AGRICULTURE OF BANGLADESH
Agriculture is an important sector of the economy of Bangladesh and one of the
main drivers of economic growth. In order to ensure food security, the present
government is committed to achieve self sufficiency in food by 2013 through increased
production. The contribution of this sector to GDP stood at 20.49 percent in FY 2008-09.
According to the revised estimate of BBS, the overall contribution of the broad agriculture
sector at constant price is 20.24 percent of GDP in FY 2009-10. Though the direct
contribution of the agriculture sector has decreased slightly, its indirect contribution to
the overall growth of GDP is significant. The growth of broad service sector, particularly
the growth of wholesale and retail trade, hotel and restaurants, transport and
communication sector is strongly supported by the agriculture sector.
Besides, about 43.6 percent of the total labour forces of the country are engaged in
agriculture sector (MES, 2009, BBS). In the current fiscal year (FY 2009-10), Bangladesh
earned US$ 687.53 million by exporting agricultural products which is 4.24 percent of
total export earnings (US$16,204.65 million). In addition to the exports of main
agricultural commodities such as, raw jute, jute goods, tea, frozen foods,
the Government has taken steps to increase exports of non-traditional agricultural
commodities. Within the broad agriculture sector in FY 2009-10, the contribution of
agriculture and forestry and fisheries are estimated at 15.75 percent and 4.49 percent
respectively (revised estimate of BBS). In FY 2008-09, the contribution of these two
sectors stood at 15.91 percent and 4.58 percent respectively. According to the revised
estimate of GDP by BBS for FY 2009-10, the contribution of the three subsectors
namely crops and vegetables, livestock and forestry are 11.34 percent, 2.66 percent and
1.74 percent respectively.
Bangladesh Agriculture at a Glance
Total family
: 17,600,804
Total farm holding
: 15,089,000
Total area
: 14.845million hectare
Forest
: 2.599 million hectare
Cultivable land
: 8.44 million hectare
Cultivable waste
: 0.268 million hectare
Current fellow
: 0.469 million hectare
Cropping intensity
: 175.97%
Single cropped area
: 2.851 million hectare
Double cropped area
: 3.984 million hectare
Triple cropped area
: 0.974 million hectare
Net cropped area
: 7.809 million hectare
Total cropped area
: 13.742 million hectare
Contribution of agriculture sector to GDP
: 23.50%
Contribution of crop sector to GDP
: 13.44%
Manpower in agriculture
: 62%
Total food crop demand
: 23.029 million metric ton
Total food crop production
: 27.787 million metric ton
Net production
: 24.569 million metric ton
Agricultural Production and Land Use
National Agricultural Policy
(NAP) of Bangladesh
(October 2010)
Agriculture is the dominant economic activity in Bangladesh and regarded as
the lifeline of the Bangladesh economy. Its role is vital in enhancing productivity,
profitability and employment in the rural areas for improving the wellbeing of the
poor. As the largest private enterprise, agriculture (crops, livestock, fisheries and
forestry) contributes about 21% of the GDP, sustains the livelihood of about 52% of
the labor force, and remains a major supplier of raw materials for agro-based
industries. Agriculture plays an important role in the overall economic development
of Bangladesh. Agriculture is also a social sector concerned with issues like food and
nutritional security, income generation and poverty reduction. Besides, it is the
biggest source of market for a variety of consumer goods, including consumer
durables particularly in the rural area.
Hence, improvement in agricultural
sector performance and acceleration in its growth are critical to reducing rural poverty.
Agriculture sector encompasses crops, fisheries, livestock and forestry subsectors. Separate policies on livestock, fisheries and forestry have been formulated
by the respective ministries. In this perspective, Ministry of Agriculture has drafted
this policy document in order to undertake and guide development activities in the
crops sub-sector. As expected, policies aimed at crop production in the areas of
research, extension, seeds, fertilizers, minor irrigation, marketing, gender and HRD
have prominence in this document. Since crop sector plays a major role in Bangladesh
agriculture and gets the utmost importance in various agriculture related programs
of the government, this policy document for the development of crop sector is,
therefore, entitled as the National Agriculture Policy.
It is estimated that the agricultural land is declining by 1% per year and the land
quality is deteriorating owing to degradation of soil fertility (e.g. nutrient imbalance),
soil erosion and soil salinity. In addition, water resources are also shrinking. In order
to produce more food for an increasing population, and raw materials for agroindustries, there is a need for increasing agricultural growth through higher
productivity,
including
increased
yield,
agricultural intensification and
diversification, and value addition.
The overarching goal of the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) matches with
Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of achieving 50% reduction in the proportion
of population living below the poverty by 2015. In addition to maintaining a sound
macro-economic framework, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), entitled
Unlocking the Potential National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction´ (GoB,
2005), highlights the need for higher growth in rural areas, development of
agriculture and rural non-farm economic activities as one of the four priority areas
to accelerating pro-poor economic growth.
In order to achieve the GDP growth rate of 7% per year, agriculture must grow by
at least 4-4.5% per year (PRSP, 2005). This is presumably possible through an
increase in agricultural productivity (for crops, horticulture, livestock, fisheries
and forestry) based on modern agricultural technology and a supply chain linking
farmers with consumers in the domestic as well as overseas markets.
Small farms dominate the agrarian structure of Bangladesh. Therefore,
performance of the sector greatly affects economic progress and people’s livelihood. To
reduce rural poverty and improve rural livelihoods, it is necessary to recognize and to
develop existing agricultural production system into a more dynamic and viable
commercial sector. Agriculture has the potential to reduce food deficit as well as
shortage of industrial raw materials, and also to generate employment opportunities
with reasonable income, which will in turn help improve the standard of living of the
rural people. The growth potential of most of the crops and other agricultural
commodities are substantially higher than present level of production.
Sustainable intensification and diversification of agriculture through
technological change
requires
an efficient
and productive
agricultural
technology system comprising agricultural research and extension. This needs to be
supported by appropriate value addition and market linkages. Enhancing productivity,
resource use efficiency, using cutting age science, experimental facilities and above all
productivity and maintaining a reservoir of first-rate human resources to sustain
knowledge-intensive agriculture has become criticall y important. The Bangladesh
a g r i c u l t u r e dema nds c o n s i d e r a b l e s c i e n t i f i c a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n p u t .
Today’s complex national and economic environment requires increase in the
effectiveness of the public expenditure in research and extension system.
Major challenges for the Bangladesh agriculture are to raising
productivity and profitability, reducing instability, increasing resource-use efficiency,
ensuring equity, improving quality; and meeting demands for diversification &
commercialization of agriculture.
The existing National Agricultural Policy was adopted in April, 1999. For
instance,
dwindling a g r i c u l t u r a l resources, declining biodiversity, climate
change, increasing frequency & intensity of natural disasters, increasing input prices,
soaring food prices etc. require transformation of agriculture in such a way that would
address challenges to meet demands.
Major goals and policy thrusts
Food security, profitable and sustainable production, land productivity and income
gains, IPM, smooth input supplies, fair output prices, improving credit, marketing and
agro-based industries, and protecting small farmer’s interest.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Threats (SWOT) of Agriculture Sector
For developing of a pragmatic and effective and efficient national agricultural
policy, it is a pre-requisite to gauge the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
that are associated with the issues of policy interventions.
