Farming Futures: Experts Emphasize Research and Sustainability in Agriculture
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have stressed the importance of sustainable use of technology and research for the modernization of agriculture. This call was made by speakers at the “Agriculture, Food Security, and Biodiversity Conference” held on Monday, May 5, at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
Speaking at the event, Farida Akhtar, Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, stated, “Excessive use of pesticides is contaminating both fish and crops. Therefore, we need to adopt a policy for pesticide use. In the name of modern agriculture, we are destroying the fertility of our soil and water in pursuit of higher production.”
She further noted, “Once, fisheries and livestock were under the broader umbrella of agriculture, but now they have been separated, and so have the farmers based on their produce. If we look at the fisheries sector, Bangladesh ranks second after India in harvesting fish from open water bodies. Yet, we are destroying haors, rivers, and canals. When we try to preserve water bodies, we find fish dying due to pesticide contamination from agriculture.”
Dr. Md. Emdad Ullah Mian, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, shared that the government is planning a 25-year roadmap for agricultural modernization. “Our Delta Plan has identified six hotspots. We are working on how to restructure this sector accordingly. The plan has been divided into nine thematic areas. We will soon be able to share details about its progress,” he said.
Highlighting efforts to restore soil fertility, the Agriculture Secretary added, “There have been discussions around the absence of an agriculture commission and the lack of long-term initiatives in the sector. However, we want to take practical steps after thorough evaluation. When we talk about the health of agriculture, we must also talk about the fertility of the soil. We are working on that because we need to assess which crops are suitable for which regions and soil types before advancing production.”
Dr. Jahangir Alam, former Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, stated, “In the 54 years since independence, the agriculture sector has seen the most visible progress. Food grain production has increased from 10 million tons to over 50 million tons. Overall, agricultural production has grown at a rate of 3 percent, whereas the global average is 2.4 percent. We have made significant strides in production. However, we still face food shortages and crises. Every year, we have to import over 10 million tons of various food items. Claims of food self-sufficiency are often politically motivated and lack factual basis.”
Emphasizing the need for innovation and technological integration in agriculture to ensure food security and fair income for farmers, Dr. F.H. Ansari, President of ACI Agribusiness, said, “Farm labor is steadily declining. In 1960, 60 percent of people were involved in agriculture. Now it has dropped to 30 percent, and by 2030, it is expected to fall to 25 percent. To overcome this trend, we must engage the youth. The use of advanced technology will spark their interest in agriculture. While rice-focused research is prioritized, we also need robust studies on wheat and maize. Significant transformation can be achieved through improved laboratories, public-private partnerships extended to the production level, and the use of modern technology.”
Azam J. Chowdhury, Chairman of East Coast Group, raised concerns over non-compliance by banks regarding agricultural loans. He remarked, “Despite Bangladesh Bank's directive, many banks are not properly executing agricultural lending. Though the central bank has allocated nearly BDT 38,000 crore for this sector, most private banks are not adhering to it. We need to improve the loan system to boost agricultural productivity. Specialized guidelines are necessary for both commercial and specialized banks to ensure better access for farmers.”
