which the agricultural sector thrives. Even if it requires allocation of special fund for procuring adequate amount of fertiliser, the government must opt for the initiative in the interest of the economy and the nation.​

 

[Saif]

Ensure steady supply of fertilisers for farmers

Looming fertiliser crisis could disrupt food production

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Ensure steady supply of fertilisers for farmers
Looming fertiliser crisis could disrupt food production

VISUAL: STAR

It is quite concerning to learn that the country may soon face a severe fertiliser shortage unless the government takes immediate action to address the production and import shortfalls. According to a report by Samakal, three major fertiliser factories have been closed for an extended period due to the ongoing gas crisis. At the same time, the government has been unable to meet its fertiliser import targets due to the dollar shortage and resultant accumulation of outstanding bills. Complicating matters further are administrative issues stemming from the instability following the July uprising and regime change, which prevented timely decisions. If the government fails to address these challenges promptly, it could disrupt food production in the coming months.

Reportedly, due to gas supply issues, factories under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) fell short of the fertiliser production target for the fiscal year 2023-24. While the target was set at one million tonnes, only 646,000 tonnes were produced, leaving a deficit of more than 350,000 tonnes. The current fertiliser stocks stand at just 435,000 tonnes, while the demand through March next year is 1.8 million tonnes. The alarming gap between demand and supply (through domestic production and imports) highlights the severity of the problem, requiring swift government intervention.

The question is: how will the government meet this enormous demand with only two of its fertiliser factories operating at present and import efforts being halted? Apparently, the BCIC's attempts to increase fertiliser imports through government-to-government (G2G) agreements have been hampered by the dollar crisis. Furthermore, Bangladesh owes international suppliers $80 million in unpaid bills, leading many exporters from China, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco to halt shipments.

Given these circumstances, the government must take steps to resolve the crisis urgently. Immediate measures should include settling the outstanding payments to resume imports and avert a supply chain collapse. Additionally, to reduce reliance on foreign imports in the long term, the government should bolster local fertiliser production by resolving the gas crisis and reopening closed factories. This will ensure a more stable and self-sufficient supply chain. We must understand that the fertiliser shortage is directly linked to our food security. Ensuring a steady supply of fertiliser is vital for maintaining agricultural productivity, supporting farmers, and preventing any food crisis. So, the authorities cannot afford to delay action any longer.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh's rice output crosses 4cr tonnes for the first time

For the first time, Bangladesh has bagged more than 4 crore tonnes of rice in a fiscal year (FY) thanks to increasing yields of the most grown crop, according to official data..Local farmers have been gradually switching to high-yielding and hybrid varieties of the cereal grain, bringing t

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Bangladesh's rice output crosses 4cr tonnes for the first time

For the first time, Bangladesh has bagged more than 4 crore tonnes of rice in a fiscal year (FY) thanks to increasing yields of the most grown crop, according to official data.

Local farmers have been gradually switching to high-yielding and hybrid varieties of the cereal grain, bringing the country's need for rice imports down to zero.

Estimates by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) show that farmers bagged 4.10 crore tonnes of rice in FY 2023-24, up by 4.1 percent year-on-year in what was the highest growth in six years.

The largest growth in yields came from Aman paddy, which was harvested in the previous winter ahead of Boro paddy in the dry season. Boro is the principal rice crop in Bangladesh.

Farmers got about 2.10 crore tonnes of rice through the Boro harvest in the May-June period early this calendar year.

FY24 marked the fifth year of a consistent rise in rice production with Wais Kabir, a former executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, linking the spike to yield enhancement.

"One of the main factors is that farmers have shifted to cultivating modern varieties of rice. They are growing more high-yielding and hybrid varieties. The acreage has also risen over time," he said.

Jahangir Alam, an agricultural economist, said increased rice production cut import of the cereal grain.

"We did not have to import any rice [in FY24]. Besides, this did not have much of an impact on prices as it seems public and private stocks were adequate," Kabir added.

Data of the food ministry shows that Bangladesh imported 10.56 lakh tonnes of rice in FY23 compared to zero public and private imports as of October 7 this year.

Kabir also said one of the reasons behind the zero rice imports was a surge in wheat imports.

The use of wheat by bakery and food processing industriesas well as animal feed has increased. This contributed to the reduced requirement for rice, he added.

Imports of wheat, the second most consumed cereal grain after rice, soared 71 percent year-on-year to 66 lakh tonnes in FY24.

M Asaduzzman, a professorial fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies expressed doubt over the rice production estimate.

He questioned why prices have gone up if supply was indeed adequate.

"Production has not risen as much as reported. Higher prices mean there is a supply shortage," he said, adding that rice accounts for a good portion of food inflation, which was high in the previous fiscal.

The BBS said food inflation rose to 10.65 percent in FY24 from 8.71 percent the year prior.

The price of rice coarse rice, the cheapest variety, was 7 percent higher year-on-year at Tk 50 to Tk 55 per kilogramme in Dhaka yesterday.

Asaduzzman informed that recurrent floods this year have raised concerns over the cultivation of Aman.

"We will have to import rice if Aman production suffers. And that will be clear at the beginning of November. So, the government should take a decision regarding imports next month," he said.

By the end of August, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Aus and Aman rice acreage and production in Bangladesh might decline because of the floods, particularly the devastating deluge in the eastern part of the country.

Estimates by the Department of Agricultural Extension show that Aman acreage declined to 57.35 lakh hectares this season from 35.5 lakh hectares previously.

Agricultural economist Alam said the overall Aman rice output may be 1.55 crore tonnes to 1.60 crore tonnes this year.

"Farmers had to transplant the seedlings late because of floods. This may cause lower yields," he said while adding that imports might not be needed as stocks of the grains are favourable.

"But the next Boro rice crop is crucial," he said. "We will not need to worry about food security of the staple grain if we can ensure production inputs, mainly fertiliser, at the doorsteps of farmers."

Kabir said the ongoing flood in the Sherpur-Netrokona districts will damage the Aman crop in the fields and it cannot be recovered.

"So, whether we will need to import or not will depend on the next Aman harvest. And the output of the upcoming Boro would depend largely on the management of fertiliser by the government."

"The interim government has to ensure proper management of fertiliser to ensure a good harvest of Boro rice," he added.​

 

[Saif]

Flood-hit farmers need proper support

Govt must ensure swift response based on their needs

www.thedailystar.net

Flood-hit farmers need proper support
Govt must ensure swift response based on their needs

As floodwaters begin to recede in the Mymensingh, Netrokona and Sherpur region, the scale of the destruction caused by the recent flash floods is gradually becoming apparent. Current estimates suggest that Aman crops over 83,000 hectares of land have been totally or partially ruined, impacting around 322,000 farmers. Moreover, a large number of fish farms have been washed away. In Sherpur alone, floods have washed away the fish from 7,366 ponds, affecting around 4,500 farmers. While a comprehensive assessment of the damage done to agriculture, fish farms, livestock and properties can only be made after the water fully recedes, it is already clear that recovery will be an immense challenge for this agriculturally crucial region.

Farmers whose crops have been destroyed have an uncertain future awaiting them. The damage to this season's Aman paddy is beyond repair, as the window for new cultivation has already passed. How will these farmers survive? Or, consider the case of fish farmers like Mohammad Ali, who had taken the lease of an acre of land to set up a fish farm and invested nearly Tk 7 lakh by taking a bank loan. He and others like him have not only lost their livelihoods but are now saddled with a crushing debt.

While the flood situation in these districts has improved to some extent over the last few days, many villages in low-lying areas still remain inundated. According to the local administration, about 13,000 families are still trapped by water. These people, too, face an uncertain future, not knowing what awaits them when the waters finally recede.

Under the circumstances, the government must urgently come up with a robust post-flood recovery plan for all the affected areas, while continuing its relief efforts by providing food, medicine and other essential supplies to the victims. Understandably, livelihood rehabilitation, particularly for farmers, will be one of the government's biggest challenges as they need to be given an alternative choice of crops or vegetables to cultivate since the Aman season is already over. To this end, the Department of Agricultural Extension should swiftly assess the conditions on the ground and identify suitable crops and vegetables for the affected areas. Immediate distribution of crop saplings, vegetable seeds, fertilisers, and other necessary inputs is also essential.

