Agro-based industry and Bangladesh economy
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
As an agricultural country, various types of crops and fruits are produced in Bangladesh. There are many opportunities and possibilities of export through the processing and value addition of these agricultural products as sub-sectors such as poultry, dairy, fish etc. are emerging recently. Agro-based industries include poultry farms, dairy farms, food processing industries, fish freezing and processing industries. The country’s business entrepreneurs and foreign investors are interested in investing in the agro-processing industry in Bangladesh. Joint venture projects and foreign direct investors are particularly encouraged. Agricultural land in Bangladesh is fragmented and generally small, which can be increased in production by cooperative farming. The use of agricultural machinery in cooperative systems is gaining popularity. Through this it is possible to increase agricultural production.
According to BBS data, food grain production in 2018-19 was 415.74 lakhs ton. In this financial year, 9 thousand crore rupees have been allocated for the subsidy of farmers in fertilizer and other agricultural activities. The production of fish in the country is about 50 lakhs tonnes, poultry production is about 35 crore rupees. In this way, if 80pc of the total labor force of this country is engaged in agriculture. They are employed in many areas of rural economy – agriculture and its sub-sectors such as animal husbandry, poultry farming, fish farming, dairy farms, agro-processing activities etc. to maintain the production level of daily necessities of people at the desired level and also maintain their expected income.
The agricultural sector make a significant contribution to the country’s GDP, providing employment to about half of the workforce and providing the main raw material for agro-based industries. Agriculture is a special area closely linked to important issues such as ensuring food and nutrition for the people, creating income opportunities and reducing poverty. In addition, agriculture is a source for a wide variety of consumer goods, especially in rural areas. Therefore, in order to reduce rural poverty, it is essential to develop the agricultural sector and accelerate its growth. Agriculture is a combination of crops, fisheries, livestock and forest sub-sectors. In this context, the Agriculture Policy has been formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture for the purpose of taking and conducting proper development.
Issues related to research, extension, seeds, fertilizers, micro-irrigation, marketing system and human resource development for crop production have been given priority as expected in this policy. The crop sector plays a very important role in the agriculture of Bangladesh and is of utmost importance in various agricultural programs of the government. The amount of agricultural land in the country is declining at a rate of about 1pc per annum and soil quality and fertility is declining as a result of soil erosion and increasing salinity in the soil.
The role of small farms is more in agricultural sector. Agriculture has a huge impact on the economic development and livelihood of the people. In order to reduce the poverty and improve the living standards of the rural population, it is essential to make the existing agricultural production system more dynamic and to introduce sustainable commercial agricultural production system. Combined efficient and effective agricultural technology management of agricultural research and extension is required for sustainable agricultural interaction and diversification through technological change.
In this case proper value addition and proper market management assistance is required. In order to sustain knowledge-intensive agriculture, it is vital to maintain the supply of skilled human resources including productivity, resource utilization skills, use of up-to-date technology, research and testing facilities. More scientific and technical support is needed for agriculture in Bangladesh. In today’s multidimensional national and economic environment, there is a need to increase the effectiveness of government expenditure in agricultural research and extension management.
As the agricultural land is decreasing day by day, increasing the productivity of agriculture is now the way to maintain our food supply. Therefore, government support is needed for research and invention and use of new machinery in agriculture. Moreover, there is a need to prepare for the threat to agricultural productivity due to climate change. Bangladesh basically depends on nature. So, the agricultural production of this country in future will have to face more adverse environment due to global climate change. Apart from, not only increase the production of food from the gradual declining cultivatable land but also the development of non-conventional crops as supplementary food is need to eliminate malnutrition.
So, some initiatives can be taken in future for sustaining the agriculture with for the purpose of food and nutrition security such as — The collection germplasm of various kind of crops filled with diversified nutrition properties beside conventional main crops, feature, assessment, preservation and documentation are needed to strengthen.To invent various kinds of non-conventional crops fit to adverse environment and regional basis, production strategies and processing technology. Need to improve the skill of the concerned bodies for technological expansion. Build up the store of these crops planting beside roads, pond banks, barren lands and courtyard with the labor of family members and make arrangements for the marketing.To make aware of the people through publicity analyzing the nutrition properties of these crops.
Bangladesh is under pressure of inflation and load-shedding. Where is the goal of our farmers? Is it possible to face all these challenges? How Bangladesh can withstand the barriers? The economic crisis may be solved achieving self-reliance in food and agriculture. If we are self-reliant in Agro economy the country can overcome the crisis. So it is asserted that, the sound economy can save nation in times of crisis.
(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh
Ansar & VDP).
