Agriculture in Bangladesh:Present position, Problems, Prospects and PolicyPresented by : C.Q.K Mustaq Ahmed Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Date: 01-03-2010

Outline Bangladesh agriculture at a glanceCharacteristicsImportance of agriculture Some challenges of agricultureProspectsClimate change and agricultureFactors related to climate change impactConsequences of climate change on agricultureAdapting to climate changeComprehensive approach to deal with the issuesPolicy SupportsConclusion

Bangladesh Agriculture at a GlanceTotal farm holding: 1,47,16,000Total area: 14.845 million hectaresCultivable land: 8 million hectaresCurrent fallow land: 0.469m hectaresAnnual Food Production: 31.9m MTAnnual Food demand: 31.9m MT

Strategies:Self-sufficiency in food: 2012Ensuring food security: 2017(a+a+n)Middle Income Country: 2022

*(a+a+n=Availability, accessibility and nutrition)

201234.2 million tonsproduction200831.9 million tonproduction*Breakeven pointSelf sufficiency in foodIncreasing productivity & reducing yield gap:-Additional inputs & Technological changeAdaptationNetworked & e-AgriculturePost harvest TechnologyChanging food habit

Strategy for achieving self-sufficiency in foodFood indicates only staple food

Characteristics of Bangladesh AgricultureCropping intensity 179%Irrigated land 56%Surface water:21% groundwater:79%Land-man ratio: .06 haMainly subsistence farmingInadequate agro-processingNon-mechanized farmingFragmented land/plotsDependence largely on nature

Importance of agriculture21% GDP48% labor forceSource of raw materials as backward and forward linkage for agro based industriesAgriculture determines peoples lives and livelihood of this regionPeople living in rural areas 77%Export value 12%

Some challengesRapid shrinkage of agricultural land @1% p.a.Population growth @1.48% p.a.Climate change and variationsRapid urbanization growth @12% p.a.Agricultural research and education (manpower shortage, updating course curriculum)Technology generation (needs expertise, time and money)Technology dissemination (needs expertise, time, logistics support)Alternate livelihoods/rehabilitation programInadequate value addition /food processing

Challenges continuedClimate change adaptation & mitigationDeveloping stress tolerant varietiesTransferring updated information and technologies to the fieldAttaining irrigation efficiencyRegaining soil fertility and natural ingredientsResearch-extension-farmer-market linkageShortage of Agril labour at peak seasons

Prospects of Agriculture:Modern technological know-how is available for dissemination Scope for expanding hybrid technology exists(10%) Prospects for adoption of advanced technology in agriculture are bright Potentials for proper utilization of hilly/coastal areas including agro-ecologically disadvantaged regions exist Export potentials exist for high-value crops Scope for crop diversification, intensification and value addition to agricultural produces Agriculture sector has capacity to absorb labor force and to generate income Scope for reducing yield gaps exists

Why Climate Change matters for agriculture?Heavily depends on natural rainfall, weather & temperature, water level, soil condition etc.Uncontrolled farming environmentRice based agriculture greatly depends availability of fresh surface and ground waterSeasonal farmingLack of stress tolerant varietiesChanged cropping pattern

Types of climate change problems Sea Level Rise (SLR)FloodsRiverbank erosion DroughtSalinity intrusionLoss of homestead and livelihoodsPest infestationLand scarcity

Factors related to climate changeIndiscriminate use of natural resourcesExcessive and unplanned urbanizationUnplanned industrial growthImbalanced use of agricultural inputs and extreme farmingPopulation pressureEffect of industrial pollution by developed countries

Combating Climate Change ImpactAdaptation:Stress (flood, drought, submergence, salinity, heat, cold..) tolerant varietiesShort duration cropsInnovative farming practicesFloating cultivation methodCrop diversificationChanging/shifting cropping patternAlternate wetting and drying irrigation methods

ContinuedMitigationCoastal green beltEmbankment/DamTidal River ManagementEarly warning and weather forecastingCyclone sheltersCrop insurance

Collective efforts neededPolitical commitmentEducational InstitutionsCivil societyNGOsMediaResearch organizationsDepartment of Agricultural Extension/Extension service providersGlobal cooperation

Recurrent natural calamities Cyclones 1970, 1991, 2007(Sidr), 2009(Ayla)Floods 1988, 2000, 2004, 2007Erratic rainfall (e.g. late rainfall Aug/09)Severe droughtHeat and cold wavesNorthwestern stormPest infestationDraw down/Declining Water Table

Last two decades agricultural growthInputs based growth (intensive use of HYV/Hybrid seeds, irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.)Less mechanized farmingInsignificant methodological change of farmingCrop diversificationCombination of vertical & horizontal growthPresently less scope of horizontal growth

Policy support

National Agriculture Policy[1999;2009(draft)]New Agricultural Extension PolicyNational Food PolicyNational Seed PolicyNational IPM policyFertilizer Management (Amendment) Act,2009The Pesticide Act, 2009Rural Credit Policy (Farmers friendly)Land Policy & National Land use policy

PRSP- Agriculture and Rural Development

PRSP places agriculture and rural development as key driver of pro-poor growth strategy. Governments policy is to create enabling environment and support transformation of subsistence agriculture to a more diversified agribusiness with increased participation of private sector.

ContinuedPoverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), entitled Unlocking the Potential National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction (2005), highlights the need for- higher growth in rural areas, development of agriculture and rural non-farm economic activities as one of the four priority areas to accelerating pro-poor economic growth.

ContinuedPRSP puts emphasis on achieving productivity and profitability gains, broad-based support to agriculture, diversification and commercialization of agricultural enterprises.

PRSP also stressed on agricultural research and technology generation, farmers demand-led extension services, energizing agricultural marketing and agro-processing, land use and women in agriculture.

Continued

The most important feature of PRSP is the formulation of precise and workable policy matrix, which identifies 22 crucially important strategic goals, fixes up targets against these goals, charts actions already taken, sets future policy agenda and priorities and delineates responsibilities for the concerned ministries.

Governments recent interventionsFarmers database and Farmers Inputs Support Card to 1 Crore 82 Lakh farmers.Increased subsidy on Agricultural Inputs (Fertilizer, diesel, electricity, seeds)Farmer friendly agricultural credit policy1 Crore 82 Lakh farmers new bank accounts being opened100 Hr. free supplementary irrigationEnhanced Agricultural rehab grants to victims of natural calamitiesSupport for accelerated mechanization of agricultureSurface water irrigation

Conclusion: Agriculture is the determining factor for food security as well as pro-poor development of Bangladesh economy.

The Problems of agriculture are multifaceted. So the ways of addressing the challenges should be comprehensive, global and participatory for sustainable agricultural development.