Crop diversification to reduce imports
Sunday, 20 September 2009
ONCE an exporter, Bangladesh has to import spices. It is the obvious upshot of growing spices on less and less land. Either oil seeds or cooking oil imports are a reality now. But not long ago, Bangladesh was self sufficient in cooking oil. Cotton, rubber and some other important crops can be grown at home to reduce import dependence. The finest cotton was produced in Bangladesh until the British colonialists forced the farmers to give up its cultivation. Value-addition to readymade garments (RMG) can go up from about 30 to 35 per cent to 70 per cent or more, if Bangladesh resumes production of cotton for making yarn and fabric. In that case, foreign exchange earnings from the RMG sector will also rise substantially. Increased rubber cultivation can do the same.
Similarly, increased production of oilseeds and spices can reduce imports. Increased production of these non-food grain crops could swing the balance of payments in favour of Bangladesh. Besides, domestic production of the items could also help stabilise the prices.
Understandably, the population pressure led to using more and more land for food grain production. But this problem can be circumvented by growing higher yielding on varieties 50 or 60 per cent of crop land, up from the existing 20 per cent. In that case, foodgrain output would double on less land, leaving much of it for producing non food grain crops.
Firoz Ahmed
Wari, Dhaka
Similarly, increased production of oilseeds and spices can reduce imports. Increased production of these non-food grain crops could swing the balance of payments in favour of Bangladesh. Besides, domestic production of the items could also help stabilise the prices.
Understandably, the population pressure led to using more and more land for food grain production. But this problem can be circumvented by growing higher yielding on varieties 50 or 60 per cent of crop land, up from the existing 20 per cent. In that case, foodgrain output would double on less land, leaving much of it for producing non food grain crops.
Firoz Ahmed
Wari, Dhaka