Strengths
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Favorable agro-climate generally prevails throughout the year for crop production
Research extension systems exist for technology generation and technology
transfer/extension at farm level
Experts, scientists and trained personnel are available for agricultural research and
development
Appropriate technologies are available for production of major crops
Agricultural input providers’ network exists throughout the country
Farmers’ are responsive, innovative and adaptive to new technologies
Sufficient workforce for agricultural activities is available
Wide range of biodiversity exists for different crops
Water is available for irrigation
A facilitative institutional and regulatory framework exists
Weaknesses
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Agricultural marketing system is comparatively weak
Post-harvest loss is high
Farmers’ own capital for agricultural activities is inadequate
Access to agricultural credit is limited
Farmers’ organizations are inadequate and ineffective
Input use (water, fertiliser, pesticides) efficiency is low
Technology to meet export market requirement is inadequate
Technologies to cope with unfavorable environment are insufficient
Private sector investment in Research and Development is insignificant
Trained scientists and infrastructural facilities for advanced agricultural science are
inadequate
Diversification in agriculture is low
Quality control of agricultural input mechanism is weak
Coordination among the public, the private and university research is minimal
Use of ICT in extension system is almost insufficient
Opportunities for farmers’ and entrepreneurs’ training are inadequate
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Inadequate production and supply of quality inputs persists (e.g. fertiliser, seed).
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Opportunities
• Agriculture sector is the single largest contributor to GDP.
• Crop production system is highly labor intensive and there is an abundance of labor
supply in the country.
• Agriculture is the largest source of employment for skilled and unskilled labor.
• Favorable natural environment generally exists throughout the year for crop
production.
• Wide range of bio-diversity exists for different crops.
• Different crops and agricultural commodities are the main sources of nutrition,
including protein, minerals and vitamins.
• Agricultural commodities have comparatively higher value added than nonagricultural commodities.
Constraints
• Agriculture is dependent on the vagaries of nature and is risky.
• Availability of cultivable land is decreasing.
• Lack of proper land use planning.
• Widespread poverty among the population engaged in agriculture.
• Lack of required capital for agricultural activities.
• Agricultural commodities are rapidly perishable and post harvest losses are too
high.
• Inadequacy of appropriate technology considering farmers' socio- economic
conditions.
• Decreasing yields of different crops due to slow expansion of modern technology as
well as unplanned use of soil and water.
• Uncertainty of fair price of agricultural commodities due to underdeveloped
marketing system.
• Very weak backward-forward linkage in agriculture.
• Limited knowledge of common people about the nutritional value of agricultural
commodities including vegetables and fruits.
• Absence of efficient as well as effective farmers' organization at the grass root level.
• Inadequate use of improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation and other inputs.
Objectives of the National Agriculture
Policy
The National Agriculture Policy broadly aims at creating an enabling environment for
sustainable growth of agriculture for reducing poverty and ensuring food security through
increased crop production and employment opportunity as envisaged in National Strategy for
Accelerated Poverty Reduction (NSAPR), Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and SAARC
Development Goals (SDGs).
Specific Objectives: The specific objectives are to:
i) Developing and harnessing improved technologies through research and training;
ii) Increasing productivity and generating income and employment by
transferring appropriate technologies and managing inputs;
iii) Promoting competitiveness through commercialization of agriculture; and
iv) Establishing a self-reliant and sustainable agriculture adaptive to climate
change and responsive to farmers¶ needs.
Research and Development (R&D)
A well-coordinated research plan is essential for the rapid development of crop
sector. It needs paradigm shift in agriculture from a supply-driven to a demanddriven approach in agriculture. This will need a change in focus from production
level to production efficiency, productivity a n d p r o f i t a b i l i t y . Besides, e q u i t y ,
employment, e n v i r o n m e n t a l s u s t a i n a b i l i t y , nutrition, food quality, trade etc.
have new areas of concern even as efforts to maintain food security to continue. This
demands effective introspection, reprioritization and consolidation of R & D activities
besides overall accountability. The key strategies to address complex challenges are:
Governance of Research Institutions
The Government will continuously seek measures to strengthen coordination,
planning, priority-setting, and monitoring & evaluation mechanisms in the National
Agriculture Research System (NARS).
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Incentives and built-in reward will be provided to individual researchers or
research institutions for innovation, excellence in agricultural research.
Adequate research contingency support will be provided to scientists and
institutionalize project-based activities.
The Government will foster research environment for better return from
investment.
Appropriate infrastructure will be built and existing infrastructure will be
maintained for research, training and outreach programmes.
Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC), in cooperation with
agricultural research institutes will develop a research system that provide
sufficient social benefits per unit of research inputs and add value for
investment; it will seek to achieve small farm mechanization and precision
farming.
Efforts will be taken to promote technological empowerment of women in
agriculture.
Research Planning and Funding
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The Government will emphasize practice of research planning and
prioritization as a bottom-up initiative.
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The Government will encourage promotion of participatory approach for
conducting research activities.
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The Government will ensure adequate and timely funding for research activities.
Research Focus and Areas
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The research activities will focus on intensification, diversification and
whole farm activities in agriculture.
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Special attention will be given to post-production technologies, high value
crops, value addition, agri-business management and trade.
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The Government will support research on emerging issues e.g., biotechnology,
hybrid, climate change, disaster and stress including flood, drought, cyclone, salinity,
upland/hill, deep water crop management, organic farming.
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The Government will support and strengthen interventions in rain-fed
agriculture emphasizing productivity and sustainability of production.
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Quality collaborative research will be encouraged to provide solution to
specific problems confronting farmers within their farming systems.
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Research undertakings will cover trans-boundary and cross-cutting issues
having application across one or more production systems and the sustainability
of the production systems, poverty alleviation and livelihood improvement,
household food security, off-farm income generation, and rural development.
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The Government will support agricultural policy research and technology
dissemination systems of unique nature.
Transfer of Technology
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All the research agencies will lay emphasis on technology assessment,
refinement and transfer by improving interface with farmers and other stakeholders.
• BARC and all agricultural research institutes will make efforts to enhance
involvement of scientists in outreach extension programmes.
Equity in the Delivery of Services
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The NARS will decentralize agricultural research management to bring the
system in proximity with the target people or beneficiary.
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4.5.2 The Government will endeavour to remove regional imbalance for
institutional infrastructure and human resources.
Natural Resource Management
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The Government will encourage generation and promotion of eco-friendly
technology and sustainable land and water management for different agro-ecological
zones and regions.
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Research thrust will be placed on weather and crop forecasting, climate
change and disaster management.
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Conservation and effective use of life support system of soil, water, flora,
fauna and atmosphere will be addressed.
• Government will strengthen the efforts to collect, conserve and utilize genetic
resources.
Informatics
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BARC and other research institutions will develop a comprehensive relevant
database for agricultural research and development planning.
• BARC will facilitate functional electronic networking for all the stakeholders
under the NARS and with other national, regional and international centers of
excellence through Agricultural Research Information System.
Human Resource Development
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BARC will strengthen the existing human resources to be nationally and
globally efficient and competitive.
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It will provide opportunities for advanced training on frontier sciences,
technologies and agricultural research management.
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It will also concentrate on human resource planning in research and
development activities.
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Continual training will be designed and delivered to enhance and to sharpen
scientific, technical and managerial abilities of individuals and capacities of
organizations involved in agricultural research and technology transfer.
