Despite various challenges, food security in Bangladesh remains intact. There was no need to import any paddy in the last two years. Maintaining food security is possible because farmers are still farming despite all the challenges. But it will be difficult if the farmers withdraw from agriculture for other reasons including not getting fair price for the produce.
Krishibid Dr.Surajit Saha Roy, Director of Agricultural Information Service of Department of Agricultural Extension, the largest institution of the government in the agricultural sector, told Barta24.com.
This agriculturist feels that there is now room for considerable optimism in Bangladesh's food production system with significant achievements due to massive efforts in agricultural research and extension. But the desired success in marketing agricultural products is yet to come. As a result, the farmers who are the major players in the agriculture sector are being deprived of the fair price of their hard earned agricultural produce. However, he also thinks that if a way out of this stalemate is found through research, it is possible to solve the crisis.
According to this agriculturist, along with keeping the field level agricultural workers active in providing necessary advice to the farmers in the ongoing severe heat wave, video messages and leaflets are also being circulated on the social media platform.
Dr. Ashraful Islam, planning editor of Barta24.com talked to Surajit Saha Roy.
Barta24.com: How much of Boro's yield has come home to the farmer?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: Low-lying areas, such as the Haor area, are almost cut off. This week will be completely over. Even Bangladesh's current account or other low-lying areas will be cut by now. Only North Bengal will have some. There the paddy is planted a little later, after the potatoes are harvested. And in Khulna and Barishal regions, where they cultivate within the perimeter, they plant paddy early and harvest it early. We have directed to cut all the paddy in the low lying area by next 2nd date (2nd May 2024). Cutting is almost done. Because we have already got rain forecast. I am afraid of flooding in that rain.
Barta24.com: This year's heat wave is being talked about. Many experts said, this is not new for Bangladesh or the countries of the region. How much is the impact on agriculture?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: After 76 years, severe heat wave is going on for such a long time. What happened before - stayed for two days or three days. It has rained again. The heat rose again. This did not damage the tree. For example, mango and litchi have buds. It is getting damaged in this heat. Aus paddy problem, jute problem - something is happening. Physiological activity of plants also stops when the temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius.
Barta24.com: We have now become a mango exporting country. How much effect will this heat have on mango yield?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: From what I know so far, there won't be much of an impact. But you know that when the temperature is high, water has to be given to the root of the plant repeatedly. It is very difficult to hold the roots of plants with water. Farmers are using mulching (garbage) to try to keep the water in. And if there is no water at the base of the soil, food cannot be raised. Otherwise, the mango will not be nourished. On the other hand high temperature is very good for fruit ripening.
Barta24.com: Is the Agriculture Extension Department taking any special steps for the farmers in the emerging situation?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: The Department of Agricultural Extension has already taken several posts. We are working on this every day under the guidance of the Honorable Director General. Urgent advice and guidance is being provided to farmers. At the field level, our staff are working on this. As you know, now is the era of IT excellence. In order to make the farmers aware and take action, we are regularly providing direct advice as well as circulating short video messages, leaflets with advice on social media platforms. Farmers are getting the message quickly. Our Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer is going to the field regularly. It is difficult to tell who will watch or listen to any medium, so we disseminate information and farming advice through all mediums.
Barta24.com: How do you feel about the overall condition of agricultural production despite the adverse weather this year?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: There are two realities here. For example, we are burning in the heat but the rice farmers are very satisfied. The reason is that they can safely take the rice home. They (farmers) are also hoping that it will rain after a few more days. In Haor area now they are cutting the paddy beautifully and bringing it home. The price is also good. On the other hand, North Bengal is unable to irrigate due to excessive drought. The government is also providing power to Boro plantations on priority basis. You must know that in the last two years we have not bought a single paddy from outside. I did not buy rice even in such a bad situation. We are trying so that we don't have to buy in the future, if possible we can export some. This is a good achievement.
