The unsung heroes
Monday, 9 May 2011
Shasmul Huq Zahid
Despite the fact that the share of the agriculture sector in the gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining constantly over the last few decades -- from over 50 per cent in the early eighties to only 18 per cent in the last fiscal -- it still feeds the country's vast population. More importantly, it provides jobs to more than 50 per cent of the labour force. In fact, the performance of the agriculture sector -- many tend to consider it to be below actual potentials -- during the last four decades has been spectacular in terms of food grain production. The total food grain production which was only 10 million tonnes in 1970-71 has now increased to 35 million tonnes. The per-hectare yield has increased to 2.64 tonnes from 1.05 tonnes in 1970-71. All including farmers, extension workers, agricultural scientists and the people involved in trading of farm inputs and irrigation equipment and farm implements, have contributed to the growth in food production and thus, have saved millions of dollars in foreign exchange that would have been otherwise used to import food grains every year. But has the state been gracious enough to recognize the contributions of those who have virtually achieved wonders as far as food production is concerned? Unfortunately, not. The state has almost ignored their valuable contributions. Farmers are our unsung heroes who toil hard throughout the day to grow food for themselves and others. Political leaders, bureaucrats and experts do profusely shower praise on the farmers. But when it comes to reducing the problems that they face in the production process, these people are found to be least concerned. However, it is difficult for the state to recognize the contributions of millions of farmers. But what is about the people who do work in the background to develop high yielding crop varieties suitable to local climatic conditions and appropriate farm practices? Successive governments have been generous enough to recognize the contributions of the vocal sections of the population. Often, such recognition is given to undeserving people under political considerations. But not many people, who have made great contribution to the development of agriculture sector, have got the state recognition. Until now only Dr. Shah Muhammad Hasanuzzaman, an agricultural scientist of great repute, and the Bangladesh Rice Research Institution (BRRI) have got state recognition. Dr. Zaman received the Independence Award in 1978 and the BRRI in 1992. A good number of agricultural scientists have made immense contributions to what has been achieved in the agriculture sector until now. There is no denying that the country's agriculture has the potential to reach a far greater height. But faulty government polices, among others, is responsible for the agricultural sector performing below the optimum level. Besides the state recognition, the perks and privileges of the agricultural scientists working in the public sector entities have been inadequate. This inadequacy has prompted several hundred agricultural scientists to leave the state research institutions in the country's agriculture sector over the last two decades. According to a newspaper report, 137 agricultural scientists left various research institutes under the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in 1997-98. A good number of those scientists, including breeders, entomologists, soil experts went abroad for higher studies but did not come back home. They have, reportedly, taken jobs in research institutions in the USA, Canada and Australia and are drawing handsome salary and other benefits. Some scientists have left public sector research institutions and joined the international and private sector organizations at home. The exodus has created a sort of vacuum in the public sector research organizations in the agriculture sector. The government, of late, has taken note of the prevailing situation in the farm research organizations and is trying to reverse the exodus by enhancing the incentives and service benefits for nearly 1800 agricultural scientists serving in 10 institutions under NARS and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC). The ministry of agriculture has prepared a proposal to this effect and the same is expected to be placed before the appropriate authorities for consideration. There are also anomalies in the service conditions of the scientists employed in various public sector agricultural research organizations. For instance, scientists working in the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) are entitled to pension benefits up on their retirement. But those who are employed in the BIRI and the BARC do not enjoy the same benefit. The scientists do also have an aggrieved feeling about service age and promotions. With the expansion of service sector that has been offering attractive compensation packages and other benefits, students and their parents, these days, are found to be less interested in pursing science education. Such a development has led to a scarcity of manpower having science background. The brilliant students with science background do very often leave the country on completion of their studies being attracted to better opportunities in foreign research organizations and educational institutions. All these do not bode well for the future of the country. The nation cannot afford to lose the creative manpower in the field of science and technology. Thus, it is high time for the government to make available the required incentives for the scientists working in various fields of the national life, including agriculture.
