Introducing innovative farming practices

The country's agriculture has come a long way off, thanks to some remarkable research and experiments with cereals and other crops. But still farm practices in general are yet to be smart enough to turn farmlands economically sustainable. A survey titled "Productive and Sustainable Agriculture Survey 2025" carried out by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) corroborates this lapse in farming. The study finds that only 1.2 per cent of agricultural land in the country yields the optimal level of output, 44.37 per cent has acceptable or adequate level of productivity and the major portion of land comprising 55.63 per cent has production far below the sustainable level. Still more worrying is the fact that the problem of land degradation occurring at the rate of 50 per cent is encountered by as high as 27.25 per cent agricultural households. The prospect is not only bleak for those families because of this high rate of land degradation, it also unfolds a spectre of fast shrinkage of agricultural land and its attendant ills of displacement of a large number of people and their food insecurity.

Admittedly, the country is not under an immediate threat of falling short of the required land areas for production of enough foods to feed its people. Both the 44.37 per cent and the 55.63 per cent of lands now yielding acceptable and below par level of crops respectively can be improved to a large extent for augmenting production. Even with the existing research results and technological innovation achieved by agricultural scientists of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) along with other such universities and institutes can bring about a change for the better. There has been a kind of inertia on the part of policy formulators in implementing the laboratory knowledge and findings at the field level. However, a new breed of educated young people has come forward to adopt the latest models of agriculture. Although they are a few in number, these new generation of farmers is changing the agricultural map of the country. 

How they are doing it? It is quite simple. Bio-diversity-supported agricultural practices they have opted for simply to provide the boost agriculture here needs. Apps-driven irrigation, fertiliser and pesticide use--- with drone replacing manual practice and monitoring crops' health--- have already brought about a paradigm shift in the country's agriculture. The knowledge and technology are there but reaching those to farmers at the field level is what proves highly challenging. But such smart ways of farming economise on irrigation and inputs such as improved seeds including salinity and heat-tolerant varieties, fertiliser and pesticides by determining their correct amounts. 

So, to take agriculture to the next level, the latest innovative practices of farming has to be made familiar to even unlettered farmers. Sure enough, there is a need for big investment if a farmer wants to adopt the latest agricultural practices. It is exactly at this point the policymakers have to think out of the box. How to bring small agricultural plot holders under the coverage of smart practice? If farmers' cooperatives are formed and the government provides the machines, tools and devices for payment of prices in instalments, the initiatives will certainly take off. Alongside this, there is a need for directing research focus on stalling extensive land degradation.