Forging Partnership
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NARS institutes will create opportunities for promotion of research through
increased public sector and private sector collaboration.
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BARC will complement research efforts among institutions and agencies at
national and international level.
• Ministry of Agriculture will take steps for strengthening research and extension
linkage.
Technology marketing
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The Government will promote Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for new
innovation in agriculture.
Agricultural Extension
Agricultural extension is the key driving force for the growth and
development of agriculture in Bangladesh. To increase farm productivity and
farmers¶ income access to new technology is required. The role of extension is to
deliver services and to speed up farmers¶ access to and adoption of new technology.
The Government is mandated to providing efficient and effective need based
extension services to farmers to enable them to optimize their use of resource to
augment self-sufficiency in food production and to improve their nutritional status. For
this, there is an increasing need for strengthening agricultural extension services to
ensure production system on a sustainable basis.
Appropriate institutional
arrangement needs to be established so that research and extension can interact
effectively with each other and with farmers to address the critical needs of the
production practices at the farm level. The following provisions are adopted to make
extension services more efficient and effective:
Role of Extension
The Government recognizes agricultural extension as a service delivery system
which will assist farmers through appropriate technical and farm management advice
and information, new technology, improved farming methods and techniques aimed
at increasing production efficiency and income.
Extension Coverage
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The Government will promote public, private and voluntary extension
initiatives to achieve diverse agricultural goals and to address needs of target
populations.
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Extension services will be provided to all categories of farmers: landless,
marginal, small, medium, large with special emphasis on women and youths.
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The Government will decentralize extension activities at the grass-roots level
to deliver efficient and coordinated services.
Extension Approach
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Farmers either individuals, or as groups, will be encouraged to voice their
needs and problems to extension staff. They will act as basic source of information and
feedback to strengthen service network to their needs.
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The Government will make a shift from the top-down, hierarchical approach to
bottom- up participatory approach in which farmers, researchers and extension workers
will serve as peers.
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The Government will recognize and adopt approaches that emerge locally
through growing understanding of the nature of technological change, learning and
adaptation to prevailing situations.
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Collaboration will be initiated among research and extension organizations
and universities in the field of adaptive research.
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The Government will encourage promotion of crops suitable to agro-climatic
conditions of a particular region based on crop zoning.
Agricultural Education and Training
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Agricultural education system, especially at the diploma level will be
strengthened and updated.
• Training will be administered on a regular basis to ensure effective extensiontechnology transfer and technology design and planning. Training for
farmers and officials at all levels as basic mechanism will be implemented for
enhancing occupational competence, professionalism and service morale.
Communication Media
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Traditional and advanced media and ICT will be utilized to
disseminate extension services.
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Agricultural Information Service (AIS) will be strengthened both in terms of
workforce and modern facilities to enable effective information dissemination
and technology transfer.
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Dissemination of agricultural information and technology through
print and electronic media will be strengthened focusing on enhanced
collaboration among AIS, BTV and Bangladesh Betar along with other private
TV and radio channels.
Partnership
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The Government will facilitate extension events that foster GO-NGOprivate sector partnership.
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The Government will encourage public private partnership for
production of agricultural commodities.
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Strategies will be taken to deliver extension services in
collaboration with local government at Union and Upazila levels.
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The Government through Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)
and allied agencies will maintain liaison with the NGOs and other development
partners at local level for cooperation and coordination.
Agricultural Productivity
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The Government will continue and strengthen its support for major crops
related to food security and livelihood options. In addition measures will be taken to
promote high value crops to enhance farmers¶ income and boost agricultural export.
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Measures will be taken to increase cropping intensity, especially by bringing
fallow land under cultivation.
• Diversification of agriculture will be pursued to promote food based nutrition
security.
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The Government will monitor the supply, availability and distribution of
inputs (seed, fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, etc.) to farmers through DAE, BADC
and other service providers.
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Efforts will be taken to provide micro-credit support at
preferential rate for selective crop.
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Adequate financial support in the form of credit will be extended to the
farmers to encourage production. Small, marginal and tenant farmers will be given
preference to agricultural credit.
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In order to make agricultural credit more accessible Agricultural Credit
Foundation following the model of PKSF may be formed.
Agri-business Opportunities for Private Sector
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The Government will provide technological support to private entrepreneurs
and farmers to undertake agri-business activities.
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Enabling conditions will be created to expand local and
overseas markets for agri-business opportunities.
Quality Assurance
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The Government will promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in
production and in supply chain management.
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Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures will be ensured during production,
processing and marketing.
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Quarantine services will be strengthened to meet the needs of both domestic
and export market.
Program for Agro-ecologically Disadvantaged Regions
The Government will pursue programme for hilly area, drought-prone area,
Barind tract char land, monga-prone area, haor-baor and coastal belt with
appropriate technological support.
Addressing Vulnerabilities
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To facilitate multiple approaches during and after crises the Government will
combine immediate assistance, and short, mid and long term development
programme for the affected farmers to enhance productivity and to create
employment involving the private bodies, NGOs, philanthropic organizations and
private individuals.
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The Government will undertake agricultural rehabilitation
programme immediately after the occurrence of natural calamities to
overcome crop damage.
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Measures will be taken to protect crops in the coastal, haor, beel
and char areas keeping harmony with other sub-sectors¶ production.
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The Government may consider introducing crop insurance
programme.
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The MoA may consider establishment of an agricultural disaster
response fund in the MoA to start post disaster rehabilitation programme
immediately after a disaster.
Environmental and Resource Conservation
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The Government will promote modern eco-friendly technology and
infrastructure for a safe and sustainable future.
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Integrated pest management (IPM) and integrated crop management
(ICM) will be promoted for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable land & water
management.
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Measures will be taken to restrict the conversion of agricultural land for non
agricultural purposes.
Non-farm Activities
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The Government will promote poverty reduction through creation of
employment opportunities in rural non-farm sectors.
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Necessary support will be provided for non-farm income generation
activities for the poor and disadvantaged farmers.
Database
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DAE and relevant agencies will develop and maintain a comprehensive
database covering resource base, inputs, technology, production and marketing
aspects for agricultural development and planning.
• Efforts will be made to disseminate and to facilitate access of the stakeholder to
relevant database.
• The Government will prepare a comprehensive user friendly database on
farmers, technologies and agriculture.
Labour and Child Labour in Agriculture
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Welfare of agricultural laborers’ will be streamlined in development
programmes and projects.
• The Government will fully discourage engagement of child labor in
hazardous agricultural activities.
• The Government and relevant agencies will organize awareness-building
programs to prevent child labour in agriculture.
• Care must be taken so that children’s opportunities for food, education and life
skills are not blocked.
Seeds and Planting Materials
At present, only a small portion of the required quality seeds for different
crops is made available mostly by the public sector. Few seed companies and NGOs
have started supplying quality seed primarily hybrids of rice, maize and vegetables.
A portion of the required quality seed is produced, preserved and used under private
management especially at the farmers¶ level.
Breeding, Development and Maintenance of Crop
Varieties
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Private persons, companies and other agencies will be encouraged to
undertake plant breeding programmes and to import breeder/ foundation seeds of
notified crops for variety development and promotional purposes.
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Individuals, companies or agencies engaged in the seed production and
business will be provided access to institutional credit at preferential rates of interest.
