The life of the soil must be restored

In Bangladesh, agriculture is currently navigating a silent but profound crisis. Its impact is far-reaching. Various studies and surveys indicate that the use of organic fertilizer on agricultural land is steadily declining with chemical fertilizers filling the void.

Currently, the organic matter content in most of the country’s soil is low; in fact, approximately 70 percent of the arable land situated on high and medium-high terrain contains less than 2 percent organic matter.

A matter of concern is that the drive to boost immediate production is depleting the soil’s vitality in the long run.

This is because organic fertilizer is not merely a fertilizer; it is the lifeblood of the soil, the foundation of fertility, and a key prerequisite for sustainable agriculture. Yet, we have gradually turned our backs on such a valuable natural resource.

At one time, the practice of rearing livestock was widespread among almost every family in rural Bangladesh.

Consequently, there was no shortage of cow dung, which was regularly applied to agricultural land; along with other organic waste, were also converted into fertilizer.

However, with the passage of time, that scenario has changed.

The trend of rearing livestock has declined, grazing lands have shrunk, and the cost of crop production has risen.

Consequently, farmers have naturally become increasingly dependent on chemical fertilizers rather than organic ones. Its excessive use destroys beneficial soil microorganisms, depletes organic matter, and reduces water-holding capacity; eventually, even applying more fertilizer fails to yield the expected harvest.

Many countries around the world have recognized this reality. That’s why government support is being provided in various European countries to encourage the use of compost and organic fertilizers for maintaining the health of agricultural land.

In neighboring India, special programs have been launched in various states to promote natural farming and the use of cow-dung-based organic fertilizers.

It seems the time has come for this realization in Bangladesh as well. Farmers need effective incentives for the production and use of organic fertilizer, the dissemination of composting technology, and encouragement for livestock rearing; furthermore, alternative fuel sources must be provided so that cow dung is not burned as fuel. Raising awareness among farmers about Integrated Nutrient Management is also the need of the hour.

To safeguard the future of agriculture, the soil must be saved, and to save the soil, we must return to organic fertilizers.

Chemical fertilizers can produce crops, but they cannot keep the soil alive. Besides, emerging challenges such as climate change, salinity, and erratic weather patterns increasingly expose Bangladesh’s agriculture to organic fertilizer. The sooner we realize this truth, the better it will be for the country’s agriculture and environment.