Concern about agriculture
Saturday, 15 December 2007
AGRICULTURE continues to be very significant for the Bangladesh economy, though its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) is not as vast it used to be. There has been considerable diversification of the economy over the years but agriculture remains yet very basic to the well-being of the nearly 90 per cent of the population of the country who are rural based. Furthermore, agriculture is too vital for the food security of the country and its macro-economic stability. Growing imports of food products with the country's rising forex reserve had been possible. But such imports climbing higher and stressing the reserve on a regular basis, could seriously strain the country's macro-economy or balance of payments position at a point of time. There is no alternative to agricultural production remaining on the high side and go on improving substantially for the country's macro economic stability and its food security.
But there has so far been not much progress in agricultural productivity. This productivity has not matched demand which has meant growing import dependence for food products. The only success story is in the area of rice production. The population of Bangladesh was some 70 million in 1971 but this population is over 140 million today or a doubled one in over three decades. The annual average of rice production has more than doubled during the years after the independence of the country, depending on normal production without facing natural calamities. But still, in recent years, foodgrain production was found short of total effective demand by at least half a million tonnes on average which had to be met by imports. But population would likely increase by some 20 million in the next twenty years and foodgrain production must at least rise proportionately to maintain a balance between population growth and food supply. But agricultural lands are being put increasingly into non agricultural uses. Some 20 to 37 per cent of agricultural lands have been lost from this process during the last 10 years, according to one estimate.
In this situation, only increasing the per hectare yield of foodgrains seems to be the way for Bangladesh to keep on matching higher demands with adequate supplies. The present average output per acre has to be increased substantially. This is possible because Bangladesh's soil fertility is good. Countries such as Japan and Korea with less fertile soil are growing much more tonnes per hectare than what is produced in Bangladesh. But there are signs that a planned attempt is being made to meet present and future demands. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has so far invented 47 new higher yielding varieties of rice. But only a handful of them have been popularised although there are at least a dozen varieties which can yield substantially higher outputs than the ones which are being cultivated.
Specially, the high yielding varieties developed by BRRI to withstand drought and salinity, are still unknown in the southern regions. The greater part in the coastal areas can raise only one rice crop a year. But these areas could grow several crops in a year if the new varieties -- developed to withstand adverse conditions -- were made familiar to farmers there. Thus, there is not so much a lack of research into new varieties but the neglect or incapacity on the part of the Department of Agricultural Extension to give hands down training to farmers extensively throughout the country. This department needs to maintain regular liaison with BRRI and undertake a countrywide programme for the new varieties of seeds developed by the latter to actually find widespread field level applications.
Bangladesh was once self sufficient or nearly so in pulses, spices and cooking oil and other edibles. But a bigger part of the demand for these has to be met nowadays with import. In fact, import dependence of the country for these, is rising alarmingly. Raising their local production will not only save hard currency but spare their consumers the pains of paying for the escalating higher prices of these imported goods. Planned large scale production of these non-cereal crops will have to be attempted. In this endeavour, the different official agencies meant to support agriculture will have to come together and get their act together in a coordinated fashion to help and encourage the farmers.
But there has so far been not much progress in agricultural productivity. This productivity has not matched demand which has meant growing import dependence for food products. The only success story is in the area of rice production. The population of Bangladesh was some 70 million in 1971 but this population is over 140 million today or a doubled one in over three decades. The annual average of rice production has more than doubled during the years after the independence of the country, depending on normal production without facing natural calamities. But still, in recent years, foodgrain production was found short of total effective demand by at least half a million tonnes on average which had to be met by imports. But population would likely increase by some 20 million in the next twenty years and foodgrain production must at least rise proportionately to maintain a balance between population growth and food supply. But agricultural lands are being put increasingly into non agricultural uses. Some 20 to 37 per cent of agricultural lands have been lost from this process during the last 10 years, according to one estimate.
In this situation, only increasing the per hectare yield of foodgrains seems to be the way for Bangladesh to keep on matching higher demands with adequate supplies. The present average output per acre has to be increased substantially. This is possible because Bangladesh's soil fertility is good. Countries such as Japan and Korea with less fertile soil are growing much more tonnes per hectare than what is produced in Bangladesh. But there are signs that a planned attempt is being made to meet present and future demands. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has so far invented 47 new higher yielding varieties of rice. But only a handful of them have been popularised although there are at least a dozen varieties which can yield substantially higher outputs than the ones which are being cultivated.
Specially, the high yielding varieties developed by BRRI to withstand drought and salinity, are still unknown in the southern regions. The greater part in the coastal areas can raise only one rice crop a year. But these areas could grow several crops in a year if the new varieties -- developed to withstand adverse conditions -- were made familiar to farmers there. Thus, there is not so much a lack of research into new varieties but the neglect or incapacity on the part of the Department of Agricultural Extension to give hands down training to farmers extensively throughout the country. This department needs to maintain regular liaison with BRRI and undertake a countrywide programme for the new varieties of seeds developed by the latter to actually find widespread field level applications.
Bangladesh was once self sufficient or nearly so in pulses, spices and cooking oil and other edibles. But a bigger part of the demand for these has to be met nowadays with import. In fact, import dependence of the country for these, is rising alarmingly. Raising their local production will not only save hard currency but spare their consumers the pains of paying for the escalating higher prices of these imported goods. Planned large scale production of these non-cereal crops will have to be attempted. In this endeavour, the different official agencies meant to support agriculture will have to come together and get their act together in a coordinated fashion to help and encourage the farmers.