Home ›› 07 Sep 2022 ›› Opinion
Agriculture is the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy. In the constitution of Bangladesh, improving the nutritional level of the people and improving public health have been identified as the duties of the state by the agricultural revolution. The country’s agriculture is closely related to human life and livelihood. The economic development of this country is not possible without agriculture. Proper planning is essential for the overall development of the agricultural sector to keep pace with the growing population of the country.
Agriculture plays a significant role in the prosperity of the large population by increasing productivity, and income and creating employment in rural areas. The agricultural sector i.e. crops, fisheries, livestock and forestry contributes significantly to the country’s GDP, providing employment to almost half of the labour force and providing the main raw material for agro-based industries. Agriculture is a special sector of social activity that is closely related to important issues such as food and nutrition security, income generation and poverty reduction. In addition, agriculture is the source of various consumer goods, especially goods based on consumer market demand in rural areas.
As an agriculture-based country, various types of crops and fruits are produced in Bangladesh. Moreover, there are many opportunities and possibilities for export through the processing and value addition of these agricultural products as sub-sectors such as poultry, dairy, fish etc. are emerging recently. Agro-based industries include poultry farms, dairy farms, food processing industries, fish freezing and processing industries. The country’s business entrepreneurs and foreign investors are interested in investing in the agro-processing industry in Bangladesh. Joint venture projects and foreign direct investors are particularly encouraged. Agricultural land in Bangladesh is fragmented and generally small, which can be increased in production by cooperative farming. The use of agricultural machinery in cooperative systems is gaining popularity. Through this, it is possible to increase agricultural production.
Agriculture and farmers must now be given top priority if the economy is to be managed efficiently. By doing this, it will be possible to maintain the country’s food security and self-sufficiency in food.
According to BBS data, food-grain production in 2018-19 was 415.74 lakhs tonnes. In this financial year, Tk 9 thousand crores have been allocated for the subsidy of farmers in fertilizer and other agricultural activities. The production of fish in the country is about 50 lakhs tonnes, poultry production is about Tk 35 crore.
In this way, 80 per cent of the total labour force of this country is engaged in agriculture. So, unemployment can be reduced. This will increase the latent unemployment rate. But human survival will be assured. Another thing is that most of our agricultural land is underutilized or fallow. Not only this, a large part of the agricultural labour force is engaged in migration from agriculture to industry and informal work. They are employed in many areas of the rural economy - agriculture and its sub-sectors such as animal husbandry, poultry farming, fish farming, dairy farms and agro-processing activities to maintain the production level of daily necessities of people at the desired level and also maintain their expected income.
The agricultural sector makes a significant contribution to the country’s GDP, providing employment to about half of the workforce and providing the main raw material for agro-based industries. Agriculture is a special area closely linked to important issues such as ensuring food and nutrition for the people, creating income opportunities and reducing poverty. In addition, agriculture is a source of a wide variety of consumer goods, especially in rural areas. Therefore, to reduce rural poverty, it is essential to develop the agricultural sector and accelerate its growth. Agriculture is a combination of crops, fisheries, livestock and forest sub-sectors. In this context, the Agriculture Policy has been formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture to take and conduct proper development.
Issues related to research, extension, seeds, fertilizers, micro-irrigation, marketing system and human resource development for crop production have been given priority as expected in this policy. The crop sector plays a vital role in the agriculture of Bangladesh and is of utmost importance in various agricultural programmes of the government. The amount of agricultural land in the country is declining at a rate of about 1 per cent annum and soil quality and fertility are declining as a result of soil erosion and the increasing salinity in the soil.
Diversification of agriculture is needed to increase the production of food for the growing population and the supply of raw materials to the agro-industry. In line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the objective of the government is to bring the population living below the poverty line below 50 per cent. The “Perspective Plan (2010-2021)” is designed to maintain a reliable economic structure in the country. It also emphasizes rapid economic growth in rural areas, agricultural development and development of non-agricultural economic activities related to rural agriculture.
To achieve higher growth in GDP, the annual growth in the agricultural sector must be similarly increased. Higher agricultural GDP growth can be achieved through the application of modern agricultural technologies and connecting farmers’ supply chains with consumers in the national and international markets to increase agricultural productivity. This will reduce poverty in the country as well as improve the living standards of the farmers.
The role of small farms is more in the agricultural sector. Agriculture has a huge impact on the economic development and livelihood of the people. To reduce the poverty and improve the living standards of the rural population, it is essential to make the existing agricultural production system more dynamic and to introduce a sustainable commercial agricultural production system. Combined efficient and effective agricultural technology management of agricultural research and extension is required for sustainable agricultural interaction and diversification through technological change.
In this case, proper value addition and proper market management assistance are required. To sustain knowledge-intensive agriculture, it is vital to maintain the supply of skilled human resources including productivity, resource utilization skills, use of up-to-date technology, and research and testing facilities. More scientific and technical support is needed for agriculture in the country. In today’s multidimensional national and economic environment, there is a need to increase the effectiveness of government expenditure in agricultural research and extension management.
As agricultural land is decreasing day by day, increasing the productivity of agriculture is now the way to maintain our food supply. Therefore, government support is needed for research and invention and use of new machinery in agriculture. Moreover, there is a need to prepare for the threat to agricultural productivity due to climate change. Bangladesh depends on nature. So, the agricultural production of this country in future will have to face more adverse environments due to global climate change. Apart from this, not only an increase in the production of food from the gradual declining cultivatable land but also the development of non-conventional crops as supplementary food is needed to eliminate malnutrition.
To invent various kinds of non-conventional crops fit the adverse environment and regional basis, production strategies and processing technology. Need to improve the skill of the concerned bodies for technological expansion. Build up the store of these crops planting beside roads, pond banks, barren lands and courtyard with the labour of family members and make arrangements for the marketing.
To make the people aware through publicity, analyzing is needed for the nutrition properties of these crops. So, the importance of non-conventional crops besides the conventional crops developing the standard of living and ensuring food and nutrition security in future through taking various kinds of initiatives as per plan.
In fine, we can say that Bangladesh is passing a very critical time. Bangladesh is overburdened with a number of challenges. For example, the country is facing human rights issues with United Nations. Is Bangladesh not caring about the issue? Moreover, it is under the pressure of inflation and load-shedding. Where is the goal of our farmers? Is it possible to face all these challenges? How Bangladesh can withstand the barriers? The economic crisis may be solved by achieving self-reliance on food and agriculture. If we are self-reliant in Agro-economy the country can overcome the crisis. As the people of Vietnam once got rid of problems, we may also flourish. A nation with a growing economy will not surrender to anyone. So it is asserted that a sound economy can save a nation in times of crisis.
The writer is a former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP
