Sustainable Farm Practices and Safe Environment Prepared for the webinar series on Webinar #4: Land and Food Systems 17 October 2023 (Tuesday) Shanjida Khan Ripa Manager Program, ALRD Organized by the Ateneo de Manila University, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Ateneo de Davao University, and Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines (SDSN PH) Sustainable Agriculture • Characteristics of sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food production that is— a) healthy for men and animals, b) does not harm the environment, c) humanitarian for workers and provides a fair wage to the farmer (www.sustainabletable.org). • Sustainable Agriculture integrates four main goals: 1. Productivity, 2. Environmental stability, 3. Economic profitability, and 4. Social and economic equity. • SA requires considerably less agro-chemicals, adds more organic matter to the soil, and requires higher local inputs without markedly compromising output and financial benefits. Agriculture in Bangladesh and Problems • Agriculture sector is at the Centre of economy, ensuring food security, and continues to be the chief source of employment in Bangladesh; and has made significant progress in achieving self-sufficiency in producing cereal crops and reducing poverty. • It is accounting for 23% of GDP and 45.33% of labour force in 2022. • 83.37 percent (29.62 million) of households live in rural areas, and 46.61 percent of the total households (16.56 million) are involved in agriculture, basically the production of crops, fisheries and livestock. • These rural smallholder farmers feed the 169.4 million people living in 147,570 square km with cultivated land accounting for 60% of the total land area. But, Sustainability of agriculture and food security in Bangladesh has been a significant concern and is in under threat from the - continuous degradation of land and water resources, - declining yields due to indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, - vulnerability to natural disasters - high population density (1,168.79 people per square kilometer), - Inequality in land distribution, etc. Changing context of smallholder food production system in Bangladesh • Use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers has started in Bangladesh during the Green Revolution in 60’ • Agriculture has changed dramatically, especially since the end of Independent War in 1971. Changes brought— - crops productivity soared due to new technologies, - mechanization, - introduce high yield verities and increased chemical use, and - boost the production. • Although these changes have many positive effects and reduced many risks in farming, there have also been significant increased costs viz. top soil depletion, ground and surface water contamination, continued neglect of the living and working conditions of labours, increasing costs of production, aggression of contract farming and the disintegration of economic and social conditions in rural communities, particularly the rural poor. Contributing factors: Price hike and land grabbing 1. The impact of the three Cs – Climate change, Covid19, and Conflict (Russia-Ukraine war) – has given birth to another "C" which is quietly evident, the COST. • The present inflationary challenges significantly affects the agricultural sector, especially - high prices of agricultural inputs, - high production costs, - restricted access to the market for agricultural products, - interference brokers, - aggression of seed companies, - shortage of agricultural labour increased 2. Another prime factor- land grabbing, unequal land distribution of public land, etc. negatively impacted in our country’s food production and growing the potentials of food insecurity. - In total, 61,000 acres of khas or state-owned fallow land allotted for developing economic zones to accelerate industrialisation. Contributing factors: situation of smallholder family farmers and indigenous community • Historically Bangladesh is a country of Family Farming. Among the family farmers, smallholders are predominant. They lack access to and control over land and natural resources. • 11.33 percent of smallholder households (4.02 million) still need their cultivable land. 25.60 percent of the total households, depend on agricultural wages, and 19.03 percent of the total households (6.76 million) are tenant farmers. • Livelihood of smallholder family farmers are under pressures due to contract farming and land grabbing, commercialization-corporatization of agriculture and neo-liberal development policies and programs • The progress of smallholder family farming has been challenged over time as they not getting fair prices of production and controlled by middle men/syndicate; • Forestry is another important contribution sector where family farmers, mostly indigenous people's lives and livelihoods, are surrounded. But, indigenous families, have not been counted nor considered as families involved in agriculture. Contributing factors: Women’s land rights, youth engagement and environment Women’s land rights in Bangladesh: • Women’s contribution to agriculture is 72.6% but