[🇧🇩] Agriculture in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Farmers block highway demanding withdrawal of increased VAT

Northern farmers on Wednesday staged a protest by dumping tomatoes on the Rajshahi-Dhaka Highway in Natore, demanding withdrawal of the increased value added tax and duty imposed on tomato and mango pulp...

www.newagebd.net

Farmers block highway demanding withdrawal of increased VAT
Staff Correspondent . Rajshahi 29 January, 2025, 22:22

Farmers block Rajshahi–Dhaka Highway by dumping tomatoes on the road, demanding withdrawal of the increased VAT and duty imposed on tomato and mango pulp, in Natore on Wednesday. | Focus Bangla photo

Northern farmers on Wednesday staged a protest by dumping tomatoes on the Rajshahi-Dhaka Highway in Natore, demanding withdrawal of the increased value added tax and duty imposed on tomato and mango pulp.

Several hundred of them from Rajshahi, Natore, and Chapainawabganj districts blocked the highway in the Belgharia Bypass area, bringing the traffic on the highway to a standstill for half an hour.

The agitating farmers said that the government had recently increased VAT on processed pulp from 5 per cent to 15 per cent for tomatoes, mangoes, and other fruits, leading processing companies to abruptly stop purchasing tomatoes from farmers.

‘As the processing companies stop purchasing tomatoes, we – the growers – cannot sell our tomatoes, causing the seasonal crop to rot in the fields,’ said Iftikhar Alam Munna, a tomato farmer from Godagari upazila in Rajshahi.

He said that the government decision to increase VAT on tomato and mango pulp would negatively impact marginal farmers as the price of tomatoes decreased to Tk 3-5 per kilogramme on local markets.

Another farmer, Md Babu of Natore Sadar upazila, said that tomato growers would incur a huge loss this season as they would not be able to cover the half of their production cost due to drop in prices of the crop.

Participating in the protest, trader Saddam Hossain said that the VAT increase would reduce consumer demand and harm small and medium enterprises in the sector.

‘Rising electricity and gas prices, along with currency market instability, have already put immense pressure on the agricultural processing sector. If the VAT hike continues, it will become even harder for lower- and middle-income families to afford food products,’ he said.

The speakers urged the government to withdraw the increased VAT on the processed pulp, and threatened that they would go for a tougher movement if the government failed to meet their demand.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, tomatoes have been cultivated on 5,360 hectres of land this season in the Rajshahi region, comprising Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts.​

 

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Agro-tourism can support local businesses and help to reduce poverty: BTB CEO

Bangladesh has huge potential for the expansion of agro based tourism and it can create jobs, support local businesses, help to reduce poverty and develop rural communities, said Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) on Monday. Speaking at a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Agro-tourism can support local businesses and help to reduce poverty: BTB CEO
FE Online Report
Published :
Feb 03, 2025 20:54
Updated :
Feb 03, 2025 20:54

Bangladesh has huge potential for the expansion of agro based tourism and it can create jobs, support local businesses, help to reduce poverty and develop rural communities, said Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) on Monday.

Speaking at a workshop held at the BTB Conference Room, the CEO further said, “Agro-tourism can help to improve education, skills and the standard of living in rural areas. It can also help to promote sustainable farming practices and reduce the environmental impact of tourism in the country.”

Showcasing the country’s culture Agro-tourism can help to promote the country’s agriculture diversity, cultural traditions and local product, he added.

Bangladesh Tourism Board in association with Bangladesh Flower Society organised the workshop under the banner of “Workshop on Introducing Agro-Tourism in Bangaldesh”.

A Netherlands-based organization, PUM Netherlands supported the workshop.

Harro Boekhold, a renowned Agri-Tourism expert from PUM Netherlands, discussed how agro-based tourism can be expanded in Bangladesh.

Agro-based tourism can be developed with any of the agricultural products, be it fruits, flowers or grains, said Mr Harro, adding that it can also be developed with fisheries or livestock farms.

“Agro-tourism will include agricultural based activities and will attract visitors to a farm. It will contain the opportunity to meet farmers and to know how food is produced. It will also involve visitors actively in farming and rural life,” Harro further said.

Agro-tourism will generate additional income for families in rural areas, diversify the income in rural areas, create opportunities there and help urban people to understand the important role of farming and rural life, he added.

BTB Director (Marketing, Planning & Public Relation) Saleha Binte Siraj, Director (Marketing and Branding) Mohibul Islam, and officials from different government and non-government organisations also attended the workshop.

