The government is set to finalise the national organic agriculture guidelines-2016 within a month. The guidelines will have the provisions that would aim at maintaining agricultural land fertility and making farmers self-reliant by producing quality organic agricultural products, officials said.
The ministry of agriculture (MoA) has already prepared draft guidelines in this respect in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts.
The excessive use of chemical fertilisers in growing more farm products has been posing a serious threat to fertility of arable land, public health and biodiversity, prompting the government to prepare the guidelines.
Some 170 countries are now using 'organic agriculture method' for the production of agricultural products. Of them, 80 countries have their own regulations for 'organic agriculture'. Some SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries have also their organic agriculture guidelines.
The demand for organic agricultural products is increasing in the developed world.
The agricultural production through 'organic agriculture' existed in the middle of 20th century in the country.
The organic agriculture system was introduced mainly by the private sector in 90s in the country.
"It is essential to adopt organic agriculture for long-term sustainability in agriculture and compete in the world agro market," a high official of the MoA who is involved in the process of preparing the guidelines told the FE.
Use of agro-chemicals has been causing damage to soil and biodiversity, he said, adding that the organic agriculture is a new trend across the world and commercialisation of organic agricultural products is expanding day by day.
The objectives of the guidelines are to identify areas suitable for organic agriculture. Besides, it will incorporate traditional and indigenous methods in the organic agriculture system for increasing farm production.
There will be a 'national accreditation policy' for maintaining the quality of organic agricultural products.
The proposed guidelines will help accumulate traditional and indigenous knowledge while implementing organic agriculture and help provide certification to the farmers for exporting organic agricultural products.
Bangladesh has a vast scope for flourishing organic agriculture.
If the guidelines are implemented, it will help develop the country's organic agricultural products and boost export, according to agriculturists.
"We are working on the draft national organic agriculture guidelines-2016. We hope it will be finalised within a month," Joint Secretary of the MoA Md Mahbubul Islam told the FE.
He said the guidelines will be sent to the cabinet for approval after finalisation by the agriculture ministry.
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