[🇧🇩] Agriculture in Bangladesh

[Saif]

'A farmer can be an entrepreneur with access to credit'

Says Prof Yunus terming credit a human right

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'A farmer can be an entrepreneur with access to credit'
Says Prof Yunus terming credit a human right

Photo: PID

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday said credit is a human right as it relates to the livelihood of people.

"You can not establish the right of livelihood without ensuring the right to credit," said the chief adviser.

He made the comments while speaking to a side event at the COP29 in Azerbaijan capital Baku.

Bangladesh and the Netherlands jointly hosted the event titled A Global Conversation: Access to Finance for Small Scale Farmers at the Bangladesh Pavilion of the conference.

Additional Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah moderated the event, which was also attended by Dutch Prince Jaime Bernardo of Bourbon-Parma, also the climate envoy of the Netherlands.

The Dutch prince highlighted how credit, insurance, investment, research, and finance increased agricultural output while insisting that millions of farmers across the globe now needed this support.

Speaking at the event, Yvonne Pinto, the director general of the International Rice Research Institute, said that rice production grew globally ever since credit was made accessible to farmers.

Jorim Schraven, a director of the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO, hailed Professor Yunus for the moral support he extended on debt rights, adding it was related to people's rights to know.

Farhana Haque Rahman, senior vice president of Inter Press Service and Executive Director IPS Noram, said that currently, 550 million small household farmers feed two billion people around the world.

Professor Yuunus said a farmer can be an entrepreneur if he or she is given access to credit.

"Every business needs money and investment," he said, adding that a farmer not only grows crops but also sells them to market.

If he was given access to credit, he could buy crops from other farmers and sell them to improve his life, said Professor Yunus, who is hailed globally as a microcredit pioneer.

The chief adviser said countries should redesign the banking system by following the Grameen Bank model to make credit accessible to farmers, a considerable number of whom are women.

"Every country should have a social business banking law," he said, while appreciating that currently at least 110 universities across the globe are teaching social business as a course.​

 

[Bilal9]

Bangladesh globally second in freshwater fish production, outranking China for the first time​

This information came up in the latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations.

Iftekhar Mahmud
Dhaka

Capture fisheries production

Blue Transformation is a vision for transforming aquatic-based food systems as a recognized solution for food security and environmental well-being

openknowledge.fao.org

There is good news for the fish-loving population of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has moved up from third to second position globally in freshwater fish production. China, which was in the second position last time, has slipped to the third rank. India is on top of all in this list.

This information came up in the report ‘The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024’ on global fishery resources, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations Saturday. The report is based on information from 2022. This report is published every two years.

Basically, the production of fish from rivers, beels, haors and open water has been taken into account in that report. However, when counted the farming done in ponds and other water bodies Bangladesh slid two notches from third to the fifth position this time.

Bangladesh had ranked third in FAO report of 2022. Earlier than that, Bangladesh was in fifth position for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2020.

When asked, for what specific reasons Bangladesh moved ahead in freshwater fish farming Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) director general Md Zulfikar Ali told Prothom Alo, “Bangladesh is protecting its open waters.”

Bangladesh has ascended to second position globally in open water fish production for taking initiative in facilitating hilsa breeding and protecting jatka (small hilsa). However, other small and medium sized verities of fish should also be given protection during the breeding season.

Abdul Wahab, professor, Bangladesh Agricultural University

“At the same time, from creating hilsa sanctuaries and banning hilsa fishing during the breeding season other fish varieties are also being protected alongside hilsa. As a success for these initiatives we have progressed even further in fish production,” he added.

According to BFRI records, Bangladesh has produced total 4.8 million (48 lakh) tonnes of fish last year (2023). Out of that, 3.2 million (32 lakh) was produced in farms, 1.3 million (13 lakh) tonnes was acquired from freshwater and the remaining portion was collected from the sea. Notably, half of the fish produced from the open waters was indeed hilsa. In 2023, Bangladesh produced total 650,000 (6.5 lakh) tonnes of hilsa only.

As per the records of this government organisation, there are 261 varieties of fish in the open waters of the country. The scientists at BFRI has invented artificial breeding and advanced farming methods for 40 of these varieties. In addition to ponds, planned farming of these fishes is going on in beels and rivers as well, which in turn is helping increase country’s fish production.

