Net cropland declines four lakh acres in 11 years

Net cropland in Bangladesh decreased to 1.86 crore acres in 2019 from 1.9 crore acres in 2008, according to the Agriculture Census 2019 prepared by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

Of the 1.86 crore acres of net cultivable land in the country, 1.64 crore acres are temporary cropland and 19.7 lakh acres are permanent cropland, the census report said.

It said fallow land increased to 2.44 lakh acres in 2019 from 1.5 lakh acres in 2008. 

The census was conducted between April 14 in 2018 and April 13 in 2019.

Meanwhile, the number of cows increased from 2.56 crore in 2008 to 2.94 crore in 2019. The number of goats rose to 1.94 crore in 2019 from 1.63 crore in 2008. 

The census showed the number of buffaloes increased to 6.36 lakh in 2019 from 5.41 lakh in 2008.

“The census did not include the number of cows and goats in commercial farms. It only included animals in household farms,” said Project Director of the census Alauddin Al Azad while launching the report at a programme at the BBS auditorium in the capital on Tuesday. The number of agriculture households increased to 1.68 crore in 2019 from 1.51 crore in 2008, he said. “Besides, the number of households rose to 3.55 crore in 2019 from 2.86 crore in 2008.”

The number of roosters, chicken, and ducks more than doubled to 27.38 crore in 2019 from 13.72 crore in 2008, he also said.

“The amount of land where Aush was cultivated slightly decreased in the 2019 census compared to 2008, but that of Aman, Boro, potato, wheat, maize, jute, and other crop increased significantly,” Alauddin said.

Cropping intensity was 214 in 2019, up from 173 in 2008.

According to the 2019 census, there are 12.12 lakh acres of fish farming land, with ponds holding the largest share.

Planning Minister MA Mannan said there should not be a delay of over 10 years in running the census.

He said it should be more detailed and conducted every two years as well.

State Minister for Planning Prof Shamsul Alam said net cropland decreased due to social changes, including the breakdown of large families and the rise of nuclear ones. 

“Agriculture is the main structure of the country’s economy regardless of its contribution to the gross domestic product,” he said, adding agriculture households had increased between 2008 and 2019.

He said the census should be conducted every five years.