Despite the fact that the share of the agriculture sector in the gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining constantly over the last few decades -- from over 50 per cent in the early eighties to only 18 per cent in the last fiscal -- it still feeds the country's vast population. More importantly, it provides jobs to more than 50 per cent of the labour force. In fact, the performance of the agriculture sector -- many tend to consider it to be below actual potentials -- during the last four decades has been spectacular in terms of food grain production. The total food grain production which was only 10 million tonnes in 1970-71 has now increased to 35 million tonnes. The per-hectare yield has increased to 2.64 tonnes from 1.05 tonnes in 1970-71. All including farmers, extension workers, agricultural scientists and the people involved in trading of farm inputs and irrigation equipment and farm implements, have contributed to the growth in food production and thus, have saved millions of dollars in foreign exchange that would have been otherwise used to import food grains every year. But has the state been gracious enough to recognize the contributions of those who have virtually achieved wonders as far as food production is concerned? Unfortunately, not. The state has almost ignored their valuable contributions. Farmers are our unsung heroes who toil hard throughout the day to grow food for themselves and others. Political leaders, bureaucrats and experts do profusely shower praise on the farmers. But when it comes to reducing the problems that they face in the production process, these people are found to be least concerned. However, it is difficult for the state to recognize the contributions of millions of farmers. But what is about the people who do work in the background to develop high yielding crop varieties suitable to local climatic conditions and appropriate farm practices? Successive governments have been generous enough to recognize the contributions of the vocal sections of the population. Often, such recognition is given to undeserving people under political considerations. But not many people, who have made great contribution to the development of agriculture sector, have got the state recognition. Until now only Dr. Shah Muhammad Hasanuzzaman, an agricultural scientist of great repute, and the Bangladesh Rice Research Institution (BRRI) have got state recognition. Dr. Zaman received the Independence Award in 1978 and the BRRI in 1992. A good number of agricultural scientists have made immense contributions to what has been achieved in the agriculture sector until now. There is no denying that the country's agriculture has the potential to reach a far greater height. But faulty government polices, among others, is responsible for the agricultural sector performing below the optimum level. Besides the state recognition, the perks and privileges of the agricultural scientists working in the public sector entities have been inadequate. This inadequacy has prompted several hundred agricultural scientists to leave the state research institutions in the country's agriculture sector over the last two decades. According to a newspaper report, 137 agricultural scientists left various research institutes under the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in 1997-98. A good number of those scientists, including breeders, entomologists, soil experts went abroad for higher studies but did not come back home. They have, reportedly, taken jobs in research institutions in the USA, Canada and Australia and are drawing handsome salary and other benefits. Some scientists have left public sector research institutions and joined the international and private sector organizations at home. The exodus has created a sort of vacuum in the public sector research organizations in the agriculture sector. The government, of late, has taken note of the prevailing situation in the farm research organizations and is trying to reverse the exodus by enhancing the incentives and service benefits for nearly 1800 agricultural scientists serving in 10 institutions under NARS and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC). The ministry of agriculture has prepared a proposal to this effect and the same is expected to be placed before the appropriate authorities for consideration. There are also anomalies in the service conditions of the scientists employed in various public sector agricultural research organizations. For instance, scientists working in the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) are entitled to pension benefits up on their retirement. But those who are employed in the BIRI and the BARC do not enjoy the same benefit. The scientists do also have an aggrieved feeling about service age and promotions. With the expansion of service sector that has been offering attractive compensation packages and other benefits, students and their parents, these days, are found to be less interested in pursing science education. Such a development has led to a scarcity of manpower having science background. The brilliant students with science background do very often leave the country on completion of their studies being attracted to better opportunities in foreign research organizations and educational institutions. All these do not bode well for the future of the country. The nation cannot afford to lose the creative manpower in the field of science and technology. Thus, it is high time for the government to make available the required incentives for the scientists working in various fields of the national life, including agriculture.