According to several related reports, almost 20 million (2 crore) people of this country are involved in fish farming and trading. Back in 1990, per capita fish consumption was 7.5 kg which has now reached the bar of 30 kg.
Also Read

Bangladesh globally ranks third in fish farming​

23 Nov 2022

Bangladesh has moved up from third to second position globally in freshwater fish production.Representational image

11.7 per cent of world’s freshwater fish is in Bangladesh​

According to FAO report, Bangladesh produces 1.32 million (13.22 lakh) tonnes of freshwater fish which amounts to 11.7 per cent of world’s total fish production. According to the previous report, Bangladesh’s contribution was 11 per cent.

With a production of 1.89 million (18.9 lakh) tonnes, India has climbed to the top of that list this time. Meanwhile, China with a production of 1.16 (11.66 lakh) has slithered down to the third position. After China, there are Myanmar, Indonesia and Uganda in line.

The report has been prepared with the records of fish produced in every country of the world in 2022. It stated that the production of freshwater fish in Bangladesh was 440,000 (4.4 lakh) tonnes back in 1980. It rose to 1.25 million (12.5 lakh) tonnes in 2020.

Pointing out reasons behind the decline of fish produced from open water in China, the report stated that the country produced 2.2 million (22 lkah) tonnes of fish from these sources in 2017.

However, fishing in Yangtze River, one of the major sources of fish in the country was banned for 10 years in 2020. The fish resources of that river were running out due to excessive extraction.

Global fish production broke all-time records in 2022. Total 22.3 million (22.32 crore) tonnes of fish was produced that year, which is 4.4 per cent higher than that of 2020. It’s worth USD 313 billion.

So, efforts are being made to increase that resource again. That’s why the total fish production of China has been declining for the past two years.

It has been mentioned in the report that most of the countries in the world that are leading in freshwater and farmed fish production are from the Asian continent. Fish farming is more common in the low and medium income countries of this region.

Especially, there is a favourable environment for collecting and farming freshwater fish in China, India, Vietnam and Cambodia for there being more rivers and wetlands there. Fish is playing a vital role in creating livelihood opportunities and meeting nutritional requirement of the residents there.

In representing the overall situation of fishery resources in the world, the report stated that global fish production broke all-time records in 2022. Total 22.3 million (22.32 crore) tonnes of fish was produced that year, which is 4.4 per cent higher than that of 2020. It’s worth USD 313 billion.

Protect small and medium fish varieties also​

Meanwhile, Bangladesh stood 14th in marine fish production. The country has also made quite a progress in this sector as Bangladesh’s position was 25th in the previous report. And, Bangladesh occupies the ninth position when it comes to crab farming only.

Bangladesh is protecting the open waters. At the same time, from creating hilsa sanctuaries and banning hilsa fishing during the breeding season other fish verities are also being protected alongside hilsa. As a success for these initiatives we have progressed even further in fish production.

Md Zulfikar Ali, director general, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI)
Quite a few countries have set up examples in environment protection and in waste management in case of fish farming. They are using low-cost technologies such as removing the waste through drains and other technologies for repurposing that.

Use of those technologies started from China and now Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mexico, Uzbekistan and Egypt are following in their steps.

The report stated that Egypt in Africa alongside Bangladesh and Vietnam in Asia has set an example in the area of increasing farmed fish production. In these countries, more than 50 per cent of peoples’ protein requirement is being met from fish.

When asked, professor Abdul Wahab of Bangladesh Agricultural University told Prothom Alo that Bangladesh has ascended to second position globally in open water fish production for taking initiative in facilitating hilsa breeding and protecting jatka (small hilsa).

However, other small and medium sized verities of fish in the haors and beels of the country should also be given protection during the breeding season. This way it will be possible to increase the production of nutritious small fish even more. Simultaneously, initiatives have to be taken to increase the production and collection of marine fish resources as well, he added.

*This report appeared in the print and online versions of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Nourin Ahmed Monisha.