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Balanced development of the seed sector will be promoted by providing
opportunities to the public sector and the private sector at all stages of the
seed industry from breeding to marketing.
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Any individual, company or agency willing to embark upon breeding,
developing and registering new seed varieties, or package seed in labeled containers
must be registered with the Seed Wing, MoA or the competent authority to be
declared by the Government.
Multiplication and Distribution of Seed
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Access to Breeder Seed and Foundation Seed will be facilitated by
public, private agencies and farmers.
• The government will maintain seed security stock to cope with the
emergent or contingent situations.
• The private sector will be encouraged to build necessary facilities for seed
production, processing, preservation and marketing.
Support to Public and Private Sector Seed Industries
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The competency of the contract farmers will be developed by the public
sector and the private sector to grow quality seeds.
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The public sector and the private sector will initiate programmes to create
awareness among farmers for adoption of new varieties and new technologies in the
farmers¶ field.
Strengthening Quality Control of Seed
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Seed certification and enforcement of seed regulations will be strengthened for
increasing availability of quality seeds.
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Quality assurance of seed will be enforced at all stages of seed system from
production to marketing including seed import and export.
Fertiliser
Fertilizer is one of the critical inputs required for increasing crop
production.
The expansion of modern agricultural practices together with
intensified cultivation has led to an increasing demand for fertilizers. It is,
therefore, necessary to ensure timely supply of fertilizers to meet the increasing
demand. Imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers is causing land degradation
excessive mining of plant nutrients resulting in the decline of soil fertility on the one
hand and reduction in the potential yield on the other. It is, therefore, important
to adopt pragmatic measure so as to encourage farmers in using balanced
fertilizers to maintain soil fertility. To strengthen fertilizer management, the
government will pursue following principles:
Procurement and Distribution
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Procurement and distribution of fertilizers both in the private and the public
sector will continue.
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Steps will be taken to maintain a fertilizer buffer stock at the regional, district
and upazila level.
Quality Control
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The Government will facilitate availability of quality fertilizers at farmers¶ level.
Production, importation, marketing, distribution and use of any kinds of
fertilizer that are harmful or detrimental to plant, soil, flora and fauna will be banned.
• The Government will strengthen analytical facilities to assess the quality of
fertilizers.
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Promotion of Organic Fertilizer and Balanced Fertilizer
Use
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The Government will encourage use of organic manure, compost and biofertilizer at farmers¶ level.
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Awareness will be built to follow suitable cropping patterns to maintain
natural balance of soil nutrients.
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Necessary support will be given to farmers to encourage use of balanced and
organic fertilizer.
Training
• Appropriate training will be imparted to farmers in using balanced fertilizers.
• Training will be extended to officials, scientists, traders, distributors and
entrepreneurs for capacity strengthening on fertilizer management.
Fertilizer Monitoring
The Government will monitor supply, storage, price and quality of fertilizer at
various levels.
Irrigation
Irrigation is considered as one of the most essential inputs for increasing crop
production. Presently about 90-95 percent of the total irrigated area is covered by
minor irrigation. Country’s food production largely depends upon minor irrigation
and shallow tube well (STW) now being used in the country. Owing to shrinkage of
water resources a significant portion of area is not getting water during lean period.
Moreover, river linking project of the upper riparian country is likely to aggravate
the situation. A well-planned irrigation management system is, therefore, essential
for gradual increase of cropping intensity as well as yield. As such, national
agriculture policy places special emphasis on the judicious use of water resources.
Although minor irrigation is largely the domain of the private sector, the
public sector holds the responsibility of efficient water management system by
which expansion of low cost sustainable irrigation facilities can be provided. The
guidelines are as follows:
Water Productivity and Efficiency
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The Government will facilitate dissemination of water management
technology to enhance irrigation efficiency and water productivity through optimal
use of available water resources.
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Modern irrigation, drainage and water application systems will be
introduced for expanding irrigation coverage including difficult or disadvantaged
areas i.e. in char, hilly, Barind tract, drought-prone and saline areas.
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The distance between two tube-wells will be chosen in such a way so that it
meets needs of both safe extraction of groundwater and increase of irrigation
efficiency.
Training for Irrigation Technology
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The Government will encourage and train private entrepreneurs and
unemployed youths on operation, repair and maintenance of irrigation equipment.
• Training of farmers and technical personnel on On-farm Water Management
(OFWM) technology will be strengthened to bridge knowledge gap as well as
yield gap.
Planning and Monitoring
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The existing surveying and monitoring activities of both quantity and quality
of irrigation water will be strengthened to formulate pragmatic irrigation and water
management plan.
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BADC, BMDA and allied agencies will prepare and update ground water
zoning map for judicious use of ground water resources.
Conservation and Utilization
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The Government will promote re-excavation of canals, ponds and other water
bodies for conservation and utilization of surface water through inter-agency
collaboration.
• Replacement of suction mode pump by force mode pump critical areas
will be encouraged by the Government for maximizing water use.
• Multipurpose use of irrigation water will be encouraged.
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The Government will promote and encourage groundwater recharge through
water-shed management.
• The Government will take initiatives to reclaim water logged areas.
Power for Irrigation
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Preferential access will be given to power-source for irrigation through
intimate inter- agency collaboration.
• Efforts will be made to strike a balance between irrigation cost by electricity and
diesel.
Mechanization in Agriculture
Mechanization is an important tool for profitable and competitive
agriculture. The need for mechanization is increasing fast with the decrease of
draft power. Without mechanization it will not be possible to maintain multiple
cropping patterns, which need quick land preparation, planting, weeding,
harvesting processing etc. Significant increase in use of agri-machinery
primarily in tilling, seeding, weeding and threshing has been achieved. This
trend needs to be extended further so that efficiency of production can be
achieved with increased production and reduced cost. Mechanization should
include post harvest activities including processing and preservation.
Research and Development
Research and development on mechanization of agriculture and
appropriate agricultural machinery and equipment will be pioneered by the
Government.
Manufacturing of Agricultural Machinery and
Equipment
The Government will encourage production and manufacturing of
agricultural machinery adaptive
to
our
socio-economic
context.
Manufacturing
workshops
and
industries engaged in agricultural
mechanization activities will be provided with appropriate support.
Support and Incentives
•
The existing facility of waving testing and standardization of
agricultural machineries will be continued with exemption of import duties to
keep the price within the reach of the farmers.
•
Efforts will be made to rationalize import duties on raw materials
of agricultural machinery to encourage local manufacturers and to keep the
price of local machineries competitive with the imported ones.
•
To speed up the process of agricultural mechanization both
producers and users of agri-machineries will be provided with necessary
support including credit.
•
The Government will promote mechanization by giving cash
incentives for selective machinery at producer, manufacturer and
farmers levels.
Training
Training will be imparted to stakeholders in agricultural mechanization like
operators, farmers, rural youths, manufacturers on repair and maintenance of
agri-machinery at rural level.
Agricultural Marketing
The agricultural marketing system provides the bridging link between farm
produces and the consumers of food and agricultural products. As agricultural
products need to be marketed, there is a need for building a strong market
infrastructure to bring efficiency in marketing services. Development of efficient
agricultural
marketing system will, therefore, help farmers enhance their
bargaining power and enable them to fetch better prices for their produces.
