BANGLADESH’S agriculture is now at the cusp of a major transformation. For decades, we have understood food security only as an abundance of rice and wheat.
But now it is clear that filling the stomach is not enough, balanced nutrition is needed for the well-being of the body and mind.
Although the exclusive dominance of rice over nearly three-quarters of the country’s total arable land has provided food grain stability, it currently poses a major challenge to ensuring nutritional security.
A newspaper report published on Sunday brought this serious problem to the fore.
Agricultural scientists and economists have called for a shift away from rice-based agriculture towards crop diversification.
According to experts, as a result of exclusive rice cultivation, people are getting enough carbohydrates, but there is a serious deficiency of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
A simple but effective solution to fill this gap is to bring at least 10 percent of rice arable land under alternative crops.
This change will not only address nutrient deficiencies, but also protect farmers’ economies and soil health.
Cultivation of pulses increases fertility by providing nitrogen to the soil, and crop diversity reduces disease and insect infestation.
On the other hand, alternative crops require less water and fertilizer compared to rice cultivation, which will also reduce pressure and soil erosion. Rice accounts for about 70 percent of daily food intake in Bangladesh.
Nutritionists say that although the people of this country need to eat 300 grams of vegetables per capita daily, in reality it is only around 200 grams.
To ensure nutritional security, it is essential to diversify crops, change dietary habits, and encourage the consumption of vegetables, fish, and meat.
According to agricultural economists, it is difficult to shift farmers from rice to other crops overnight because they consider rice production the safest option for food security.
Therefore, the government must come forward in this transformation process.
For this, rice productivity must be increased by developing high-yielding rice varieties and rapidly bringing uncultivated land under cultivation.
So that even if a small amount of land is given for other crops, the total production does not suffer.
Along with this, fair prices for vegetables and other crops and necessary incentives for farmers must be ensured.
To make sure Bangladesh’s nutritional security, a new approach to agricultural policy is needed.
A shift to diversified agriculture may be the key to building a sustainable agriculture and a nutritious nation.