 

[Saif]

The agriculture startup: A stepping stone for Bangladesh 2.0

Culturally, in Bangladesh, where instant gratification is preferred, agriculture startups could spark interest through their comparatively low investment costs and swift returns.

www.thedailystar.net

The agriculture startup: A stepping stone for Bangladesh 2.0

Low wages, local syndicates, reluctance of the private sector, insufficient funding, unexpected natural calamities, scanty amount of governmental support, skyscraping transportation expenses, and some other issues continue to intensify the frustrations of farmers day by day. PHOTO: STAR

Agriculture, one of the most dynamic sectors of our country, has faced challenges and monopolistic syndicates since the country's independence when its contribution to GDP (Gross Domestic Product) stood around 60 percent. By 2010, this figure dropped to 17 percent and, after nearly a one percent reduction every two years, stabilised at 12.7 percent in 2020.

Following that, last year, it further declined to 11.20 percent. In line with the international trend, obsessing over industrialisation results in the country's strong suit —agricultural strengths — being left behind. However, agricultural startups like iFarmer, ShobjiGram, Agroshift, and Freshie Farm, have been inspiring people from diverse backgrounds to explore this unconventional yet viable path. Surprisingly, many of these startups' founders lack formal agriculture backgrounds . They simply realised that the country's most flourishing sector was being overlooked for a long period, and saw it as high time to revisit the sector.

In rural areas, almost every labourer has basic knowledge of primitive forms of farming. Yet, exiguous wages in less-facilitated traditional farms oblige them to switch agriculture jobs. On the other hand, in recent times, agriculture startups usually prefer a B2C (Business-to-Consumer) model to sell their products. Consequently, it reduces the intermediaries, and their possibility of defending the local syndicates tends to be higher than others. As a result, it enables startups to sell quality products to customers at the market price. On the other hand, it also enables them to hire labourers at fair wages. This is why experienced workers' participation in agriculture startups is eye-catching. Experienced workers are behind the scenes of improbable outputs within a relatively short time in agriculture startups, which were suppressed in the loop of local syndicates for a long time.

"Suppose a new pest starts to ruin your cornfield. Your first point of contact should be the district agriculture officer. But interestingly, you will never find them because they haven't been at the office for two or three years," stated Muntasir Hafiz, co-founder and CEO of ShobjiGram, in an interview. Several government-run agriculture research centres have existed for a significant period of time in Bangladesh. However, thoughtheir research achievement is remarkable, implementation in the country is negligible. We often see agriculture officers conducting training sessions for grassroot farmers only on television; in real life, these are rare. Low wages, local syndicates, reluctance of the private sector, insufficient funding, unexpected natural calamities, scanty amount of governmental support, skyscraping transportation expenses, and some other issues continue to intensify the frustrations of farmers day by day, leading to striking cultivable lands remaining abandoned in almost every district.

Now, Vietnam is known as an "Agriculture Powerhouse" and a core competitor of Bangladesh in the agriculture sector. Vietnam's farming sector is diversified, with items like rice, nuts, fruits, and fish—nearly similar to our country. Despite this, Bangladesh struggles to prosper due to the lack of national interest in this particular sector. Many of us still regard white-collar jobs as respectable professions, regardless of whether there is social encouragement or not.Meanwhile, choosing a profession that requires working in a muddy field with farmers to ensure there is food on your dining table is discouraged. In contrast, the Vietnamese government, along with the private sectors, have embraced new farming methods, modern technology, and proper infrastructure—successfully illustrating their country as a global agricultural model.

In his book A World of Three Zeros: The New Economics of Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions, Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, urges the youth to break the chain of inequality, massive unemployment, and environmental destruction in this world.

Culturally, in Bangladesh, where instant gratification is preferred, agriculture startups could spark interest through their comparatively low investment costs and swift returns. Furthermore, a thriving agriculture startup sector would contribute to other visions of DrYunus. This Nobel laureate's perspective also breaks apart the narrow mindset of those who think cultivating and grazing is a fragile profession. The success of iPAGE, a United Nations award-winning Bangladeshi startup that aids farmers through securing information, technology, training, and services for farmers, also highlight the viability of this approach. This startup also works on reducing negative impacts on climate and the environment.

As farming sector investment does not require a brokerage house hassle, and with a BO (Beneficiary Owner) account maintenance and 24/7 data-driven awareness like the stock market, the farming sector can be more effective for investors. Conversely, investors cannot sell their agricultural shares anytime like the stock market due to its lack of liquidity. Despite this, agriculture startups still offer convenient investment opportunities.

