Three leaders are managing Bangladesh 1. farmer All those involved in agricultural work. 2. Garment workers 3. expatriate workers
Bangladesh is an agricultural country. In this country, 75% people live in villages. 59.84% people in rural areas of Bangladesh and 10.81% people in urban areas have agricultural farms. Agriculture sector contributes 19.1% to the total domestic production i.e. GDP and 48.1% of people’s employment is generated through agriculture sector. The activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and related departments of this country include the cultivation of rice, jute, cotton, sugarcane, flowers and silkworms, garden expansion, fish farming, vegetables, livestock development, increasing soil fertility, seed development and distribution.
The farmers of this country generally practice traditional farming methods. Most of the farmers are still dependent on ploughs, ladders and cows for crop production and processing. However, many of the farmers are now able to increase the yield compared to earlier by using various modern agro-technologies. Although rice and jute are the main crops of Bangladesh, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes and various types of vegetables are produced in significant quantities in the country.
Ministry of Agriculture is the responsible ministry of the government for the development of the agricultural sector of Bangladesh which is working for the development of the agricultural sector through various projects and organizations. The scope of work of this ministry extends from development of agricultural products to development of agro-based industries including research on agriculture, agricultural engineering and agricultural economics. The effective services of the Department of Agricultural Extension have brought breakthroughs in the agricultural sector. Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) is engaged in increasing the production and supply of high yielding varieties of seeds. BADC has 21 seed diversification farms and 15 contract growers zones. Agricultural produce seeds are mechanically processed at 12 seed processing centres. Also, at the private level, individual initiatives, research institutes and commercial organizations are working for the development of agriculture.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) under the Ministry of Agriculture conducts agricultural development activities jointly with several government ministries. The ministries are Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Fisheries and Livestock, Rural Development, Education, Industry, Commerce, Science and Technology.
Realizing the importance of rice production in food security and political stability, the Bangladesh Rice Research Center is working towards revolutionary improvements in rice production, the cultivation of high-yielding (Ufshi) rice in place of low-yielding rice, and the introduction of modern scientific methods in place of long-standing traditional production methods. International Rice Research Center is also working on this.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Center is the largest multi-purpose crop research institute in the country. This institute conducts research on various crops like wheat, potatoes, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, spices, flowers etc. Apart from variety development, soil and crop management, pest and pest management, irrigation and water management, development of agricultural inputs, post-harvest farm management, production and marketing are the research areas of this institution.
Nuclear agriculture has brought a new dimension to the agriculture sector in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Atomic Agriculture Research Institute (BINA) developed 37 improved varieties of different crops through application of radiation. The National Seed Certification Agency has released them for distribution at the farmer level.
Greater Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Bogra districts and Malda district of West Bengal, India are known as Barendra region. The soil here is hard, red and barren. Varendra Multipurpose Development Authority is working for the development of agriculture in the region under Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation.
The Cotton Development Board, established under the Ministry of Agriculture, works to promote and promote cotton cultivation in Bangladesh. Seed certification bodies play a role in controlling the quality of rice, wheat, jute and potato seeds.
The Soil Resource Development Center established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is tasked with conducting soil surveys, irrigation project surveys and preparing soil guidelines and aids so that soil resources are used rationally.
Among other institutions, the Agriculture Marketing Department of the Ministry of Agriculture has taken up an e-Governance project to facilitate the dissemination of essential agricultural market information to farmers, traders, government, policy makers, development agencies, etc. through information technology. In 1961, the Ministry of Agriculture started the Agricultural Information Service. This service has been making a special contribution in the field of agriculture through mass media, especially radio, television, documentaries, posters, leaflets, booklets, newspapers, periodicals, banners, festoons etc.
Bangladesh Applied Nutrition and Human Resource Development Board works to develop skilled human resources in nutrition in public and private institutions through training programs, campaign meetings, symposiums, workshops and mass media.
3. Dependence on nature
The agricultural system of Bangladesh is still largely dependent on nature. Due to lack of irrigation system everywhere, if there is not enough rainfall as per the requirement of the farmers, the continuity of agricultural work is disturbed here. Again, despite the excessive rainfall, the crop is severely damaged due to lack of drainage.
4. Lack of good seeds
Most of the farmers in Bangladesh are ignorant and illiterate. Due to ignorance they are not aware of the benefits of good seeds. That’s why they are indifferent to the preservation of volo seeds. And due to not using good seeds, their yield is also low.
5. Small size and fragmentation of agricultural land
One of the main problems of the agricultural system of Bangladesh is the small size and fragmentation of the agricultural lands here. Agricultural lands are small and fragmented, making it impossible to use mill plows or tractors. In other words, as modern machinery cannot be used and applied in the agricultural land here, the yield of the land is also low.