Market Infrastructure Development
•
The Government will facilitate smooth flow of agricultural produces from the
production point to the consumption point by setting up village market and
improving distribution to main markets.
• Efforts will be made to develop effective value chain between producers and
consumers.
•
Both the private and the public sectors will be encouraged in the initiatives in
market improvement of agricultural products.
• The agri-marketing institutions will be strengthened and reformed.
•
The Government will encourage private sector investment in establishing ware
houses and cold storage facilities for agricultural produces¶.
Market Intelligence and Extension Services
•
The Government will encourage collection and dissemination of market
information of agricultural produces and inputs to farmers, traders, entrepreneurs,
and consumers.
•
The Government will promote the services required by farmers and
entrepreneurs for value addition to agricultural produces.
•
Both the public and the private initiatives on agro-market research for fair
price and quality product will be encouraged.
•
The Government will promote food safety issues during production and postproduction activities.
Export and Market Promotion
•
Export of agro-products to both the ethnic and the upstream markets will be
encouraged by the government.
•
The Government will take steps to diversify products and to explore new and
potential markets abroad.
Market Regulation and Facilitation
•
In order to increase efficiency of market operation, market regulation will be
strengthened and updated.
•
The Government will encourage the public-private partnership and
coordination for efficient market operation.
•
The Government will create Agriculture Price Commission to provide
guidelines to strengthen agricultural marketing, to ensure fair price for farmers and
affordable price for consumers.
Agri-business
Agri-business initiatives by farmers, traders and entrepreneurs will be
facilitated and necessary support and incentive will be provided as and when deemed
necessary.
Women in Agriculture
Women represent nearly half of the country's human resources. For this, the
government believes that more women comprising officials and farmers should
enter the agricultural workforce. As women have potentials to contribute to
agricultural growth, it is obligatory on the part of the Government to meaningfully
involve them in agriculture-related income-generating activities and to develop their
human resources.
Empowerment of Women
•
Necessary support will be provided for capacity building of women in
promoting household food and nutrition security.
•
The Government will facilitate increased women participation in management
decision making and their advancement in agriculture.
•
Efforts will be made to ensure women¶s equal access to agricultural inputs
(e.g. seed, fertilizer, credit, education & training, information etc.).
Participation in Production and Marketing
•
The Government will encourage participation of the rural poor women in
production of crops particularly in agro-processing and agri-business activities so that
they can improve their economic well-being.
• Women’s’ participation in agricultural production system will be facilitated
through access to agricultural technologies.
• The Government will take steps to encourage women’s participation in various
extension programmes like training, farmers' rally and workshop.
Income Generation
•
The Government will provide credit support to women for agricultural
activities such as homestead gardening, post harvest activities, seed production &
preservation, nursery, bee-keeping, food processing etc.
• The government will provide micro-credit support to women for smallscale agro-processing, storage and preservation.
• Efforts will be made to ensure non-discrimination in wages.
Budgetary Allocation
A block allocation in the agricultural budget will be made exclusively for
undertaking women related activities and programmes.
Human Resource Development
As a predominantly agricultural country, Bangladesh needs to have a vast
reservoir of educated, trained and skilled agri-workforce to bridge the gap between
the production capacity of farmers and the consumption requirement of citizens and
to ensure their food security. Effective human resource development (HRD) should
be based on appropriate human resource, planning and career development. This
can be achieved through developing appropriate training and education packages
including in-service training and through performance based reward system. Major
challenge is to develop an efficient workforce capable enough to cope with the
emerging issues of technology and to acquire skills of development
entrepreneurship. The government plans to introduce innovative approaches to
upgrade the skill of farmers and technological empowerment of women engaged in
agriculture. The government therefore places high priority on training as a tool for
developing human resources in the field of agriculture.
Training Coverage
•
Personnel associated with research and development in agriculture will be
brought under the umbrella of training.
•
National Agricultural Training Academy (NATA) will offer training
including foundation and departmental to officials engaged in agriculture.
Facilities and Program Development
•
Agricultural human resource development programmes will be launched for
improving standards of short term, medium term and long term training.
•
The government will create and strengthen facilities for training of various
functionaries of research and extension system to address demand-led areas in
agriculture.
•
Training facilities will be strengthened at a level that will be nationally and
globally competitive.
Incentives
•
Awards will be instituted to recognize and promote excellence in teaching &
training, research, extension and crop production and agricultural development
activities.
•
Provision for visiting scientists, sabbaticals, national fellows will be
introduced to promote excellence in agricultural science, extension and research
management.
•
Performance of trainee officials in the departmental training will be counted as
one of the major criteria for nomination of higher study and overseas training.
Partnership
•
The Government will encourage forging strategic partnership with
agriculture-centred HRD institutions of both developed and developing countries to
enrich knowledge base and to harness technology in the field of agriculture.
•
Harnessing complementarities and synergies through strong linkages among
institutions at national level and international level will be constantly pursued.
Budgetary Provision
A block allocation will be made exclusively for carrying out HRD and training
related activities.
Dominance of Bengali:
If any confusion arises between English and Bengali version of this Policy, the
Bengali version will prevail.
NEW AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
POLICY (NAEP)
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) prepared the new agricultural extension policy
(NAEP) in 1996 in accordance with the agricultural policies and priorities set out in the
fifteen-year perspective plan, 1995-2010. These policies and priorities include:
(i) Attainment of self-sufficiency in food grain and increase production of other
nutritional crops,
(ii) Ensuing sustainable agricultural growth through more efficient and balanced
uses of land, water and other resources,
(iii) Increasing foreign exchange earnings through agricultural exports,
(iv) Introducing high value cash crops,
(v) Improving the quality and availability of seeds,
(vi) Reducing environmental degradation,
(vii) Increasing fish, livestock and forestry production and
(viii) Conserving and developing forest resources.
Major goals and policy thrusts:
To encourage the various partners and agencies within the national agricultural
extension system to provide efficient and effective services which complement and
reinforce each other, in an effort to increase the efficiency and productivity of
agriculture in Bangladesh.
To achieve this goal the policy includes the following key components:
• extension support to all categories of farmer;
• efficient extension services;
• decentralisation;
• demand-led extension;
• working with groups of all kinds;
• strengthened extension-research linkage;
• training of extension personnel;
• appropriate extension methodology;
• integrated extension support to farmers;
• co-ordinated extension activities;
• integrated environmental support.
Each of these components is discussed in the following sections.
NAEP Principles:
1. Extension Support to all Categories of Farmer
All members, male and female, of all types of rural households are entitled to extension
services.
2. Efficient Extension Services
Cost- effective services, provided by well-trained, highly skilled extension agents, must
be provided to solve farmers, problems. Cost effectiveness will be enhanced by cooperation between extension providers.
3. Decentralization
As agricultural conditions and farmers information needs vary from place to place,
extension programmes must be decided locally.
4. Demand-led Extension
Farmers problems, needs and demands will set the extension agenda. Issues requiring
attention will be identified jointly by farmers and extension staff using participatory
techniques.
5. Working with Groups of all Kinds
Working with groups offers the opportunity for more cost-effective use of limited
extension resources, improved sharing of information, and the opportunity for
grassroots decision making and participation.
6. Strengthened Extension-Research Linkage
Extension and research agencies con not function separately. There must be free flow of
information between extension and research to deliver on effective service to farmers.