Those who cannot go back to their previous livelihoods must be given alternative means of earning a living. This is a huge task requiring strong coordination among all the relevant government agencies. We hope that the government will rise to the challenge, supported by NGOs and philanthropic organisations, to meet the post-flood needs of the affected communities.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh’s cotton use forecast revised upwards

Bangladesh’s cotton consumption is expected to rise marginally to 78 lakh bales in marketing year 2024-25, which began in August, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report published on Friday.

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Bangladesh’s cotton use forecast revised upwards

Bangladesh's cotton consumption is expected to rise marginally to 78 lakh bales in marketing year 2024-25, which began in August, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report published on Friday.

The US agency, in its initial projection in April this year, estimated cotton consumption in Bangladesh, the world's second-biggest clothing factory, at 80 lakh bales.

One bale equals 480 pounds or 218 kilogrammes (kg).

It revised the projection downwards in August and September before raising the forecast in its latest update.

Although the USDA did not explain the reasons behind the hike in its latest report, titled "Cotton: World Markets and Trade", industry stakeholders said the overall use of cotton by local textile mills may be higher this year.

"Business was unfavourable for various reasons, including the gas crisis and hike in its prices alongside unavailability of US dollars to open letters of credit (LCs) for cotton imports. Now, we can open LCs," said A Matin Chowdhury, managing director of New Asia Group, a vertically integrated apparel manufacturer.

Import and consumption of cotton yarn also grew last year.

It appears that local production of yarn will increase this year as cotton prices are falling in the international market— A Matin Chowdhury Managing Director of New Asia Group.

"It appears that local production of yarn will increase this year," he said, citing falling prices of cotton on the international market.

Cotton prices declined 15 percent year-on-year to $1.79 per kilogramme (kg) in July-September from $2.11 a year ago, according to the World Bank Commodities Price Data (The Pink Sheet).

"But a lot depends on gas and electricity supply," he said.

Insiders said the domestic market had been sluggish in July and August, with demand only starting to pick up by the end of September.

"The overall situation has improved to some extent. But spinners cannot run operations properly due to the gas and electricity crises," an official of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) said.

Mills run at over 80 percent of their capacity when the energy supply is adequate.

"But they are currently running at half of their capacity because of the gas and electricity crises," the official added.

The USDA said Bangladesh's domestic use of cotton hit 88 lakh bales in MY22 to feed the demand for export-oriented knitwear makers, the main export-earning sector.

However, cotton consumption began declining in subsequent years and overall use stood at 77.5 lakh bales in MY24.

The country is highly reliant on imports because of its low domestic production of cotton, which amounts to around 1.5 lakh bales annually.

Local millers import a good chunk from countries in West Africa followed by India, Brazil, the United States and Australia, according to the USDA.

The US agency estimated Bangladesh's imports of cotton for MY25 at 77 lakh bales -- around 2 percent higher than the 75.75 lakh bales imported the previous year.​

 

[Bilal9]

Agri product exports growing slowly. Here’s why

Even though Bangladesh is an agricultural country, its agricultural product exports grew at a slower pace compared to other goods over the past decade due to a lack of policy support, high costs and the absence of good agricultural practices.

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Agri product exports growing slower than others. Here’s why

View attachment 7839

Even though Bangladesh is an agricultural country, its agricultural product exports grew at a slower pace compared to other goods over the past decade due to a lack of policy support, high costs and the absence of good agricultural practices.

The country's annual export earnings soared 114 percent to $50 billion in fiscal year 2022-23 in around a decade.

And while data for the whole of fiscal year 2023-24 is not yet available, it stood at $40 billion in the July-May period, according to data of the Bangladesh Bank.

The country's export of agricultural products was worth $536 million in fiscal year 2012-13 and it rose by 57 percent to $843 million by the end of fiscal year 2022-23.

