Agricultural problem and solving policy for Bangladesh

Agriculture remains the most important sector of Bangladeshi economy, contributing 19.6 percent to the national GDP and providing employment for 63 percent of the population. Agriculture in Bangladesh is heavily dependent on the weather, and the entire harvest can be wiped out in a matter of hours when cyclones hit the country. According to the World Bank, the total arable land in Bangladesh is 61.2 percent of the total land area (down from 68.3 percent in 1980). Farms are usually very small due to heavily increasing population, unwieldy land ownership, and inheritance regulations. The 3 main cropsrice, jute, and teahave dominated agricultural exports for decades, although the rice is grown almost entirely for domestic consumption, while jute and tea are the main export earners. In addition to these products, Bangladeshi farmers produce sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, and various fruits and vegetables (sweet potatoes, bananas, pineapples, etc.) for the domestic market.

Tropical rainforest is important for maintaining the ecological balance in Bangladesh, and forestry contributes 1.9 percent to the GDP (1999-2000). The forest covers around 17 percent of the country's territory, or 2.5 million hectares (6.18 million acres). But now this time agriculture is challenging for us and day by day agricultural problem are increasing.

Problem of Bangladesh agriculture:

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. Rapid shrinkage of agricultural land Population growth Climate change and variations Rapid urbanization growth Agricultural research and education (manpower shortage, updating course curriculum) Technology generation (needs expertise, time and money)

VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV.

Technology dissemination (needs expertise, time, logistics support) Alternate livelihoods/rehabilitation program Inadequate value addition /food processing Climate change adaptation & mitigation Developing stress tolerant varieties Transferring updated information and technologies to the field Attaining irrigation efficiency Regaining soil fertility and natural ingredients Research-extension-farmer-market linkage Shortage of Agril labor at peak seasons Sea Level Rise Floods Riverbank erosion Drought Salinity intrusion Loss of homestead and livelihoods Pest infestation Land scarcity

Solving Policy:
For overcome agricultural problem we have to take following steps.. Stress (flood, drought, submergence, salinity, heat, cold..) tolerant varieties Short duration crops Innovative farming practices Floating cultivation method Crop diversification Changing/shifting cropping pattern Alternate wetting and drying irrigation methods Tidal River Management Early warning and weather forecasting Cyclone shelters Crop insurance Modern technological know-how is available for dissemination Scope for expanding hybrid technology exists(10%) Prospects for adoption of advanced technology in agriculture are bright Potentials for proper utilization of hilly/coastal areas including agro-ecologically disadvantaged regions exist Export potentials exist for high-value crops Scope for crop diversification, intensification and value addition to agricultural produces Agriculture sector has capacity to absorb labor force and to generate income

 Scope for reducing yield gaps exists

Collective effort needed for solve the problem:

Political commitment NGOs Media Research organizations Department of Agricultural Extension/Extension service providers Global cooperation Educational Institutions Civil society

Agriculture is the determining factor for food security as well as pro-poor development of Bangladesh economy. The Problems of agriculture are multifaceted. So the ways of addressing the development. Problem should be comprehensive, global and participatory for sustainable agricultural.

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