they are not recognized as farmer • 53.1% of the rural population are women but they only constituted 15.8% of the land • The provisions in Khas Land Management and Distribution Policy – single, widow and or divorce women cannot get the allotment without an able son • According to FAO, the role of women in agriculture in Bangladesh was 36.2 per cent in 2005. In 2019, it increased to 45.3 per cent by 9.1%. It is the highest in the world in terms of the growth rate of women's participation in agriculture. Youth in agriculture: • Almost one-third of the total population in Bangladesh is youth. The youth are not attracted to agriculture as it is neither profitable nor dignified. Environment: • The ecosystem environment has never been a top priority of corporate Agri-giants when producing food for export. groundwater extraction, deforestation, , consume fossil fuels are major features of commercial agriculture. Impacts of unsustainable farm practices on food security • Bangladesh was placed 84th in the Global Hunger Index- 2022. • According to UNICEF report (published in 7 March 2023), 4.4 million children under five are stunted; 12 per cent of women aged 12-49 years are underweight for their age and height in Bangladesh. Malnutrition is one of the factors responsible for this. Nonpregnant fertile women in Bangladesh have high levels of micronutrient deficiencies. • According to FAO report (published in 12 July 2023), 52.7 million people are in Bangladesh facing varying degrees of food insecurity, with a concerning 18.7 million people suffering from the most severe form. • A study by the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) conducted in Dhaka Metropolitan revealed that the cost of living has risen by more than 11% compared to January 2022. • Due to frequent natural calamities, paddy cultivation is suffering greatly. The UN report also warns of future risks due to climate change, with 22% of rural households in Bangladesh already affected by floods and 16% suffering from river erosion. These environmental hazards contribute significantly to the food insecurity issue Women’s Land Rights in Bangladesh Food security and land tenure security • Land tenure security plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable food security. But, insecure land tenure lead to land grabbing, land disputes, and inefficient land use, which, in turn, can negatively impact food production and distribution. • Bangladesh constitution clearly states that the people will be the owners and controllers of production machinery, production systems, and distribution systems. For this purpose, there will be an ownership system. There are mainly three levels of ownership - state ownership, cooperative ownership, and private ownership- owned by individuals within the limits set by law. • Tenure insecurity is high due to outdated and unfair laws and policies. This results in increasing conflicts over land rights and widespread land grabbing. Wealthy and influential people have encroached on public lands with false documents and obtained court decrees to confirm ownership. • The government is going for rapid industrialization, mega development projects and hasty urbanization to be a middle-income country. All these efforts lead to remarkable growthoriented development; side by side, it creates concerns for the livelihoods of marginalized people like smallholder family farmers. Access to land and natural resources of the family farmers has been squeezed due to industrial-commercial activities and the implementation of infrastructural and other development projects. Neoliberal development policies promote jobless growth and inequality and shrink the livelihood avenues of marginalized communities. Recommendations • Develop a comprehensive and integrated approach, and strategies may include sustainable land management practices, investment in agricultural infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, water management for irrigation, improved land tenure systems, agricultural subsidy and support, market access, encourage organic fertilizer and enhanced technology transfer to smallholder farmers. • Promoting education and awareness about sustainable farming practices and safe environment can also contribute to long-term food security. • Political commitment are essential to implement and expand successful land-food security tenure interventions. • Women’s right to land and recognition as a farmer is just a level-headed demand which needs to be guaranteed through amending the policies • The provisions in Khas Land Management and Distribution Policy – single, widow and/or divorced women cannot get the allotment without an able son – that undermine women's status must be removed. • Government should introduce attractive initiatives, such as loans with flexible conditions, technology for the youth involvement in agriculture and capacity-building training options that can encourage the youth. • The rights of indigenous communities over their lands, including their traditional systems of land governance, should be recognized to ensure the sustainable management of resources. Thank You