In 2022, Agroshift raised $1.8 million, and iFarmer raised $2.1 million in funding. Moreover, Freshie Farm offers projectile investment where investors can trace the project performance through the website and app. Fashol, another agri-tech startup, raised $1 million in pre-seed funding last year.

However, no country can keep pace in the global run by only focusing on agricultural progression. Technology and advancement in industrialisation are equally crucial. Indeed, the ignorance of existing agriculture expertise might cost lifelong compensation. When you cannot breathe fresh air, your city is unsuitable for living, and the country's experienced farmers are unwillingly choosing inhumane professions like paddling rickshaws, technology startups alone can seem like a luxury. Supporting the farmers through agriculture startups, alongside environment-friendly industrialisation and relevant digitalisation, can ease the pathway toward a self-sufficient Bangladesh.

Faizur Rahman Khandaker is content writing intern at NSU Startups Next of North South University.​

 

[Saif]

Lack of storage compromising fertiliser quality in Rangpur

The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation’s (BCIC’s) buffer warehouse in Rangpur is grappling with a severe shortage of storage space that has left authorities with no choice but to store excess fertiliser stocks outdoors.

www.thedailystar.net

Lack of storage compromising fertiliser quality in Rangpur

Excess stocks of fertiliser are being kept outside the Rangpur buffer warehouse of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation. PHOTO: Collected

The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation's (BCIC's) buffer warehouse in Rangpur is grappling with a severe shortage of storage space that has left authorities with no choice but to store excess fertiliser stocks outdoors.

This has raised concerns that the stocks could be damaged by exposure to sunlight and rain, especially as the only means of protection for these stocks are simple polythene coverings.

The buffer warehouse currently holds 10,500 tonnes of fertiliser, more than double its maximum storage capacity of 5,000 tonnes. This has created a critical management challenge that warehouse authorities emphasised must be resolved as soon as possible.

The problem only intensifies during the peak agricultural season from November to March as fertiliser demand rises manifold, with Rangpur requiring around 45,000 tonnes of urea for crops like potato and paddy.

The annual demand for urea in the district is approximately 80,000 tonnes, which is supplied through 106 authorised dealers.

Foysal Ahmed, deputy manager of the warehouse, said they are taking measures to ensure the safety and quality of stocks kept under open skies.

During off-peak periods, authorities stockpile fertiliser for emergency use, which further strains the warehouse's limited capacity, Ahmed added.

To address the crisis, the BCIC has acquired land in Rangpur's Darshana to construct a new warehouse with a 20,000-tonne storage capacity.

Ahmed said the new warehouse will eliminate these problems once operational.

Civic leaders and farmers' representatives have also called for a swift resolution.

Palash Kanti Nag, convenor of the Krishak Sangram Parishad in Rangpur, criticised the mismanagement.

"While farmers are struggling with rising fertiliser costs, loss of quality will be another issue if such huge quantities of fertiliser are kept under open skies," he said.

"It is not possible to maintain the quality of fertiliser if it is stored under open skies for a long time. Sometimes it solidifies," Nag added.

Nag claimed the Rangpur buffer warehouse is not the only one suffering from a lack of storage space, saying that warehouses in almost every other district are facing similar issues.

For example, he said, there is a shortage of space at the Baghabari Bandar in the Shajadpur upazila of Sirajganj, a hub that supplies fertiliser to 16 districts under the Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions.

Azizul Islam, a farmer in the Dinajpur sadar upazila, said growers often cannot gauge the quality of fertilisers and therefore end up using an excess amount after not getting the expected results.

"This happens due to the loss of quality of the fertiliser," he added.

Moreover, around 1,500 tonnes of urea fertiliser have been languishing at the warehouse for nearly 14 years due to a long-standing legal dispute regarding its suitability for use, according to officials.

The legal dispute dates back to 2011, when the BCIC identified quality issues in agricultural inputs supplied by Chattogram-based Noor Trading.

Due to defects like torn bags, reduced weight and substandard quality, the fertiliser was deemed unfit for distribution among farmers.

Despite multiple notifications to the supplier, the issue remains unresolved.

As it is evidence in the case, the fertiliser is still stored in the warehouse.