​

 

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Prof Yunus urges int’l community to engage with ‘new Bangladesh’

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday called upon the international community to engage with the ‘new Bangladesh’ that emanated from the uprising led by the students and youth folk against an oppressive regime and discrimination. He made the call in his keynote speech at t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Prof Yunus urges int’l community to engage with ‘new Bangladesh’
BSS
Published :
Feb 12, 2025 19:46
Updated :
Feb 12, 2025 19:46

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday called upon the international community to engage with the ‘new Bangladesh’ that emanated from the uprising led by the students and youth folk against an oppressive regime and discrimination.

He made the call in his keynote speech at the 48th Session of the Governing Council of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The prerecorded video speech of the chief adviser was broadcast at the event at IFAD headquarters in Rome, according to a message received.

While congratulating IFAD for its contribution to reducing global poverty and inequality, the Chief Adviser recalled IFAD’s four decades of association with Bangladesh, especially in the agriculture and climate sector.

He appreciated IFAD-supported projects that particularly empower the rural women in Bangladesh.

Prof Yunus referred to his concept of ‘Social Business’ as a new dimension to rural development which creates a virtuous cycle where businesses thrive by addressing the needs of the community, thereby fostering long-term development.

He drew a parallel between IFAD’s effort and the vision 3-zero world- zero poverty through non-wealth concentration, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions.

Prof Yunus called upon the Governing Council of IFAD to invest more in climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable agricultural practices, and renewable energy solutions so that rural communities can thrive in harmony with the environment.

He asked the Member States of IFAD to seize opportunities for the most vulnerable and build a better world where no one is left behind.

The Chief Adviser also called upon the leaders to engage the youths and students, who are the future leaders and change-makers.

“They (youths) have the creativity, innovation and passion to make a better world for all,” he said.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Advisor for the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Science & Technology, attended the council meeting as the governor of the IFAD governing board and represented Bangladesh.​

 

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Use of technology essential for sustainable agriculture: Agri secy

The 1st International Conference on Agricultural Machinery and Bioresource Engineering at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has set a new milestone for the future of agriculture in the country. Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the importanc

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Use of technology essential for sustainable agriculture: Agri secy
BAU Correspondent
Published :
Feb 12, 2025 16:41
Updated :
Feb 12, 2025 16:41

The 1st International Conference on Agricultural Machinery and Bioresource Engineering at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has set a new milestone for the future of agriculture in the country.

Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of technology in ensuring sustainable agricultural production while speaking as the chief guest at the conference.

“This conference will open new horizons in the spread of the latest technology in agriculture. The gathering of scientists and industry experts is truly commendable. The world is undergoing significant changes, and the use of technology is crucial to increase agricultural production in the era of the industrial revolution,” said Dr. Emdad.

He further highlighted Bangladesh's position as a global leader in agricultural production, playing a key role in food supply and nutrition security worldwide.

The conference, titled ‘Smart Agricultural Mechanization and Bioresource Utilization towards 4AR’’, marks a significant step towards integrating advanced agricultural technology in Bangladesh.

It was organized by the Bangladesh Society of Agricultural Machinery and Bioresource Engineering (BSAMBE) and the Farm Power and Machinery Department of BAU.

In his address, Dr. Emdad emphasized that adopting and mechanizing agricultural production technologies would reduce costs and enhance the profitability of farmers.

He assured attendees that the Ministry of Agriculture is actively working to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and implement an agricultural mechanization policy.

He also stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in bridging research with industry, especially in areas like smart agriculture, alternative energy, and post-harvest technology.

The inaugural session was held at Syed Nazrul Islam Conference Hall at BAU, where around 240 scientists, agricultural engineers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and students from countries including the United States, Canada, China, Japan, India, and South Korea gathered.

The event was also graced by Dr. Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, Dr. Nazmun Nahar Karim, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), and Dr. Md. Abdullah Yusuf Akhand, Director-General of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).

Additionally, Subrata Ranjan Das, Deputy Managing Director of ACI Motors Limited, was present as a guest of honour.

During the conference, Professor Dr. AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of BAU, noted that Bangladesh has entered the era of mechanization in agriculture, following the global trend.

He stressed that mechanization is no longer just an opportunity but a necessity for achieving sustainable and environment-friendly agriculture.

He also highlighted the importance of mechanization in crop production, livestock, fisheries, and rural development.

Furthermore, he pointed out that agricultural technology advancements would not only increase productivity but also generate employment opportunities.

Research papers from 160 presenters were discussed in six technical sessions, one business session, and two poster sessions.

In addition, four major topics were presented in the plenary session.

The conference will award the best papers and posters, with publications in the Journal of Agricultural Machinery and Bioresources Engineering (JAMBE).

A special agricultural machinery fair was organized at BAU’s helipad, where eight renowned institutions (both government and private) showcased modern agricultural machinery and technologies.

Notably, technologies developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) were on display.