6. Lack of fertilizer
Most of the farmers in Bangladesh live below the poverty line. In other words, they fail to apply sufficient quantities of essential inputs including fertilizers in agriculture. Due to repeated cultivation of the same land without providing fertilizers, the fertility power and productive capacity of the land is decreasing. As a result, the yield is also decreasing due to natural causes.
8. Decreasing amount of agricultural land
Due to the increasing population growth in Bangladesh, new housing is being created to solve the housing problem. The amount of arable agricultural land is decreasing as new housing is created. In solving the habitat problem, between 1965 and 1978 alone, 180,000 acres of cultivable land was lost. Decreasing agricultural land due to increasing population is one of the reasons for declining agricultural production.
9. Reluctance to farm
Recently, Bangladeshi workers have become indifferent to agricultural work due to the creation of extensive employment opportunities in various countries including the Middle East. It can be observed that most of the farming families, who were completely dependent on agriculture earlier, are now dependent on foreign exchange. Due to the increase in financial solvency due to the creation of employment opportunities abroad, there is a reluctance of other family members to cultivate. As a result, overall agricultural development is being disrupted.
10. Violence of middlemen
Bangladesh’s agricultural marketing system is highly flawed. As a result, there are numerous middlemen between the actual buyer and the actual seller. Due to the violence of these middlemen, the farmers are financially damaged and lose their enthusiasm for agricultural production.
11. other problems
A Pest attack, b. Lack of irrigation, c. Defective sharecropping system, d. Lack of conservation, e. Lack of skilled workers etc.
6. Use of better quality seeds
Farmers in Bangladesh do not pay attention to good seeds due to ignorance. As a result they get less yield. But it is possible to increase the agricultural production several times by using high quality agricultural seeds. So farmers should be aware of this.
7. Application of modern science and technology
There is no application of modern science and technology in the agricultural sector of Bangladesh. As a result, if proper application of modern science and technology like developed countries is possible, agricultural production can increase dramatically, which can initiate new levels in the field of agricultural development.
8. Ensuring fertilizer supply
In the agriculture-based economy of Bangladesh, people easily expect subsidies in agriculture including fertilizers, pesticides, medicines, agricultural inputs. Adequate application of fertilizers to agricultural land increases soil fertility and productivity. Therefore, to ensure agricultural production and agricultural development, the price stabilization and supply of agricultural materials including fertilizers must be ensured.
The agricultural system of Bangladesh is plagued with multiple problems. As a result, agricultural development is not reaching the desired level. But there is hope, despite the many problems, recently Bangladesh is achieving great success in food production and has achieved the status of eighth food producing country in the world. For achieving this success, the head of the government of Bangladesh received FAO’s Ceres Award. Therefore, it is expected that Bangladesh can enter a new world in the field of agriculture and food production if it takes the above measures in terms of agricultural development.
The current government for the development of agriculture and farmers
Agriculture is a very important sector of the country’s economy. At present, about one-fifth of the country’s GDP is earned from the agricultural sector. More than that, agriculture is the main and one of the source of providing food and nutrition security to the people of this country. Even now the employment of a large population of this country is done by resorting to agriculture. As a result, the grand coalition government was elected in 2009 and was able to realize that more attention should be given to the agriculture sector in order to ensure food supply for the growing population, improve the standard of living and create employment. The unprecedented success achieved in various sectors in the agriculture sector over the last half century is a real reflection of the current government’s agricultural thinking.
At the outset it would be reasonable to highlight the consistent success of the last half century in food grain production. Our total production of rice, wheat and maize was 333.03 lakh tonnes in 2008-2009. Since then, the production of food grains has increased steadily every year as a result of the current government’s agri-friendly policies and activities. In the last years 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 it increased to 345.96, 360.65, 368.339 and 372.66 lakh tonnes respectively. If we consider the production of potato, it can be seen that its production has increased from 67.46 lakh tonnes to 86.03 lakh tonnes from 2008-09 to 2012-13. During this period the production of onion, wheat and vegetables increased significantly.