In 2022, the BCIC directed the warehouse authorities to re-bag usable portions of the fertiliser, recovering only 1,099 tonnes of intact urea. However, the ongoing legal proceedings have stalled the disposal of the remaining stock.

Bangladesh meets most of its fertiliser demand through imports.

The government has set a target to import 52 lakh tonnes of fertiliser, comprising 20 lakh tonnes of urea, for the current fiscal year.

Bangladesh used 57.7 lakh tonnes of chemical fertiliser in fiscal year 2023-24, up 2.3 percent compared to the previous year, with urea accounting for 46 percent of the total usage.

A significant portion of fertiliser is required by the country's major crop-producing districts in the northwest region.​

 

[Saif]

Streamlining agriculture supply chain

Bangladesh has made a significant progress towards industrialisation over the past couple of decades. Still agriculture plays a rival role in its economy employing roughly 40 per cent of its population. However, the sector has remained plagued by challenges, particularly supply chain inefficiencies

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Streamlining agriculture supply chain
Shiabur Rahman
Published :
Nov 28, 2024 23:49
Updated :
Nov 28, 2024 23:49
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Bangladesh has made a significant progress towards industrialisation over the past couple of decades. Still agriculture plays a rival role in its economy employing roughly 40 per cent of its population. However, the sector has remained plagued by challenges, particularly supply chain inefficiencies, which are not only adversely impacting the livelihoods of millions of farmers but also exacerbating food security concerns and hindering the sector's potential for growth.

The agricultural supply chain involves a series of processes that start with production and end with the delivery of products to consumers with transportation, storage, and marketing in between. Its key stakeholders include farmers, middlemen, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers.

Bangladesh's agriculture suffers huge post-harvest losses. It is estimated that 20-30 per cent of agricultural produce is wasted annually thanks to inefficient handling, and inadequate transportation and storage facilities.

Despite huge progress in agriculture techniques globally, Bangladesh still uses outdated ones, which result in damage to crops during harvesting, reducing their market value and shelf life. The poor road networks, especially in rural areas, and lack of mechanised vehicles delay the movement of produce from farms to markets while the lack of modern storage facilities forces farmers to sell their produce immediately after harvest, often at lower prices. Inadequate wholesale and retail market facilities also contribute to inefficiencies in distribution and influence the price of agricultural produce.

Middlemen play a dominant role in the Bangladesh agricultural supply chain, often controlling market prices and eating up the profits that farmers deserve. They exploit farmers by offering below-market rates for their produce and charging end consumers high prices. Farmers' lack of access to real-time market information also plays a role in interruption of supply chain rendering them dependent on middlemen for sales and pricing decisions.

Inefficiencies in the supply chain result in substantial economic losses and affect every section linked to it, particularly farmers and consumers. Farmers, who are the backbone of the agricultural sector, bear the brunt of supply chain inefficiencies. Low profits and high production costs push many of them into poverty.

Post-harvest losses alone are estimated to cost billions of taka annually, reducing the sector's contribution to gross domestic product or GDP. Supply chain disruptions also compromise the availability of food, particularly in urban areas. Wastage and delays contribute to seasonal shortages and price volatility, affecting affordability for consumers. Inefficient use of inputs and resources like water, fertilisers and energy in the supply chain contributes to environmental degradation while wastage increases greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing organic matter.

Improving infrastructure is critically important for Bangladesh to address supply chain challenges. The country needs to expand road and rail connectivity to reduce transportation delays and cut costs. It also requires establishing cold storage facilities in key agricultural regions to minimise spoilage and extend the shelf life of agricultural produce. Moreover, farmers should be connected directly to the market to eliminate the need for exploitative intermediaries. Platforms such as mobile apps can play a key role to this end.

Bangladesh requires a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach to address inefficiencies in the agricultural supply chain. The country needs to make necessary investments in infrastructure and technology, and bring in reforms to relevant policies. The government, private sector, and non-governmental organisations should collaborate to this end. If Bangladesh could tap the full potential of its agricultural sector, food security would be ensured and in the process have made great contribution to its economic growth leading to improvement in livelihoods of its citizens.

Effecting reform is challenging but essential. A well-functioning agricultural supply chain will not only uplift millions of farmers and contribute to stability in the commodity market, but also ensure proper use of food and other crops.

