Although rice production in Bangladesh has tripled in more than four and half decades, both agriculture and rice production growth rates have slowed down. Rice production and consumption remains the main driver of agricultural growth, and rice harvest trends in gross domestic production (GDP), said a panel of agro-scientists on Wednesday.
Agriculture growth tops the lists among vibrant industry, trade and transport sectors which contribute to reduce poverty. Agricultural growth is two to three times more than in other sectors in Bangladesh economy. In 2007-2011 rice production growth was 4.8 percent and in period of 2012-2016 the production reduced to 4.1 percent.
Similarly, agricultural growth during the period of 2007-2011 was 4.7 percent and it reduced significantly during the period 2012-2016 and stood at 2.4 percent. Several factors contribute to rice yield. Increased area under boro rice on farmers' land boosts total rice yields, but decreased area under aus and aman rice crops tends to decrease total rice yield.
As expected, increased use of fertilizers and larger area under irrigation promote rice yield. Agricultural scientists and researchers in their deliberation at a seminar organized jointly by International Food Policy Research (IFPRI), United Stated AID (USAID) and Compact 2025 at Hotel Le Meridien said progress to end hunger and undernutrition must be accelerated in Bangladesh.
The seminar on Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition was inaugurated by Food Minister Qamrul Islam, State Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Meher Afroze Chumki, Dr Shenggen Fan, Director General of IFPRI, Mission Director USAID Bangladesh, Janina Jaruzelski, Additional Secretary (PPC), Ministry of Agriculture, Mohammad Nazmul Islam and IFPRI Bangladesh Country Representative, Dr Akhter Ahmed.
The seminar was told that Bangladesh is losing one percent per year of arable land to population growth, infrastructure development, industrialization and non-farm activities. Shenggen Fan said Bangladesh faces challenges for sustainably ensuring food security and nutrition. Compact 2025 is designed to help accelerate progress in Bangladesh, he added.
IFPRI DG urged Bangladesh to invest in agricultural research and development to produce more with less, empower of women, small holders and consumers in agriculture and to support efficient, inclusive value chain, improve coordination and engage with non-traditional partners and above all to operationalize food and nutrition security policies.
Bangladesh being the fourth largest producer of rice in the world still faces challenges for food security and nutrition deficiency of children and women. A joint study by IFPRI and Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) found that dynamics of hunger in rural Bangladesh has dramatically changed from 2012 to 2015.
The study found 91.9 percent of the population are not hungry anymore, 3.9 percent of the population have moved out of hunger, while 3.3 percent fell into hunger and only less than one percent are always hungry.
This article was originally published in The Daily Asian Age on 05 October 2017.