7. Training of Extension Personnel
All extension agents need to be confident of their ability to solve farmers problems, work
together with all types of clients and collaborate with other agencies or individuals.
Training is essential for this purpose.
8. Appropriate Extension Methodology
No single extension method is suitable for all extension activities. Extension agents can
use farm visits, mass media, training, demonstrations, group meetings, farmer field
schools and many other methods.
9. Integrated Extension Support to Farmers
Advice and information provided to farmers must take integrated farming systems
perspective. Extension agencies with differing expertise must collaborate if they are to
provide whole farm advice.
10. Co-ordinated Extension Activities
Co-ordination underlines all components of the NAEP. Extension services provided by
different agencies must be coordinated at all levels in order to optimise the use of
resources. This can be achieved by sharing information and expertise between the
agencies involved.
11. Integrated Environmental Support
The NAEP supports extension programmes seeking to encourage farmers to apply
sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Efforts should be made
to support and learn from farmers as well as from the formal research system.
The Role of Agricultural Extension
Agricultural extension is a difficult term to define precisely. It has different
meanings at different times, in different places, to different people. The role of
agricultural extension is to help farmers make efficient, productive and sustainable use
of their land and other agricultural resources, through the provision of information,
advice education and training.
In the context of Bangladesh the following definitions have been adopted:
• agricultural extension is a service or system which assists farm people, through
educational procedures, to improve farming methods and techniques, increase
production efficiency and income, better levels of living, and lift the social and
educational standards of rural life (Maunder, 1973, Agricultural Extension Manual,
Rome, FAO);
• agricultural extension is assistance to farmers to enable them identify and
analyse their production problems, and to increase their awareness of the
opportunities for improvements.
Clearly, agricultural extension is an extremely important process which can
accelerate technological, social and economic development. In particular, effective
extension:
•
•
•
•
•
•
helps farmers identify and overcome production, farm management and
marketing problems at farm level through the exchange of information among
farmers, extension staff, input suppliers, credit agencies and marketing agents;
helps farmers make better use of existing technology, for example, through more
efficient use of feed, fertiliser or irrigation, etc.;
introduces new technology to farmers, such as new breeds, new varieties, new
crops and new equipment;
provides information to agricultural research institutions on farmer’s production
constraints so that appropriate basic, applied or adaptive research can be carried
out to address them;
helps in the successful creation of opportunities or situations in which farmers
gain the abilities and skills necessary to meet their needs and interests in such a
way as to attain continuous improvement and self-satisfaction;
helps farmers learn to put information into use in ways that result in
improvements in their living standards;
•
helps farmers gain a clear vision of what can and should be done and encourages
farmers to improve their pattern of living and helps them develop the necessary
skills to so.
The National Agricultural Extension
System
There are many agencies which provide extension support to the farmers of
Bangladesh. These include government agencies, for example, the Department of
Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Rural Development Board, Bangladesh Water
Development Board, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Forest
Department, Department of Livestock Services and Department of Fisheries. There are
also many non-government organisations, commercial traders and input suppliers
(manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers) operating in rural areas of the country.
Together, all these partners can be seen as comprising the National Agricultural
Extension System.
Extension Support to all Categories of
Farmer
Extension recognizes the rural household and its farm as the basic unit of production.
All members of rural households contribute to agricultural activities and household
welfare. It therefore seeks to ensure that all members of all types of rural households
have access to the extension services they need. This is done by targeting particular
activities to meet the needs of particular categories.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Extension programmes will therefore include specific activities for:
women farmers and other women household members, in support of homestead
production and post-harvest activities as well as their roles in field crop
production;
young people, who are the farmers of the future;
small and marginal farmers;
large and medium farmers;
landless households, who have no farmland but may have homestead areas.
Efficient Extension Services
The efficiency of agricultural extension services will be improved through training, skill
development, institutional strengthening and logistical support. Trained extension
agents will be provided to work effectively with all categories of farmers, and with all
members of households, and to solve basic production, management and marketing
problems in a wide range of crop, fishery, livestock, forest and household enterprises.
The focus of outreach activities is to provide the most cost-effective services to farmers.
The extension agencies in the three sectors (government, non-government organisation
and private) will continue to work within their own organisational structures and
procedures, but the policy seeks to ensure that effective co-ordination is established to
increase the efficiency of agricultural extension.
Decentralization
Farming systems, household economic activities, agro-ecological conditions, input
availability, credit and marketing opportunities and many other factors in the farmers.
decision making environment vary from place to place. Those involved in extension at
the field level need to be able to plan their programmes to fit the circumstances of the
area and its farm households. The New Agricultural Extension Policy seeks the
devolution of much of the responsibility, especially in the government sector, for key
aspects of the planning and implementation of extension programmes. These key
aspects will include:
• identifying and responding to information needs: selecting appropriate
information for farmers according to their needs;
• collecting information about local resources: basing extension programmes on a
clear understanding of the availability of local resources, and the prevailing social
and physical environment;
• programme planning: details of work schedules and extension activities planned
at local level, by field staff in consultation with their immediate supervisors;
• training: farmer and extension personnel training plans drawn up at local level,
to reflect local needs;
• media: radio and television programmes, bulletins, leaflets, posters and folders
produced locally (and nationally) to provide farmers with appropriate
information.
Demand-led Extension
Extension programmes concentrate on meeting the information needs of farm
households, in particular helping them solve the key problems they face in their farming
activities. All extension activities and research priorities are to be based on the needs,
problems and potential identified at farm level. This may lead to the involvement of
extension agencies in local on-farm participatory research in order to identify
appropriate solutions to farmers’ problems. Extension staff will work closely with
farmers to identify agricultural problems, using participatory methods and techniques
such as Rapid Rural Appraisal, Participatory Rural Appraisal and Problem Censuses.
Farmers’ problems will set the extension agenda, and in this way, extension services will
be demand led, and based local situations and resources.
Working with Groups of all Kinds
For the extension services to provide individual attention to the more than 10
million farm families is beyond the resources available to Bangladesh. A group approach
to extension offers the opportunity for more effective use of limited extension resources
for problem identification and solution, sharing of information and cost-effective choice
of extension methodology. A group approach to extension also has the advantage of
providing a forum for participation, an area in which many non-government
organizations have considerable expertise.
The New Agricultural Extension Policy endorses the principal that extension staff
should work with groups of all kinds, in order to bring maximum benefit to farmers. It
recognizes that very wide range of mutual interest groups already exists in the field.
These groups range from extremely temporary, such as a seasonal pest control group, to
virtually permanent, such as the Krishok Shomobay Shomittee, and may be affiliated to
a wide variety of agencies, including those responsible for input supply, credit extension
and marketing. These existing groups would be the focus of extension activity. New
groups will be encourage where there are none at present or where key target farmer
categories are not included in the membership of existing groups. Extension staff from
different agencies will work with groups to:
• bring extension staff into contact with more farmers;
• help all categories of farmers (men, women, large, small and marginal) to benefit
from extension;
• improve the learning and spread of knowledge among the farming population;
• enable farmers to fully participate in the planning of extension programmes;
• provide a forum where decisions can be taken for farmers to take co-ordinated
action leading to self-reliance (for example, on pest management, forest
management, livestock grazing and soil conservation);
• promote a closer, participatory working relationship between staff and farmers.