Barta24.com: Does that mean our food security is intact despite the global crisis?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: Definitely. But as you can tell, the price has gone up. Corporates seem to be taking more trouble when it comes to raising prices. I bought Usta today at 68 taka per kg. But the farmer cannot sell even for 15 taka. Even the deviation in the price of paddy - from the farmer to the consumer level - I think the marketing department needs to do a lot of work on this. The syndicate is also a broken practice.
Barta24.com: This is Shubhankar's loophole in price hike, especially farmers are not getting their fair price but consumers are buying at higher prices. This immobility will never break?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: Try flooks like even in the election manifesto of the government, it is a big priority to keep commodity prices under control. Some middlemen take advantage, it cannot be controlled in any way. Stakeholders emphasize that many times, some work is being done. I think it needs research. A strong hand is needed to break this deadlock. Farmers associations, cooperatives - can play a good role. The role of the Department of Agricultural Extension in production is limited to production. Another section looks at marketing issues. Even though we are not involved, since farmers are our main partners, we try to play a role beyond our responsibilities. You must know, during Corona - we launched Mango Train, Cattle Train was launched. We also arranged to send agricultural workers from Dinajpur to Haor, when all traffic was stopped. Although it was the responsibility of other departments, we went beyond the scope and did it for the sake of the farmer. The world's developed countries warned that food shortages could develop. People can die without food. We have successfully tackled that too. Maintaining food security has been possible because farmers have farmed despite all the challenges. We are trying to ensure that the farmers do not withdraw from their work. It will be difficult if they move.
Barta24.com: Is commercial agriculture posing a threat?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: Commercial agriculture, import substitute agriculture or export oriented agriculture poses a threat to common farmers. We must now focus on marketing. For example, this time the price of mustard has fallen. Farmers don't want to do more if they don't get the price. Mustard oil is not yet considered an edible oil by consumers. Still we have limited the use of this oil in eating different dishes. Although this oil takes less quantity. Its gift is that this oil is low in quantity and contains no trans fats – it can save us from fatty liver, liver stones or cirrhosis.
Barta24.com: What other challenges do you see in agriculture this time?
Dr. Surajit Saha Roy: The growing population is a big problem in this regard. The amount of land is small and continuously decreasing. This situation is a big challenge in agricultural production. It's like 'covering the head, the legs come out and covering the legs, the head'. If we can cultivate the fallow land of the nearby country on long term lease that can also be a new solution to meet the challenge. Neighboring India has a lot of fallow land in Assam. Although there is a lot of uncultivated land in our hills, there are also challenges in farming there. As you know, agriculture depends on nature. Still, the way our research institutes are developing new varieties to meet the challenge, we're scaling it up, taking it to the farmer's field—a good achievement is coming. Salinity was a major problem in rice production especially in the southern region.
But our research institutes have brought many varieties, such as BRRI Paddy 97, BRRI Paddy 98 and BRRI 67 - these three varieties have brought great revolution. Farmers cultivated BRRI 28 and BRRI 29; We have discouraged their cultivation. This time there is an advantage - their yield is also good, it is possible to cut in advance. However, this time there was no blast attack at BRRI 28, because the rains had happened a little earlier - before the flowring of paddy came out. If it rains after flowering, the yield will be disastrous. As a result of which the blast germ falls on the ground in the first rain, if it hits a grain of rice while falling on the ground, the grain will be destroyed. This time it rained before the seeds came out. All fell on the ground or leaves, so could not do much damage. That is why the yield of paddy is quite good. There is a little loss, if the temperature is high we call it respiration loss, the loss is not significant. Again, because the temperature is high, the rice ripens earlier.
The weather forecast calls for rain next week. In the meantime, the rice will rise. There will be no particular damage to other crops. There is a lot of technology now. If the farmers follow the technologies then they can compensate the loss of mango and litchi. Maybe the price will increase a little. However, today's farmers are not very cost-conscious. Because the market is not bad now. We want farmers to get fair prices and consumers to buy at fair prices. The violence of the middleman should be reduced.