In the 11 months of the last fiscal year, it was $846 million, the data showed.

And while there are several barriers to exporting agricultural products, the main one is a lack of policy support, said Md Iqtadul Hoque, general secretary of Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA).

For instance, aromatic rice exports were banned over apprehensions that it could put the country's food security at risk. "But this type of rice is not an essential food so it is not linked with food security," he added.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh annually produces up to 19 lakh tonnes of aromatic rice, of which it exports only about 10,000 tonnes.

As such, the government has the scope to earn a huge amount of foreign currency by allowing the export of aromatic rice, said Hoque.

There are many other examples of how policy support is lacking, including a reduction of cash incentives from 20 percent to 15 percent from fiscal year 2024-25, he said.

The high cost of raw materials is another reason that local exporters are lagging in international competition, he said, adding that the price of sugar has more than doubled in Bangladesh compared to India and Pakistan.

The price of wheat is also higher in the country, and sugar and wheat are two major ingredients of juice and snack items. "So how will we compete with others?" he asked.

Container freight costs also rose 4 to 5 times here. Besides, food producers need to import specialised packaging and pay a high duty to this end, which pushes up their input cost, said Hoque.

At present, there are 486 manufacturers of processed agricultural products, of which 241 are exporters while the rest cater to the domestic market.

Bangladesh exports cereal grains, tea, vegetables, tobacco, flowers, fruits, spices, dry food and other processed agricultural products to more than 145 countries.

Although the export earnings of the agricultural sector are not soaring, it is helping to ensure food security while also saving the country's foreign currency by providing import substitutes, Hoque added.

By fiscal year 2022-23, Bangladesh's food crop production had increased by around 38 percent to 467 lakh tonnes, as per data of the finance ministry.

Eleash Mridha, managing director of PRAN Group, said the export of agricultural products dropped in the last two years mainly due to the ban on exporting aromatic rice.

He also blamed high prices of sugar and flour and the rise in freight costs, saying cargo freight costs have not increased over the last couple of years in India and Thailand but it did rise in Bangladesh.

"So, we lag behind in competition," he added.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a good market for Bangladesh and so, the government could sign a free trade agreement with the ASEAN member countries in order to grab the market, he said.

Bangladesh's agro-processing sector has huge potential as most of the raw materials are locally produced, Mridha said, adding that the demand for their products is also high abroad.

As a result of the revolution in agricultural production, Bangladesh ranks third globally in the production of rice, vegetables, and onions while it is second in jute production, fourth in tea production and seventh in potato and mango cultivation.

Crop production in the country has risen in recent years thanks to farm mechanisation.

For example, around 6 percent of the agricultural land in Barishal has been lost due to urbanisation and other causes between 2014 and 2019. However, rice production in the region has not decreased and instead rose by 1.5 times owing to modern cultivation techniques.

In this situation, the country needs to focus on two things before putting in the effort on exports and securing a good position in global markets, said Md Nazim Uddin, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).

The first is to implement good agricultural practices and the second is to ensure the testing of products in laboratories accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), he said.

Good agricultural practices encourage moderate use of pesticides, organic and chemical fertilisers, and environment-friendly management of resources, he said.

In implementing these practices, it is important that uniform and correct procedures are adopted all throughout the way. It would ensure consumers' confidence as foreign buyers seek assurance of quality food, said Nazim Uddin.

Apart from Western countries, the Middle East has a huge demand for Bangladeshi products and other Asian countries are also exporting to this market comparatively easily, he said.

Sending agricultural products to the Middle East requires proper certification for ensuring food safety. Sometimes, ultrasonic washing and packaging can improve the quality, he added.

Nazim Uddin also said freight costs and a shortage of space for air cargoare major reasons for the low export of agricultural products.

"There is a huge potential for agricultural exports as the international market is huge," he added.

Data of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority shows that the international agriculture market is projected to reach $19,000 billion with a compound annual growth rate of 9.1 percent by 2027.