Strengthened Extension-Research
Linkage
The development of close co-operation between extension agencies and formal
research institutes is essential if farmers are to be provided with the services they
require. Research institutes require information from extension about the problems
farmers are facing, for which there are no available solutions, in order to conduct
research programmes both on research stations and on-farm with farmers. Extension
requires the findings from research programmes, in order to provide farmers with
the most appropriate advice. Effective mechanisms to ensure that there is a free flow of
information between extension and research will be institutionalized. The main
institutional mechanisms will be:
•
A National Technical Co-ordination Committee, comprising extension
representatives from the government, non-government organization and private
sectors, and representatives from research;
• Agricultural Technical Committees, each covering a number of districts in similar
• agro-ecological zones and comprising local representatives of extension agencies
and research institutes;
• Research-extension review workshops between staff of the Department of
Agricultural Extension and local research institutes.
A contract research system will be set up to enable extension agencies to help
develop and fund specific research programmes with specific research institutes. The
New Agricultural Extension Policy also recognizes that farmers themselves are actively
engaged in their own experimentation, as part of their daily agricultural lives. Efforts to
learn from and strengthen such informal research will be made.
Training of Extension Personnel
Training is a fundamental feature of the extension approach supported by the
New Agricultural Extension Policy. All providers of extension services need to be
confident in their ability to solve farmers problems and supply many of their
information needs. Training will also be necessary to provide extension agents with the
skills necessary to deal with the needs of particular clients, such as women and landless
households. Special attention will be required to encourage referral to other agencies or
individuals better suited to deal with particular problems or opportunities, for example
in livestock production, fisheries, forestry, farm management, credit and marketing.
Government policy is for training opportunities and funds to be made accessible to all
extension service providers. Training resources and facilities will be optimally utilised
and strengthened, and higher education encouraged. The training needs of extension
staff, based on the service requirements of farmers, will set the training agenda.
Appropriate Extension Methodology
There is a wide range of extension methods which agencies can use in their work
with farmers and rural households. No single method is suitable for all purposes and
occasions. Extension agencies and personnel will select appropriate methods in order to
meet specific extension objectives with their various categories of farmers. These
methods are likely to include:
- Farm visits: meeting individual farmers at their farm gives extension personnel a
unique view of the potentials and problems of their farm. Where other farmers are
present, the impact of the visit can be felt widely within the farming community;
- Media: the impact of extension programmes can be increased considerably by a
coordinated use of media, including mass media, folk media and visual/audio-visual
aids. Media are an efficient means of disseminating information rapidly, at low cost, to
a large number of people. They can support the work of extension staff by publicising
extension activities, reinforcing technical messages, spreading awareness of new
ideas and telling people of the success of other farmers and groups;
- Training: in many situations, farmers need to learn new skills or develop new
knowledge before they can effectively adopt new ideas and practices. Training can
take place in a village, at a farmers field or demonstration plot, or in a training centre;
- Demonstrations: these are useful tools for the transfer of technology and
encouraging farmers to try out new ideas, provided they concentrate on technology
which is widely relevant within the local area and based on farmer information needs;
- Fairs: these help to create awareness about improved technology among a large
number of people within a short period of time. They provide an opportunity for
farmers to see a range of technologies and inputs, displayed by other farmers,
dealers, non-government organisations and government agencies, and to discuss
them in a lively and informal atmosphere;
- Visits and motivational tours: visits to research establishments and to other areas
give farmers and extension staff an opportunity to interact directly with other farmers
who have been successful in solving their own problems, and with research scientists
conducting research programmes of interest of farmers;
- Participatory methods: the use of highly participatory extension methods,
including Rapid and Participatory Rural Appraisal, provide an opportunity for extension
staff and farmers to work together to analyse current situations and problems, and
determine appropriate courses of action for self-reliance.
Integrated Extension Support to Farmers
The policy of the Government is to provide farmers with advice on all aspects of
agriculture. Among the government organisations, the Department of Agricultural
Extension is the largest, and providers services to farmers for increasing production of
crops, including vegetables, fruits and homestead crops and to develop other homestead
agricultural activities. At present, the Department has extension agents at grassroot
level. One extension agent is primarily responsible for approximately 1000 farm
families.
The Department of Livestock Services and Department of Fisheries have
extension staff at thana level. The Department of Forestry has staff mainly at District
level, although their extension services are mostly based on the nurseries established at
thana level. At present, these departments have no grassroots extension agents. Until
such departments can develop their own facilities, the Department of Agricultural
Extension may offer appropriate information to farmers in the areas of livestock,
fisheries and forestry, with the support of the other departments, as decided in the
Agricultural Technical Committee.
Appropriate advice, as requested, will be made available to non-government
organisations, from all these departments, to enable them to offer high quality
integrated extension support, including farm management, production, credit and
marketing for their target groups and area. Many nongovernment organizations are
engaged in integrated farming advice, and it is the policy of the Government to ensure
that these agencies are provided with appropriate advice and technical assistance from
the various ministries and departments of the Government of Bangladesh.
Co-ordinated Extension Activities
The extension services of the various providers within the national agricultural
extension system will be co-ordinated in order to optimise the use of the recourses
within the system. This implies the sharing of information and expertise among the
agencies involved, and participation where appropriate in each others extension
activities. The New Agricultural Extension Policy recognises that different agencies
working in the same areas often have complementary expertise and that where this
is brought together the effectiveness of all agencies in their services to the nation.s
farmers can be enhanced. The extension services of various providers within National
Agricultural Extension System will be co-ordinated at five levels:
• at local level, with the various extension services co-operating in working with
and meeting the needs of the wide variety of farmers groups that exist in rural
areas, and through the exchange of information and experience among farmers,
farmers groups and extension agents working with different organisations at field
level. Local level co-operation will also be enhanced though the participation of
different extension agencies in the meetings of Union Councils, under the
chairmanship of the Union Council Chairman;
• at thana level, through direct contact between extension personnel at thana level
through the Thana Agricultural Development Committee, which comprises
representatives from government, non-government and private sectors, including
women farmers and women representatives of these organizations;
• at district level, through the Department of Agricultural Extension, District
Extension Programming Committee and the District Development Co-ordination
Committee;
• at regional level, through the Agricultural Technical Committee, where
government and non-government organisation staff and research institute staff
come together seasonally to discuss technical issues relating to extension
programmes;
• at national level through the National Technical Co-ordination Committee, where
representatives of all agencies come together to discuss research co-operation
and technical research issues relating to extension work. There are also other
national apex bodies, such as the Department of Agricultural Extension - NonGovernment Organisation Liaison Committee and other such committees, which
have an important co-ordination role.
Integrated Environmental Support
The lives of more than 70 percent of the population are almost totally dependent
upon the natural resource base which supports agricultural production. However, it is
recognised that this critical resource base is under threat. Among the concerns are
deforestation, water scarcity caused by overabstraction, and an increased incidence of
pest damage due to introduction of monoculture and inappropriate use of pesticides. To
maintain the ecological balance in the natural environment, the Government.s
environmental objectives are to:
- control and prevent pollution and degradation related to soil, water, and air;
- promote environment-friendly activities;
- strengthen the capabilities of public and private sectors to manage environmental
concerns as a basic requisite for sustainable development;
- create opportunities for people.s participation in environmental management
activities.