​

 

[Saif]

Declining arable land: A looming threat to food security

According to the Population and Housing Census 2022 prepared by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the total population of the country in an area of 148,460 square kilometres is about 170 million, with a population density of 1,156.84. As high as 68 per cent of them live in rural areas. Tho

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Declining arable land: A looming threat to food security
Sarker Nazrul Islam
Published :
Dec 06, 2024 21:43
Updated :
Dec 06, 2024 21:43

According to the Population and Housing Census 2022 prepared by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the total population of the country in an area of 148,460 square kilometres is about 170 million, with a population density of 1,156.84. As high as 68 per cent of them live in rural areas. Though BBS has lost much of its credibility due to blatant manipulation of data during the immediate past government led by Sheikh Hasina, it is the only official source of statistics and people have to use them until and unless authentic figures are available. Notwithstanding the discrepancies, the fact remains that Bangladesh, according to the World Population Review, is the ninth most populous country.

The figures relating to areas and population bring us to a horrifying fact that arable land in Bangladesh was reported to be a paltry 0.04789 hectares per head in 2021, according to the World Bank. Even this paltry per capita arable land is gradually decreasing for various reasons including growth of the population at the rate of 1.01 per cent.

An overwhelming majority of the rural population is engaged in and directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. The secret behind so many people's survival on so scanty arable land is a success story of agriculture over the past decades. But the country was unable to feed 75 million people in the early years of independence due to backward agricultural methods and technologies. Food production has tripled during the past five decades. It has been possible due to extensive agricultural research, innovation of high yielding and stress-tolerant crop varieties including rice and introduction of modern technology in agriculture, albeit on a limited scale. Bangladesh is claimed to have reached almost self-sufficiency in the production of rice, fish and vegetables and is heading towards increased production of milk, meat and fruits. That the contribution of agriculture to the GDP has declined in percentage point compared to industry and the service sector does not mean shrinking of agriculture. It is attributable to the sub-sectors' faster growth following modern development trend.

All this highlights the importance of protecting arable land for the country's food security. Bangladesh is in dire need of preserving and utilising its cultivable land rationally alongside modernising agriculture. But arable land is decreasing at an alarming rate, believed to be by nearly 1.0 per cent due to a lack of effective land zoning system, conversion of cultivable land to non-agricultural use particularly for building homesteads, indiscriminate urbanisation and industrialisation, desertification and land degradation, and construction of roads and embankments. Salinity intrusion along the entire coastline is one of the major reasons behind the decline in arable land. Moreover, extreme weather pattern, courtesy of global warming, at times adversely impacts productivity of whatever meagre cultivable land people have. Another cause for concern is that productivity of high yielding crop verities seems to be fast reaching a saturation point, beyond which the law of diminishing return starts operating. Introduction of genetically modified crops could be a viable option to increase production but without knowing definitely the consequences of shifting to those, it is unwise to make an option for GM crops. These grim realities are a threat to people's food security in the near future.

When the horizontal expansion of villages is one of the major causes behind the conversion of farmland to non-farm use, land zoning project could discourage the use of farmland for homestead and other purposes but it seems to be still in its infancy.

Unplanned and unrestricted use of farm and forest land for industrialisation and haphazard expansion of urban area have led to loss of cultivable land. Due to salinity intrusion, about 17 per cent of the country's total land area has already become unfit for crop, vegetable and fruit production. Desertification process in certain areas and land degradation also lead to loss of much needed cultivable land. Time is approaching fast when arable land will make an insignificant percentage of the country's total area. In that case, Bangladesh will have to be a predominantly import-dependent country to fulfil its food demand.

Overall, preservation of the remaining arable land and reclamation of the lost areas are a dire necessity to ensure food security for the population. It seems to be the hardest ever job given the level of sincerity and efficiency of the administration and awareness of the land users. Vertical expansion of villages could stop the loss of farm land, provided that the country has the policy planning and adequate resources to opt for upward (and downward) expansion of villages. Bangladesh does not have a magic lamp to do that. It is easy to talk about 'turning every village into a town' but it is one of the hardest tasks to accomplish. Planned urbanisation and industrialisation could help stop the process of arable land loss but there seems to be none to bell the cat, as past experience suggests.

