Bangladesh on way to achieve agricultural sustainability

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RANGPUR, July 01, 2018 (BSS) -Side by side with enormous development in every
sector, Bangladesh is marching on its way to achieve agricultural
sustainability as food production continues to increase consistently during
the last one decade.

Expanded cultivation of high yielding crops, mechanisation of agriculture,
adoption of improved technologies and best farm practices, balanced
fertilization and expanding irrigation facilities, pest control are major
reasons behind boost in food output.

Noted rice scientist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got the Independence Award 2018
Medal (food security) this year, said continuous research for innovation and
expanded cultivation of high yielding and climate smart crop varieties in
profitable cropping patterns could further increase food productivity.

Bangladesh is now producing about 34.8 million metric tonnes of clean rice
annually making the country self-reliant on meeting food demand for its 16
crore population, he said.

“The growth in rice production will continue to increase following various
pragmatic steps of the government to further enhance its output by almost 1.5
times by 2050 to feed a probable 22-crore population then,” he added.

Dr Mazid, also former chief scientific officer of Bangladesh Rice Research
Institute (BRRI, said farmers have started using developed and eco-friendly
agricultural technologies and practices almost having no adverse effects on
the environment.

“For a sustainable agriculture, we have to ensure effective extension
services in farmers’ group approach and improved technologies and proven
practices for farmers using video based training to solve common agricultural
and natural resource problems,” he added.

Dr Mazid put emphasis on expanded adoption of the resource-conserving
technologies and practices like integrated pests and integrated nutrient
managements, reduced amount of tillage and agro-forestry for sustainable
agriculture.

He stressed reaching quality seed of high yielding crops and transferring
technologies for seed production of hybrid crops to farmers’ level along with
providing necessary ICT- based training on latest technologies to increase
food productivity.

Deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) at its
regional office Md Moniruzzaman said food production continues increasing
consistently in Rangpur region like elsewhere in the country following
various steps of the government.

“The farmers produced 34.22-lakh tonnes of rice and wheat in all five
districts under Rangpur region during 2016-2017 against 18.90-lakh tonnes
food demand of 1.61-crore population with 15.32-lakh tonnes surplus food
then,” he said.

The farmers produced 29.40-lakh tonnes rice and wheat during 2008-2009
against 17.26-lakh tonnes food demand of 1.04-crore population then with
12.14-lakh tonnes surplus food in the region, he added.

Horticulture Specialist at the DAE’s regional office Khondker Md Mesbahul
Islam said, “Food productivity will continue to increase as farmers are using
quality seed, more compost fertilisers and latest technologies in crop
cultivation.”

“About 90 percent of the total 7.45-lakh hectares of cultivable lands have
been brought under irrigation facilities using 2.52-lakh irrigation
machineries now as the irrigated land area was 65 percent a decade ago in
Rangpur region,” he said.

Cultivation of the flood-tolerant, drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, hit-
tolerant and disease- tolerant crops and zinc- and vitamin A-enriched crops
is also expanding every year to increase food output and meet nourishment of
the population.

“The crop intensity stood at 230.57 percent during 2016-2017 against 214
percent in 2008-2009 and the trend continues to rise on way to attain
sustainability in agriculture in the region as in other parts of the
country,” Islam added.