When mega projects like the Padma Bridge, metro rail, express way and Karnaphuli tunnel hog newspaper headlines, this groundbreaking agricultural project has sadly received hardly any publicity. However, the initiative sets its sight on a horizon well beyond the cultivation of vegetables and fruits. Apart from expanding cultivation of climate-resilient and high-yielding paddy, it does not forget to focus on enhancing the acreage of pulses, oil seeds and horticulture crops to 0.2 million hectares each. Clearly, with this shift in cropping patterns, agriculture is set to get diversified and enter a completely new phase.
Now the moot question is, if farmers are well prepared for taking up the challenge and if they do, what will be the impact on domestic food security, particularly involving the staple. Here is a small geographic area and the arable land of which is shrinking at an alarming rate of 80,300 hectares annually or 220 hectares a day. True, vegetables and fruits may have uses other than cash crops only but affordability of those produced under the GAP for the average domestic consumer is a matter of concern.
Otherwise, the government plan to bring the 22.7 million farmers under a scheme of various supports including financial and input subsidies deserves unreserved appreciation. To further the range and scope of the project, 20,000 youths and women entrepreneurs will be imparted training on commercial agriculture, agribusinesses, agricultural innovation and services. Looks like, a comprehensive plan has been devised. If carried out pragmatically without partisan political influences, the project has the potential to deliver the goods.
In this context, let it be noted that the country's agriculture scientists have worked wonder so far as research and innovation are concerned. The country's farmers have demonstrated their willingness and ability to accept new technology, tools and methods of agricultural practices all the time. In short, their resilience in adapting themselves to changing time and agricultural environment has been phenomenal. There is no reason why they will not be able to rise up to the occasion this time as well. Even by this time they have to their credit the feat of achieving remarkable successes in production of not only high-yielding varieties of paddies, but also of exotic vegetables and fruits such as capsicum, broccoli, strawberry, grapes and orange on plain-land orchards.
The prospect looks bright on the production front. But there is no guarantee for putting in place the supporting system concerning establishment and smooth operation of testing laboratories accredited by international bodies, marketing of produce and agri-products without interference of middlemen. There is the more complicated issue of intervention by large companies who have developed a habit of laying a stranglehold on farm produce and businesses only to manipulate the domestic market. Their intervention will be unwelcome because of their exploitative business practices which deprive the real growers of their deserving benefits.
That a 'Krishi Smart Card' each of the 22.7 million farmers under the project will receive can be made good use of for developing a marketing mechanism where designated procurers will collect an array of produce for marketing within the country and shipment abroad. A strong supply chain can be built if a pool of vans and trucks is arranged, like the planned 200 vehicles to be used as crop clinics, for transportation of the produce collected from farmers. This way, prices can be maintained at a reasonable level where both producers and domestic consumers become beneficiaries and the profit margin in case of export is quite handsome.
The improved and efficient irrigation technology, as envisioned, will be of immense help to keep the production cost low and at the same time avoid wastage of the precious water ---surface or underground. But one area that is not brought under adequate monitoring and supervision is the application of excessive chemical fertilisers and pesticides. This unwise farm practice should be rationalised, preferably minimised, in order to further cut the production cost as well as maintain sustainability of soil and the environment.
Last but not least, this small country in its present state cannot afford cut-throat commercialisation of its agriculture. Once the project completes its schedule, there is a chance of corporate business taking over the control of farms developed painstakingly. This can be avoided if farmers' cooperatives are formed under different heads of production. Such cooperatives will have full control of their agricultural farms and produces. The expertise developed through training imparted to youth and women entrepreneurs can be effectively used for marketing. If the pool of vehicles is leased to the cooperatives and arrangements are made for payment of instalments for such collective bodies to own those, the domestic market can be stabilised and shipments carried out on the fast track.
nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com