The strategies adopted to attain these objectives are as follows:
- integration of the environment into the overall agricultural policy to ensure a policy of
sustainable agricultural development;
- environmental impact assessment as an integral part of the development and testing
of innovations by agricultural research institutes, universities, non-government
organisations an the private sector;
- promotion of environmentally sound agricultural practices, such as Integrated Pest
Management, and active discouragement of damaging and hazardous agricultural
practices;
- monitoring the impact of agricultural practices by environmental agencies, and the
use of findings to stimulate a continuos improvement of agricultural technologies and
agricultural policies.
The New Agricultural Extension Policy therefore supports extension programmes
which seek to support and encourage farmers and farmers groups to apply sustainable
agricultural practices. Through the sharing of information among all the agencies in the
national agricultural extension system, it is expected that the capacity of agencies to
promote sustainable agricultural development will be enhanced. It is recognised that
farmers own Indigenous Technical Knowledge is often environmentally sustainable, and
efforts should be made to support and learn from farmers, as well as the formal research
system.
The policy recognises that, inevitably, with increasing demand for higher
agricultural output due to a rapidly increasing population, there may be a negative effect
upon the natural environment. However, the policy will support extension efforts aimed
at balancing the demands for increasing production and environmental preservation. of
this effort will be integrated extension support for the whole farm system.
Implementation Strategy for New
Agricultural Extension Policy
The National Task Force which has been charged with the preparation of this
New Agricultural Extension Policy is also responsible for the development of an
Implementation Strategy. This Implementation Strategy will establish:
•
•
•
•
•
clear definitions of the roles for the various extension agencies;
effective mechanisms for collaboration and information exchange among
extension and among farmers;
effective mechanisms for the supply, management, and monitoring of resources
to support the activities of extension agencies;
mechanisms to provide extension agents at all levels with the skills and training
appropriate to their job requirements;
effective linkage for three way information flow between farmers, extension
agents and research institute staff.
While this New Agricultural Extension Policy has set the principles for the effective
functioning of the National Agricultural Extension System, the Implementation Strategy
will set the mechanisms by which these principles are put into place.
IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME
IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL POLICY
The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has initiated implementation of some of the policy
recommendations and established a team of consultants with the support of UNDP and
FAO for preparing the Action Plan for implementing rest of the recommendations that will
require additional studies and external financial support. The Action Plan presents a brief
project profile on each of these policy recommendations to provide the outlines for
preparing development projects for implementing the policies.
Policies
1. Restructuring the Seed Wing of BADC and
rationalizing its staffing for upgrading the capacity
and improving its efficiency.
2. Establishing Seed Production Unit to build
Breeder Seed production capacity of ARIs.
3. Reorganizing the Seed Certification Agency as an
independent regulatory body to ensure seed quality.
4. Training of farmers, small scale seed producers,
seed dealers and seed importers on production,
processing and storage of quality seed.
5. Promoting replacement of the current centrifugal
pumps with force mode pumps by encouraging
production of the pumps locally.
6. Restructuring the Irrigation Wing of BADC and
rationalizing its staffing for upgrading the capacity
and improving its efficiency.
Implementation
BADC is reported to have submitted a restructuring
proposal which needs close scrutiny and funding
arrangement.
Administrative action and funding needed to
implement this policy.
MOA has initiated the exercise internally. Funding
arrangement has to be made.
Funding arrangement has to be made. The WB
proposed Agricultural Technology Project may
provide some funds for this activity.
Fund mobilization needed to implement this policy
in collaboration with the private sector.
Administrative action and funding arrangement has
to be made for implementing this policy.
7. Increasing the use of surface water.
8. Ensuring uninterrupted power supply to electric
pumps, and provide electric connection to more
number of pumps.
9. Exploring the option of gradual replacement of
diesel engine with LPG/CNG (bottled) operated
engines.
10. Training and demonstration programs for
farmers and mechanics/artisans to enhance their
skills in operating, maintaining and repairing of
common agricultural machines.
11. Providing support to local manufacture
of agricultural machines.
Actions and funds needed to implement the policy.
Action to be taken by REB.
12. Establishing a ‘National Centre for
Agricultural Machinery’ using the existing
facilities available in the research system.
13. Restructuring DAM to establish a
‘Centre
for
Agricultural
Research,
Intelligence and Information’.
14.
Amending
the
2002
‘Market
Management and Leasing Policy’ and the
‘Agricultural Produce Marketing Regulation’
of 1964.
15. Institutional reform and enactment of a
unified legislation for the semi-autonomous
Research Institutes.
16. Preparing a comprehensive human
resource development program for the
NARS.
17. Improving and institutionalizing research
and resource management systems.
Require administrative action and funding support.
18. Strengthening the regional and subregional research stations and laboratories.
Agricultural Technology Project will partly cover
the cost of implementing this policy.
19. Reorganizing the extension service as a
bottom-up institution centered on the concept
of ‘Specialized Agricultural Service Centre’
at the Upazila level.
20. Developing a comprehensive training
program for the farmers, input dealers, seed
producers and the field technicians.
Agricultural Technology Project includes the
provision for implementing this policy.
21. Reactivating ATIs and CERDI for
professional training, including SAAO and
training of trainers.
MOA is working on CERDI to transform it into a
National Agricultural Training Academy, and
negotiating with JICA for support. ATIs will need
additional support for increasing the number of
teaching
expanding
rooms and
A
projectstaff,
proposal
is withclass
the Planning
Commission
for approval. AIS will need more support.
22.
Strengthening
Information Service.
the
Agricultural
23. Building soil testing capacity at the
Upazila level.
Administrative action and funding arrangement has
to be made for implementing this policy.
Administrative action and funding support needed.
Appropriate Government action needed.
Require administrative action and funding support.
Will require very little fund. MOA can do it with its
own resources.
MOA and the World Bank are working together to
implement this policy through the proposed
Agricultural Technology Project.
Agricultural Technology Project will partly cover
the cost of implementing this policy.
Agricultural Technology Project includes the
provision for implementing this policy.
MOA action and funds needed to implement this
important program. Seed producers training could be
covered under policy 4 separately.
Some support has been provided. Additional
support will be needed to develop full capacity.
Conclusion
The provisions as detailed above have been drawn on the basis of empirical findings
of a host of researchers, practitioners and experts. The proper implementation of
the National Agriculture Policy will transform the crop production system, and for
that matter the overall agriculture into a dynamic sector over time, which is expected
to bring about significant positive changes in the economy of the country. It is
hoped that farmers, researchers, scientists, agri-business communities, civil
servants and politicians will make their respective contribution to the
implementation of the present National Agriculture Policy and through this process
the goals of PRSP, MDGs, and SDGs will be fulfilled.
References:
http://www.moa.gov.bd/policy/nap.htm
http://www.moa.gov.bd/policy/NAP.pdf
http://www.moa.gov.bd/statistics/bag.htm
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN015427.pdf
1. http://www.un-bd.org/pub/unpubs/Agriculture%20Sector%20Review
%20Actionable%20policy%20briefs/Volume%20III%20Policy%20Review.pdf
2. http://www.moa.gov.bd/policy/naep.pdf
3. http://www.sdnbd.org/sdi/issues/agriculture/database/revenue_budget.htm
4. http://www.un-bd.org/pub/unpubs/Agriculture%20Sector%20Review
%20Actionable%20policy%20briefs/Voume%20II%20Action%20plan.pdf