Experts Endorse Organic Fertilizer Subsidy for Soil and Crop Sustainability
Agricultural experts and policymakers have urged the government to introduce subsidies and incentives for farmers to promote the use of organic fertilizers, aiming to safeguard soil and crop health. They also called for immediate and concrete government action in this regard.
The call came during a roundtable discussion titled “Subsidy on Organic Fertilizer for Soil and Crop Health Protection”, jointly organized by ActionAid Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) on Wednesday, October 29, at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. The event was co-hosted by 29 other organizations.
Speaking as the chief guest, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian said, “We are rethinking the use of organic fertilizers and are currently developing a roadmap to identify how investments can be made in an integrated manner.”
He added, “Ensuring food security and tackling real-world challenges is a collective responsibility. A long-term national plan up to 2050 is underway, allowing all stakeholders—from ministries to district-level offices—to work in coordination.”
The secretary further noted that 70 percent of the total agricultural budget is currently allocated to subsidies, of which nearly 80 percent is spent on chemical fertilizers. The government, he said, aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by 32–35 percent while increasing the use of organic alternatives. To prevent misuse and maintain balance, the registration and monitoring mechanisms will be strengthened.
Discussing policy recommendations, Dr. Nazim Uddin, Senior Scientific Officer at BARI, proposed a Tk 5,000 incentive per ton of organic fertilizer as a subsidy or investment measure. He said, “Bangladesh has an annual demand of 6 to 6.5 million tons of organic fertilizer. More than 75 percent of the raw materials are already available domestically. With proper initiatives, the entire demand can be met locally.”
Director General of the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) Dr. Samia Sultana emphasized, “There is no alternative to organic fertilizers for protecting soil health. To preserve both soil and agriculture, greater emphasis must be placed on the production, marketing, and use of organic fertilizers alongside chemical ones.”
Speakers also urged for greater inclusion of youth and women in agriculture and for the promotion of initiatives based on organic inputs. They stressed the need to strengthen agricultural research and innovation, expand awareness and extension services, and ensure stronger coordination between government, private, and research institutions.
The roundtable, moderated by Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, was also addressed by Dr. Shahidul Islam, Director General of BARI’s Sake Division; Rezaul Karim Siddique Rana, General Secretary of B-SAFE Foundation; and Dr. Latiful Bari, Chief Scientist at the Center for Advanced Research in Sciences, among others.