The event underscored the growing importance of technological advancements in agriculture and the potential for these innovations to transform the industry into a more sustainable and efficient sector in Bangladesh.​

 

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Wheat acreage lowest on record

Cultivation of wheat has hit the lowest on record in the current season in Bangladesh as many producers opted to grow potato and other high-value crops on land previously used for the second most important staple food after rice.

www.thedailystar.net

Wheat acreage lowest on record

Cultivation of wheat has hit the lowest on record in the current season in Bangladesh as many producers opted to grow potato and other high-value crops on land previously used for the second most important staple food after rice.

During the current fiscal year of 2024-25, acreage of wheat fell 8 percent year-on-year to 2.87 lakh hectares of land, according to provisional estimates by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

That means it was cultivated on 3.11 lakh hectares of land a year ago.

This is the second consecutive year that wheat acreage has fallen, marking a gradual decline since FY16, when total acreage stood at 4.44 lakh hectares, the highest in nearly two decades.

Bangladesh cultivated the cereal on 8.88 lakh hectares in FY99, the highest in 37 years.

Agriculturists and farmers said multiple factors are responsible for the falling appetite of farmers toward wheat cultivation. Lower profits than maize, potato and other high-value vegetables is one of these factors.

Take Sazzad Selim, a farmer in Rosea village of Atwari under the north-western bordering district of Panchagarh, who cultivated wheat on a five-acre plot last year.

During the current year, he allocated all of his land for maize, cultivation of which has expanded rapidly over the past two and a half decades driven by demand from feed mills catering to domestic poultry, aquaculture and livestock farms.

"We can make higher profits than wheat if we grow maize and potato," he said.

The farmer was able to earn Tk 36,000 from each acre of land used for growing maize last year, whereas the amount of profit from the cultivation of wheat on the same area of land was Tk 20,000.

The major difference is the yield between wheat and maize, which brought him higher profit, though prices of wheat were much higher than maize.

Selim said, on an average, 40 maunds to 45 maunds (1 maund = 37.65 kg) of wheat can be harvested from one acre of land. In contrast, the same piece of land can provide a yield of 120 maunds to 150 maunds of maize.

During last year's harvest, each maund of wheat was sold for Tk 1,250 to Tk 1,350, whereas a maund of maize was sold for Tk 800, according to the farmer.

In its Grain and Feed update on Bangladesh in December 2024, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said wheat acreage and production have been stagnant for several years.

It cited that this was due to a lack of improved seed varieties, disease and pest infestations during cultivation as well as competition with other profitable crops during the same season.

The DAE's estimate showed that both maize and potato area has increased this fiscal year as farmers switched to the crops.

Winter maize acreage gained 4 percent year-on-year to 5.66 lakh hectares in the current FY25 from the previous year.

And encouraged by record high prices of potato last year, farmers cultivated potato on 5.24 lakh hectares in FY25, the highest on record, up 14 percent year-on-year, according to the DAE estimate.

Amzad Hossain, another farmer of Farabari village in Thakurgaon upazila, another major area for wheat cultivation, said he cultivated potatoes on two bighas of land and maize on three bighas this season.

"However, just two to three years ago, I used to cultivate wheat on all this land," he said.

Bangladesh produced 11.72 lakh tonnes of wheat in FY24. The nation's average wheat production has been roughly 11 lakh tonnes for the last seven years, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The USDA said Bangladesh's local production accounts for 15 percent of the total demand, forecasted at 77 lakh tonnes for the current FY25. The rest is imported.

Wheat planting in Bangladesh begins in early December and harvesting takes place in the March-April period the following year.

Md Abdul Hakim, principal scientific officer and head of the wheat breeding division of the Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI), said it was crop competition in which wheat was losing.

"This year's acreage is the lowest in history. You will see potatoes on miles after miles of fields where wheat was grown last year. You cannot imagine. Many small farmers have planted potato even by borrowing," he added.

Hakim said Panchagarh and Thakurgaon were major wheat cultivation areas. However, maize acreage has declined drastically in the greater Dinajpur district, he said.

"On the other hand, we have seen higher wheat acreage in Rajshahi, Jashore, and the greater Kushtia districts," he said.

Wasim Royal, a resident in Darshana upazila of the western district of Chuadanga, said acreage of the grain increased this year in his area because there was no pest infestation in the wheat crop cultivated by farmers last year.

In 2016, wheat blast struck the crop fields in southwestern Bangladesh in its first outbreak in Asia.

The disease affected over 1 lakh hectares of area, costing the country a financial loss of at least Tk 1,800 crore in terms of lost yields in that year, according to experts.

"Wheat was almost out in our area because of blast disease. The crop has returned to our area," Royal added.​