FE REPORT
Experts at a programme said that accelerating agricultural growth through technological advancements, mechanisation, and targeted resource allocation is crucial for enhancing productivity, improving livelihoods, and ensuring food security in Bangladesh.
They emphasised that a strategic, data-driven approach is essential for accelerating agricultural growth in Bangladesh. Modernising agricultural extension services, improving access to finance, optimising mechanisation policies, and strengthening climate resilience are critical steps towards boosting productivity, enhancing food security, and ensuring sustainable economic development, they said.
They were addressing a session on enhancing agricultural growth at the 8th SANEM Annual Economists' Conference in Dhaka, where experts from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) presented their latest research.
Akhter Ahmed, country representative for IFPRI Bangladesh, highlighted the need for a strategy that encourages the adoption of yield-enhancing technologies and promotes diversification into high-value crops like maize, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and fruits.
He emphasised that increasing rice yields, rather than expanding cultivation areas, would enable farmers to transition into more profitable crops. However, limited access to finance, inadequate agricultural extension services, and market risks remain major obstacles.
He said smallholders often struggle with stringent collateral requirements and a lack of financial literacy, while banks find it challenging to operate in rural areas. Furthermore, he said only 23 per cent of smallholder farmers received extension services in 2018-19, limiting their ability to adopt modern practices.
Another study by IFPRI researchers Dr. Mehrab Bakhtiar, Dr. Moogdho Mahzab, and Dr. Ben Belton examined the impact of Bangladesh's mechanisation subsidy programme. The paper said the availability of combine harvesters significantly boosted productivity by increasing yields, reducing labour costs, and raising farm incomes.
However, the study revealed inefficiencies in the geographical distribution of subsidized machines, leading to suboptimal results. The researchers suggested that future mechanisation policies should be more data-driven and less prescriptive.
Another paper presented at the session focused on the need for targeted resource allocation to address food insecurity and environmental challenges.
IFPRI researchers recommended prioritising resources based on district-level food insecurity and environmental risk assessments. They also stressed the importance of climate-adaptive strategies, particularly for coastal areas vulnerable to climate change.
They said investing in sustainable agriculture, flood-resistant crops, and early warning systems were identified as crucial for building resilience. Strengthening national data systems and empowering local governments with district-specific action plans were also highlighted as key measures to enhance policy effectiveness.
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