Bangladesh's total market size for agricultural products was $47.54 billion till 2022. So, there is a huge potential to grow the industry to capture the market. In this situation, the focus should be on the agro-processing industry, Hoque said.

The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, a state-run research firm, also identified in a research paper that policy barriers have a major impact on the export process of fruits and vegetables.

Export expansion and demand from supermarkets is constrained by poor quality of produce and imposition of different sanitary and phytosanitary criteria by importing countries, it said while adding that the high cost of airfreight is another big barrier.

Although the industrial and service sectors grew fast over the past decade, even contributing to export earnings and GDP, employment in the agricultural sector remains the major contributor. This indicates that the agricultural sector can ensure a higher number of jobs.

In fiscal year 2016-17, jobs in the agricultural sector accounted for 41 percent of the total labour force while it rose to 45 percent in 2022.

Interestingly, more women are joining the agriculture sector in Bangladesh as their job opportunities in industries, especially garment factories, have stagnated while men are switching to non-farm sectors.

Of the 31.98 million people employed in agriculture, 18.43 million are female, the data showed.

BAPA's Hoque recommended that they be provided bonded warehouse facility and tax rebates so that they could compete with international competitors.

To increase the contribution of the agricultural sector, he suggested that banks should come forward to provide more loans and the government should promote and facilitate farm mechanisation.

BARI's Uddin recommended focusing on Middle Eastern and Asian countries and following good agricultural practices targeting the Western countries.

He also suggested that contract farming by corporates could be a good way of sending products abroad as they can properly meet the preconditions set by the destination countries.

PRAN's Mridha recommended reducing the duty on sugar and flour used by export-based agro-processing industries.​

Produce exports are being slowed because food processing sector has grown beyond leaps and bounds (of which some are also exported). If Mangos get converted to boxed juice - that is export that occurs.

 

[Saif]

Natural disasters cause colossal farming losses

A lack of insurance protection costs Bangladesh farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in colossal crop losses perennially in onslaughts of climate-related calamities, according to independent findings. Agricultural losses have amounted to an estimated US$700 million over

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Natural disasters cause colossal farming losses
Subsidised crop insurance seen as an effective tool to help affected farmers
Jasim Uddin Haroon
Published :
Oct 12, 2024 23:43
Updated :
Oct 12, 2024 23:43

A lack of insurance protection costs Bangladesh farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in colossal crop losses perennially in onslaughts of climate-related calamities, according to independent findings.

Agricultural losses have amounted to an estimated US$700 million over the past six years since 2019 due only to nine cyclones and heavy rains, according to data collated by the Ministry of Disaster Management through assessments conducted by officials at all administrative levels-- from the lowest to the highest tiers.

While considering all types of climate-related disasters, they have found agricultural damages significantly higher, with estimates from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the country's national statistical organisation, showing average annual losses of nearly $720 million between 2015 and 2020 or around 1.0 per cent of GDP.

These figures underscore severe threat that climate change poses to Bangladesh's agricultural sector, as crop insurance is not widely available for farmers at present.

In 2019, two major meteorological disasters caused agricultural losses amounting to $105.77 million. In 2020, a single disaster resulted in losses of $115.87 million, followed by a disaster in 2021 in sync that caused damages worth $360.35 million. In 2022, one event led to losses of $12.43 million, while in 2023, three major disasters caused damages of $42.45 million. As of 2024, one disaster has inflicted losses totaling $59.37 million.

A significant flood event in several southern districts in August and September 2024 is not included in those numbers.

The disaster ministry does not account for agricultural losses caused by minor events as they assess losses only for major disasters, according to officials familiar with the situation.

However, the estimates from the BBS for 2015-2020, published in May 2022, include losses from not only major disasters like cyclones and floods but also factors such as heavy rainfall, droughts, waterlogging, tidal surges, thunderstorms, landslides, and river erosion.

According to the EM-DAT database, a global disaster database, Bangladesh has experienced 133 meteorological, climatological, and hydrological disasters since 2000. More than half (70) were storms, especially tropical cyclones, followed by floods (41).