Preservation of arable lands is not an isolated issue integral only to livelihood of the rural populace, it is interlinked to the national economy. The loss of cultivable land, therefore, demands greater attention for a comprehensive solution to the problem. It is an unrelenting process that takes its toll silently but over a period it exposes its deleterious impacts. Hence, there is the urgency to arrest it sooner than later.​

 

[Saif]

Fertiliser crisis hits farmers

Farmers in the district of Lalmonirhat are suffering from an acute shortage of fertiliser just as the Rabi season started. Meanwhile, fertiliser stock in the warehouses of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) has run out.

www.thedailystar.net

Fertiliser crisis hits farmers
Prices soar amid artificial shortage

Farmers in the district of Lalmonirhat are suffering from an acute shortage of fertiliser just as the Rabi season started. Meanwhile, fertiliser stock in the warehouses of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) has run out.

Taking advantage of this circumstance, some unscrupulous individuals have started selling fertilisers to farmers, and unregistered traders are selling fertiliser to farmers at incredibly inflated prices.

Rafiqul Islam, 60, from Durgapur village in Aditmari upazila, told The Daily Star that he is disappointed as he has not been able to get MOP, DOP, TSP and Urea fertilisers from the registered fertiliser dealers. He had prepared his land for cultivating maize and tobacco, but the fertiliser shortage has halted his plans and left him distressed.

Haider Ali, 66, a farmer from Parulia village in Hatibandha upazila, said that the fertiliser crisis at the beginning of the Rabi season is an incredibly serious concern for farmers. Now, some well-off farmers and unscrupulous traders have stockpiled fertiliser and have created an artificial crisis.

Traders said the government fixed the rate for each sack (50kgs) of DAP fertiliser at Tk 1,050, TSP at Tk 1,350, MOP at Tk 1,000 and Urea at Tk 1,350.

However, some unscrupulous sellers are secretly selling fertiliser at Tk 200-300 higher per sack than the government rate.

Fertiliser dealers told The Daily Star that they did not get any allocation of urea fertiliser in October and November. Due to this, there is no stock of urea fertiliser in their warehouses. However, they got the allocation of MOP, TSP and DAP from BADC. Due to the huge demand for MOP, TSP and DAP at the beginning of the Rabi season, the government-allocated fertilisers ran out in the first week of November.

Farhad Alam Suman, a BADC fertiliser dealer at Burirbazar in Aditmari, said he sold almost all his stock of fertiliser in the first week of November. If he gets further allocation in December, he will be able to sell again.

Jewel Islam, sales officer of the BADC fertiliser warehouse in Lalmonirhat, said there is currently no fertiliser stock in the warehouse. Due to transportation issues, the supply of fertiliser in the warehouse is being disrupted. This problem will be resolved within the next week. The supply of fertiliser to the warehouse will be ensured in the first week of December.

Dr Saykhul Arifin, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Lalmonirhat, said the government does not allocate BCIC urea fertiliser in October and November. However, the allocation of BADC's MOP, DAP and TSP was as per the demand. An artificial crisis of fertiliser has arisen in the local market due to some wealthy farmers and unscrupulous fertiliser sellers hoarding stocks.

He said they are now secretly selling fertiliser at higher prices. A drive is being launched against them. This problem will be minimised if fertiliser allocation is available in December.​

 

[Saif]

Govt-distributed onion seeds fail to germinate

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

www.thedailystar.net

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Saif]

Fields of struggle: Navigating the challenges in agriculture sector

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

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Saif]

Sitakunda farmers cash in on early bean cultivation

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

www.thedailystar.net

Sitakunda farmers cash in on early bean cultivation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Saif]

Organic fertiliser spurs high yields for farmers

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

www.thedailystar.net

Organic fertiliser spurs high yields for farmers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Saif]

Farmers warned of rain on Dec 20-22

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

www.thedailystar.net

Farmers warned of rain on Dec 20-22

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Saif]

Fresh Aman fetching higher prices

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

www.thedailystar.net

Fresh Aman fetching higher prices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Saif]

Impact of sustainable agriculture

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

www.newagebd.net

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

International Trade Centre

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Saif]

Overcoming input crisis facing Boro cultivation

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

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

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

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

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

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

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

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