Home ›› 02 Dec 2021 ›› Editorial
In the fifty years since the independence of Bangladesh, the progress the agricultural sector has made is nothing short of a miracle. Bangladesh is self-sufficient in rice, its staple crop. The fisheries sector is thriving, and poultry farms supplying meat and eggs are present everywhere. Quite naturally, the relative contribution of agriculture to the economy of the country has come down over the years. However, in absolute terms, the contribution has actually increased. Even now, agriculture is the main source of employment, providing livelihood to as much as 40 per cent of the labour force. There are many agro-processing industries which are fully dependent on agriculture for their basic raw materials.
Historically speaking, Bangladesh has predominantly been an agrarian country. Food-related problems used to be endemic in the country. Bangladesh has made a strong headway on agricultural development, leading to long-term food security for its nearly 170 million people. At the centre of these revolutionary developments are the Bangladeshis farmers. And life used to be quite tough for them until quite recently. The vagaries of nature and alleged manipulation combined to keep the majority of them impoverished with little hope for a better future.
However, things are changing for the better. According to a report published in this newspaper, the farming community of Bangladesh are more prosperous than ever before. The in-depth report states that irrigation, use of modern technology, farm mechanisation and innovations in crop variety have all contributed to the digital evolution of modern-day agriculture. Farmers are producing high value commodities like vegetables and fruits. As the report pointed out bulls and oxen were once sole means of preparing land, threshing paddy and other crops. Now, these activities are carried out using machines. Tractors are being used to till the land, small machines to thresh grains. This is an indication of the growing affluence of the farming community of the country. The government is also doing its part by providing incentives. The FY21 budget has set aside Tk 3,200 crore for incentives to farm mechanisation, states the report.
The report quoting M Asaduzzaman, former research director of BIDS stated that at the time of our independence, 75 per cent of people took meals two times a day. Now the picture is diametrically opposite. At present, 75 per cent people can afford three square meals a day. This is a signifier of a tremendous boost in agricultural output and the improvement in the daily lives of farmers.
As is well known, Bangladesh has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world in the years. Bangladesh has been considered among the best performers in terms of poverty and food insecurity reduction, which makes its growth inclusive. This country will soon graduate from a least developed to a developing country. Bangladesh’s development agenda entails ensuring the food and nutrition security of its people. And in spite of the relatively slow pace of growth of the agriculture sector and lower share of agriculture in GDP, this sector has a major impact on income, employment and overall reduction of poverty. Agriculture continues to be the lifeblood for the economy. It is a catalyst for sustainable development and growth. It would have a shattering impact on the economy if Bangladesh remained dependent on import for food. Agriculture in the coming years is going to quite challenging due to the increase in population, climate change and declining natural resources. Bangladesh is preparing itself for the challenges ahead. The Bangladeshi scientists have invented 1,524 varieties of different crops and 1,517 types of production technologies, including saline resistant and climate-smart technologies. We have to carry on with our efforts to reduce waste, crop intensification, expand aquaculture, and livestock and poultry farming.