Climate experts note that increasingly frequent high temperatures and shorter winters are creating a gap in assessing the full impact of climate-related losses on the country's agriculture employing more than 40 per cent of total workforce.

Dr. Jiban Krishna Biswas, the immediate -past chief of Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, a non-profit organisation supporting sustainable agricultural research and development, told The Financial Express that high temperatures and shorter winters have become common phenomena in Bangladesh.

"Of course, this is due to global warming," the climate researcher, also former director -general of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), stated.

Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadek Ahmed, a climate scientist and Deputy Managing Director of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), says: "Farmers are losing out each year due to floods, droughts, short-lived winters, excessive rainfall, and insufficient rain."

PKSF, which finances NGOs providing credits and non-financial services at the grassroots level, is on the front lines of this development, as the country's agricultural loans amounting to Tk 350 billion annually are primarily disbursed through NGOs.

Dr Ahmed also notes with concern that the increasing frequency of heatwaves is reducing farmers' work capacity and degrading soil fertility, further inflating the already-substantial losses.

The 2024 Bangladesh heatwave, a significant climatic event that began on April 1, saw temperatures soar up to 42°C (108°F). This extreme heat had forced nationwide school closures, according to Meteorological department.

He mentions that Bangladesh lacks the technical capacity to collect and process data on agricultural losses due to heatwaves and short-lived winters from weather stations.

Despite the frequency of climate-related disasters, the country's total 16.88 million farm holdings in accordance with agricultural census remain unprotected, lacking the safety nets necessary to recover from losses and continue farming.

"Crops insurance remains neglected, keeping the entire agricultural sector uninsurable, as no government has seriously addressed the issue," he says in his Dhaka office, his frustration evident.

Farmers like Md Sabiar Rahman from Godagari in Rajshahi, a five-hour journey from Dhaka, are bearing the brunt of these disasters.

In November 2023, incessant rain turned his paddy fields into a soggy, inharvestable mess, costing him Tk 100,000 or $ 834, he shared with this correspondent recently during a visit.

Forced to take a Tk 50,000 or $417 loan from an NGO to cover his losses, Rahman struggles with the mandatory monthly deposits called DPS (a monthly deposit pension scheme)required by the loan, further straining his fragile finances.

Sitting under the tin roof of his modest home in Dewapara in Godagari, Rahman recalls the brief respite that a climate-related crop -insurance project offered him in 2018 when a similar disaster struck.

"We need financial help after disasters that affect our crops, but there's no insurance protection now," he says, his voice tinged with frustration and desperation.

Rahman's concerns are a common topic at local NGO meetings as he frequently advocates for the reinstatement of crop insurance.

Ekramul Hoque of Dhuroil in Mohanpur, another area in Rajshahi, has similar tales to tell.

Hoque, who now relies entirely on agriculture after leaving his job as a madrasa teacher (religious school), cultivates paddy and potatoes on his five bighas (approximately 135,000 square feet) of land.

"We are often victims of nature-whether it's floodwater, heavy rain, or no rain at all-it all affects our crops," he says.

The short-lived winters also impacts his potato cultivation, leading to poor yields.

"We need financial support after losing our crops, but there is no insurance now," Hoque laments, recalling the one time he insured his paddy in 2018, a decision he wishes he could make again.

The lack of widespread crop insurance in Bangladesh is rooted in a complex web of issues, including opposition reportedly from the ministry of agriculture.

Former Agriculture Secretary Md Nasiruzzaman told the FE that the then Agriculture Minister, Ms. Motia Chowdhury, opposed the introduction of widespread crop insurance, arguing that poor farmers would be unable to afford the premiums. As a result, the burden would fall on the government. He had worked with Ms. Chowdhury for a long time.

This correspondent had tried to contact the former agriculture minister, Ms Motia Chowdhury, but she could not be found through mobile phone.

A former senior official of the Ministry of Finance, while explaining the Agriculture Ministry's lack of cooperation on the issue of crop insurance, mentions that he faced significant opposition. "I encountered many challenges, even when launching an ADB-funded crop-insurance project in 2014," Mr. Arijit Chowdhury recalls.

