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Agriculture needs larger focus after monsoon to ensure food security 

Published : Tuesday, 3 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 796
MIR MOSHARREF HOSSAIN PAKBIR
Following the terrible floods that ravaged Bangladesh in August 2024 during the monsoon, the urgent need for a strong focus on agriculture cannot be overstated. The recent floods, which submerged large areas of arable land, damaged crops, and interrupted crop cultivation, have had a significant impact on agriculture, the backbone of Bangladesh's economy and the major source of livelihood for millions of people. A considerate focus on agriculture is essential to addressing these issues to enhance long-term resilience and sustainability in addition to recovery.

With over 43% of the workforce employed and contributing approximately 15% of the country's GDP, agriculture is the largest employment sector in Bangladesh. Bangladesh with a population of around 17.4 crore and a population density of 1,333 per sq. km. has always experienced hike in these numbers and hence, ensuring food security remained always critical. Significant macroeconomic goals including creating jobs, reducing poverty, developing human resources, ensuring food security, and other economic and social aspects are greatly impacted by the success of agriculture sector.

Bangladesh has just received a new interim government, which has to face the tremendous natural calamity in the form of disastrous floods sweeping over 11 districts of the country. Moreover, from the very beginning of monsoon or rainy season, the country experienced silent floods and waterlogging at different parts, creating challenges for agricultural production. Though there is adequate reserve for food products for the upcoming few months, we may face the impacts of these severe floods and rain on our food reserve in the near future.

In terms of producing 22 different agricultural goods, Bangladesh is in the top 10 nations. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2021 generated the rankings. Bangladesh is now the 14th largest country in the world for the primary agricultural product output, while having the 94th largest land. Bangladesh secured the second position in the production of jute, betel nuts, and dry chilies, third for rice, garlic, and other sugar crop categories and fourth for berries such as java plum, jujube, karamcha, Bengal currant, Burmese grape and other aromatic spices. Bangladesh stood at the sixth position for the production of lentils and tropical fruits like jackfruit, lychee, and others, seventh position for onion, potato, ginger, eggplant, bean seeds, and coconut coir, eighth for tea and pumpkin and ninth for mango, guava, cauliflower, broccoli, beans and bird feed (seeds).

While the recent floods have critically disturbed our agricultural production, these have come with some opportunities as well. There will be heavy siltation due to the floods and that will make the lands of the affected areas more fertile for crop production. Moreover, the dry season is approaching soon, which will be followed by spring and summer consequently. We will have crucial production period in the upcoming months. Hence, we need to prepare ourselves to utilize that opportunity to the fullest.

Climate adaptation for agriculture cannot be addressed in a one-size-fits-all manner since the dangers associated with climate change vary depending on the geographical area. Bangladesh is ranked eighth on the Global Climate Risk Index, making it one of the most susceptible nations to climate change. Different risks might affect different areas in Bangladesh. For example, the intensity of flash floods has multiplied in the Sylhet region in recent years. Paddy cannot be grown in coastal locations due to salinity. In the northwest, irrigation projects that try to provide farmers with the water they need are unable to do so due to groundwater depletion, creating a scenario akin to a drought.

Bangladesh's agriculture faces problems from rising demand for arable land, unjust prices, middlemen's involvement, limited access to resources and inputs, environmental issues, and the risk of climate change. Diseconomies of scale for marginal farmers and the declining average farm size are important issues in agricultural promotion. Significant farming incentives, agro-ecological zoning, rehabilitating coastal embankments, comprehensive flood water management, enhancing water efficiency with long-term water management plans, and developing technologies for agricultural water management, high-yielding crops, effective irrigation, effective use of water resources, and climate change adaptation are all crucial.

Supporting flood-impacted farmers financially and technically is vital. We must firmly compile a list of the impacted farmers in the dairy, poultry, fisheries and crop production sectors to provide them a zero-interest loan. The loan distribution method must be free from corruption to wholly achieve the goal. The farmers who received the financial incentive need to be thoroughly observed by the agricultural officers on a regular basis. This will allow farmers in the areas now hit by flooding to increase agricultural production and benefit from the future winter and summer seasons.

The interim administration can advocate for a 'green revolution' as well. Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who serves as the interim government's chief advisor, has a strong mass following and may encourage his fellow citizens to grow crops in any vacant space near their homes, both in rural as well as urban areas. Furthermore, by applying his vast knowledge in the microcredit industry, he may further expand the use of cooperative agricultural techniques in rural regions. In rural and suburban regions, where there are a lot of unemployed people as well as those returning from overseas jobs, they can engage in cooperative farming, which will significantly reduce poverty and unemployment.  As there will be agricultural experts as long-time farmers in the cooperative, anyone can join the initiative.

Since big companies now dominate the market, the cost of fish, poultry, and cattle feed has climbed dramatically over the last decade. It seems unbelievable that cow feeds such as bran were discovered to be more expensive than human food wheat. To maintain food security, the government need to launch a strong campaign against the syndicate and promptly control the prices of fisheries and livestock feed.

Different crops grow well at different districts or areas of Bangladesh at different seasons. The government needs to take initiatives to increase the product of those particular crops in those particular areas in those specific seasons for better production. It is necessary to ensure availability of other products in those particular markets so that the farmers do not divert their production without economies of scale. Most importantly, the government needs to eliminate the middlemen influence and initiate a process to purchase products directly to farmers so that the farmers receive good price while the consumers also receive products in a much lower cost. The government also need to ensure proper storage facility of food products at a much lower costs as the storage facility has become critical to ensure food security in Bangladesh.

There are some crops like jute, which is produced in water-filled lands. Hence, during the rainy season, the farmers should produce such crops. This will help create employment throughout the year and will allow the youth to remain employed leading towards a greater social stability. Moreover, we need to focus on farming our local fruits to a greater extent so that our dependency on foreign fruits declines. Most importantly, we need to reduce use of chemical fertilizer and pesticide in crop production, fisheries and livestock production. While we are increasing production with artificial substances, health hazards are increasing greatly. We need to utilize natural production system for the welfare of the whole nation.

The government need to emphasize on creating a farm at every household of the rural areas to increase food production - be it crops, fishes, poultry or cattle. To promote agriculture, the government can also introduce award for significant achievements in the sector. The farmers, researchers, innovators and even marketers can receive such awards and the media should promote such achievements greatly. It will increase interest over agriculture among the people especially the youth.

Along with the world, Bangladesh is also progressing in terms of technology. Now is time to enable our farmers through technology. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) can help our farmers in identifying crop diseases early, receive proper consultation without cost, educate themselves on latest food production methods, market their products more effectively and many things else. Hence, we need startups to come forward to train our farmers. Collaborative efforts involving public and private sectors, along with international organizations, can facilitate the development of a comprehensive strategy that addresses both immediate needs and long-term goals.

The monsoon or rainy season presents a critical opportunity for Bangladesh to transform its agricultural sector, ensuring that it becomes more adaptable, productive, and resilient in the face of climate challenges. Without food security, it is impossible to ensure stability in the country. Moreover, if we cannot make our rural economy self-sufficient, then sustainable development will remain unachieved. Hence, we hope the government and the relevant stakeholders will put significant focus on our agricultural sector to maximize production as well as to ensure food security for the citizens.

The writer is Chief Editor at Mohammadi News Agency (MNA) and Editor at Kishore Bangla



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