[🇧🇩] Agriculture in Bangladesh

[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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

www.thedailystar.net

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.”

www.thedailystar.net

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.

www.thedailystar.net

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...

www.thedailystar.net

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.​