Industry experts say that Bangladesh does not have crop insurance in the true sense. Very few non-life insurers out of 81 provide it as part of their "CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)" activities, but these efforts are not impactful for the entire agriculture sector or cannot be called widespread.

They have emphasised that subsidies are essential to make crop insurance viable, as insurers will only enter the market if such support is provided.

"I can say with certainty that there is no real crop insurance in Bangladesh. We only provide small-scale coverage, which can be seen as CSR because, without subsidies, offering crop insurance commercially across the agriculture sector is not feasible," says Md Khaled Mamun, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Insurance Company, a leading privately-owned non-life insurer in Bangladesh.

"Subsidies are crucial, along with strong government commitment to protect farmers. In India, the government covers up to 80 per cent of premiums, which is why their system is successful," he adds.

The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded a weather-index-based crop -insurance project, implemented by the state-owned Sadharan Bima Corporation (SBC).

The project, which ran from 2014 to 2018, covered farmers in Rajshahi, Sirajganj, and Noakhali due to their exposure to droughts, floods, and cyclones respectively.

Despite insuring 10,000 farmers and collecting Tk 5.2 million in premiums, the project paid out Tk 6.5 million in compensation during its four-year run, along with additional administrative costs.

The ADB-funded pilot project on weather-index-based crop insurance concluded in 2018.

The ADB- financed pilot project used the NGOs' network to collect the farmers interested in the crop insurance.

Md Wasiuful Hoq, Project Director and now a general manager at SBC in Dhaka, suggests forming a national agriculture- insurance corporation to address these issues and ensure wider coverage.

He points to India's Agriculture Insurance Company as a successful model, where crop insurance is widely available with substantial government subsidies.

Mr. Hoq also states that this is feasible in Bangladesh, too, and insurers will not incur losses if reinsurance is secured, along with government subsidies.

Arup Kumar Chatterjee, an ADB financial specialist who worked on the project, emphasises that crop insurance is vital for any South Asian country's agricultural sector, including Bangladesh.

"It serves as a financial safety net, protecting farmers against losses caused by various climate and weather-related threats that can adversely affect crops," he notes.

He notes that premium subsidies are a sensitive issue. "Governments can use premium subsidies to promote private-sector agricultural insurance to replace ad hoc disaster relief."

In India's main crop- insurance scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the subsidy, is the central element of the insurance system.

Most of the PMFBY premiums are subsidised by central and state government payments to insurers, ensuring affordable premium rates for farmers.

The Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), the insurance regulator of Bangladesh, believes that agricultural insurance should be a primary tool for mitigating agricultural risks, says Mohammed Jainul Bari, who was Chairman of the IDRA until recently, but has now resigned as he was appointed by recently ousted Sheikh Hasina government.

However, he has now been appointed chairman of the largest state-owned non-life insurer, SBC, which conducted the crop -insurance pilot project.

Mr. Bari says that the IDRA is always ready to approve such products promptly, and parametric insurance products are seen as suitable for dealing with climate-related risks by providing prompt loss funding, which is crucial for maintaining crop cycles.

Parametric (or index- based) solutions are a type of insurance that covers the probability (or likelihood) of a loss-causing event happening (like an earthquake) instead of indemnifying the actual loss incurred from the event, according to Swiss Re.

"Developing countries with widespread agricultural insurance generally rely on government subsidies to make it affordable," says Mr Bari.

He notes that India has the largest number of farmers covered by agricultural insurance, with private insurers participating under government-subsidized schemes.

However, IDRA does not have the authority to decide on subsidies, which is the purview of relevant ministries.

Ekramul Hoque from Dhuroil in Mohanpur told this writer recently that after the ADB project ended, they even seiged the SBC office in Rajshahi in frustration. This is also confirmed by Mr. Mohammed Ali, the manager of SBC Rajshahi.

"We are desperately waiting for such insurance to return so we can maintain our crops without interruption and secure our livelihoods," he said, expressing the deep uncertainty farmers face without this type of protection.

The story calculates the exchange rate at Tk 120 per $1.​