Crop production has increased over the last half century mainly due to four main reasons. One, farmers now have access to more quality seed for growing crops than at any other time. During the tenure of the previous government, 2 lakh 61 thousand 59 tons of seeds of various crops were supplied from BADC, which increased to 6 lakh 36 thousand 623 tons during the tenure of the current government. This growth is insufficient compared to the demand but it is more than two and a half times. Second, more varieties of plant breeders were able to be developed during this period than at any other time, and many seeds were already available for distribution at the farmer level. A total of 145 varieties of different crops have been developed during the tenure of the present government. Third, due to reduced cost of fertilizers and efficient management, farmers have the opportunity to apply balanced fertilizers at lower cost than ever before. Since the coalition government assumed office in 2009, the government has reduced the price of non-urea fertilizers thrice. In 2009, the price of TSP, MOP and DAP was Rs 87, 70 and 90 per kg respectively, in October 2010 it was reduced to Rs 22, 15 and 27 respectively. On the other hand, in August 2013, the price of urea fertilizer has been fixed at Tk 16 per kg at the farmer level. As a result, it can be safely said that during the tenure of the present government, a sustainable fertilizer distribution network has been developed in the country through which farmers have the opportunity to get all types of fertilizers on time. Four, the supply of maize, vegetables, potato and jute seeds in the country has increased by encouraging private seed imports. The private sector has been able to increase the supply of vegetable seeds to the farmers by importing large quantities of vegetable seeds into the country, especially by giving special opportunities to the seed system. As a result, the supply of free pollinated seeds as well as hybrid vegetable seeds has increased in the country and vegetable production has increased.
Another major achievement of the grand coalition government is the priority given to agricultural research. An opportunity has been created to conduct multi-faceted research including lab development in every agricultural research institute through the Jhdharhongratbaf Chansharap Erdfong Jabangbadhatpay (JhchEd) managed under the GHAC funded by the World Bank and the Government of Bangladesh. With the government’s own funding, a modern laboratory related to molecular biology has been built in the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute in the country. Research is going on to develop jute varieties resistant to various adversities of jute.
Among the other measures taken by the present government to increase the production of crop agriculture in the country are:
Agricultural mechanization has been accelerated under the current government. 38 thousand 324 different types of agricultural machinery have been supplied to 35 districts at 25% lower cost through the scheme ‘Crop Production Enhancement through Farm Mechanization’. Moreover, agricultural machinery developed by BARRI and BRRI is being supplied to farmers at a subsidized rate of up to 60% of the total cost.
To reduce the production cost of farmers, the government has provided rebates on electricity and has increased subsidies to farmers including seeds, fertilizers, etc. year after year. In the year 2008-09, such subsidy was Tk 5178.2691 crore, in 2012-13 it has increased to Tk 11999.9938 crore.
The government has provided incentives for crop production among small and marginal farmers affected by various natural calamities including floods, Aila, Sidor, Mahasen and conducted agricultural rehabilitation programs.
The present government has strengthened the micro-irrigation program with an aim to reduce groundwater withdrawal by using surface water. The government has given importance to the use of surface water by implementing various micro-irrigation programs in waterlogged areas, Haor and southern regions of the country. Irrigation area has been increased to increase irrigation facilities. Dams, hill dams, rubber dams etc. have been constructed.
Development of marketing system of agricultural products is another achievement of the present government. It has been possible to play a positive role in the marketing system through activities such as creation of wholesale market, growers market, establishment of cool chambers, reefer van product marketing, creation of new entrepreneurs etc.
The government has implemented 17 regionally-based integrated agricultural development projects. Through these development projects, it has been possible to develop crop varieties suitable for the area, expand potential agricultural technology, increase the coverage of irrigation by constructing irrigation infrastructure, and increase market facilities for agricultural products.
As the agricultural land is gradually decreasing, a program has been started to bring the fallow land under cultivation in the greater Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet districts.
A master plan was adopted in 2013 for the overall development of agriculture in the coastal areas of the country. Under this master plan, work has been started in 10 major areas including crops, fisheries and livestock sectors in 14 districts of the southern region.
Digital agriculture system has been introduced in the country during the tenure of the current government. 245 Agricultural Information and Communication Centers (AICCs) have been set up in 10 agricultural regions of the country through the Agricultural Information Service. Through this, farmers can get expert advice on crop production.
Digital system has been launched in 200 upazilas to recommend online balanced fertilizers according to soil fertility in the country. Moreover, 17 crop utilization maps have been prepared in the country through Aozh based modeling. This will accelerate regional crop production.
Bangladesh has achieved significant success in fish production. Bangladesh is one of the five largest fish farming countries in the world in terms of fish production. According to the data of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in 2013-14, about 3.46 million tons of fish were produced in our country, of which about 2 million tons were obtained from fish farms. Fish production has increased largely due to the development of new varieties of fish through fisheries research and the use of fry of these varieties. Fish production has also been successful due to the innovation of fish production technology and ensuring their application over the last half century. In the field of fisheries management, the strategies that have been developed and expanded during the tenure of the current government are:
Production and cultivation of super breed monosex tilapia fry,
Artificial insemination and brood production of Thai pangasius,
Development of techniques for production of pangaash in ponds,
Mixed culture of fish species in ponds,
Rajpunti production in seasonal ponds,
Molecular production and nursery management of improved roe fish.
