SIGNIFICANCES OF CROPS SECTOR TOWARDS TO THE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Pranay Chakma

4th June, 07

Introduction
We all are known that Khudar Rajjai Pritibi Gadyomoy and I am preparing this for preventing this Khuda (hungry situation) with various crops produced in Bangladesh. In the following, we are trying to find- out historic relations in crops sector for making a suggestion to agricultural development as well as economic development in Bangladesh. Agricultural Bangladesh has a vast tradition in crops sector. It was a long history that we can separate in two terms; one is pre-liberation period and another one is post liberation period.

Pre-liberation period
Bangladesh is striving hard to achieve self-sufficiency in food within the country. During the pre-liberation period 1947-71, the food production of 68.64 lakh tons in 1947-48 increased to 112.55 lakh tons in 1970-71 with a raise of 43.91 lakh tons or 63.9percent over the initial output. The food production in 1947-48 included 73.8 percent Aman rice, 21.2 percent Aus rice, 4.7 percent Boro rice and 0.3 percent wheat. On the other hand, the population during this 24 years period increased from 4.20 crores to 7.12 crores i. e. 69.5 percent over the initial population. This means that population increased by 0.23 percent over food production each year.

Post-liberation period
During the post-liberation period from 1971-72 to 2005-06, the food production of 112.55 lakh tons in 1970-71 increased to 288.11 lakh metric tons in 2005-06, in 35 years of independence. This tremendous increase in food production after independence has been possible due to increase in HYV food cropped area (36 percent) fertilizers used (400 percent) and irrigation application (258 percent) in 2005-06 over those in 1970-71.

Food Grains Production in Recent Years

If you will go to Gram (village), then you should be invited with DAL-VAAT. Both the DAL and VAAT are the contribution of crops sector. According to the final estimates, the volume of food grain production in 2004-05 was 261.33 lakh metric tons of which Aus accounted for 15 lakh metric tons, Aman 98.2 lakh metric tons, Boro 138.37 lakh metric tons and wheat 9.76 lakh metric tons (Table 1). Food grains production target for FY 2004-05 has been estimated at 314.39 lakh metric tons of which Aus accounts for 20.45 lakh metric tons, Aman 130.20 lakh metric tons, Boro 150.54 lakh metric tons and wheat 13.20 lakh metric tons. Actual output of Aus against target finally stood at 17.45 lakh metric tons while Aman recorded an output of 108 lakh metric tons. Two crops could not achieve the target due to huge damage caused by floods during last year. The yield wheat was 7.35 lakh metric tons in FY 2005-06. For the increased production of Boro (estimated 155.21 lakh

metric tons) this year, the total food grain production will be around 288.11 lakh metric tons (Table 1).

Table 1: Food grain Production

(In lakh Metric ton)

Aus Aman Boro Total rice Wheat Maize Total (with Maize ) Total (w/o Maize

95/96 16.8 87.9 72.2 176.9 13.7 190.6

96/97 18.71 95.52 74.60 188.8 3 14.54 203.3 7 203.3 7

97/98 18.75 88.50 81.37 188.6 2 18.02 206.3 4 206.3 4

98/99 16.17 77.36 105.5 2 199.0 5 19.08 218.1 3 218.1 3

99/00 17.34 103.0 6 110.2 7 230.6 7 18.40 249.0 7 249.0 7

00/01 19.16 112.5 0 119.2 1 250.8 7 16.70 1.49 269.0 6 267.5 7

01/02 18.08 107.2 6 127.6 6 243.0 0 16.06 1.52 260.5 8 259.0 6

02/03 18.51 111.1 5 122.2 2 251.8 8 15.07 1.75 268.7 0 266.9 5

03/04 18.32 115.2 1 128.3 7 261.9 0 12.53 2.41 276.4 3 274.4 3

04/05 15 98.20 138.3 7 251.5 7 9.76 3.56 264.8 9 261.3 3

05/06 17.45 108.1 155.21* 280.76** 7.35 7.84* 295.95**

190.6

288.11**

Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. *Estimate by DAE, **probable.

Table 2: Other crops (Production in 000 metric tons and Acrege in 000 acres)
Pulses Year
200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 1170 1116 1108 1039 947 366 342 349 333 316 -

Oilseeds
948 909 897 850 765 292 285 277 270 268 -

Spices
588 622 625 667 747 397 417 425 608 1000 -

Sugarcane Prod. Acre

417 402 410 404 388 6742 6502 6838 6484 6423 -

Jute
1107 1128 1079 1008 965 993 821 859 800 794 717 821

Potato Prod. Acre

615 587 600 669 806 744

Acre Prod. Acre

Prod. Acre

Prod. Acre

Prod.
3216 2998 3386 3907 4855 4161

Source: Bangladesh Bureau of statistics.

Food Budget
In FY 2004-05 the governments internal procurement of food grains was 8.99 lakh metric tons which stood at 9.45 lakh metric tons in 2005-06. In FY 2005-06, Bangladesh received 1.94 lakh metric tons of food grains as food aid. During the current fiscal year, the

quantity of food grains import by private sector was 22.65 lakh metric tons. The total food grains import by private sector in FY 2005-06 was 25.62 lakh metric tons. Food grain import during FY 1972-73 to 2005-06 is shown at Table 3.

Table 3: Import of food grains

(000 metric tons)

Rice Year Food aid Import

199596 199697 199798 199899 199900 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 1 10 60 5 32 8 4 4 27 34 1137 24 1105 3007 428 529 118 1552 796 1268 498

Total
113.8 34 1105 3067 433 561 126 1556 800 1295 532

Wheat Food aid

737 608 549 1175 865 459 501 250 285 263 160

Import
552 325 297 1249 806 534 1171 1414 1703 1816 1870

Total Food aid

1289 938 846 2424 1671 993 1672 1664 1679 2079 2030 738 618 549 1235 870 491 511 254 289 290 194

Total Import Total

1689 349 1402 4256 1234 1063 1288 2966 2499 3084 2368 2427 967 1951 5491 2104 1554 1799 3220 2798 3374 2562

Source: Directorate of food, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management Note: Includes wheat import of WVI Direct Distribution as food assistance of USAID since 2000-01.

Agricultural Management, Subsidies and Assistance

To fulfill the food and nutritional demand of the growing population of the country and to ensure and sustain dependable food security, special emphasis has been given on building up a modern agricultural system based on appropriate technology. In this context, various reform measures have been taken which include ensuring the following activities: I) II) III) IV) V) VI) Availability of agricultural inputs including fertilizer at the door-steps of the farmers. Implementation of the agricultural extension policy. Simplification of the disbursement procedures of agricultural credit. Creating opportunities for investment in agriculture. Modernization of research methods for quality improvement of agro-products. The utilization and extension of the integrated technologies derived from research. During FY 2005-06 a total of Tk. 1200 crore has been provisioned for agriculture subsidy on TSP, DAP and MOP fertilizer including Urea as well as for providing other forms of assistance to agriculture sector. In addition, 30 percent cash incentive is being provided to agricultural export. A programme for providing 25 percent subsidy on the import cost of TSP,

DAP; MOP is being implemented to encourage the use of balanced fertilizer for increased production. These supports are encouraging many people involved in agriculture sector.

Quality Seeds
There is no doubt about that quality seeds give us larger quantity crops rather than normal seeds used by most of the farmers. Before the vast population, we have no need to use research center produced quality seeds. Now we have no choice rather quality seeds because of fill-up the increasing food demand for vast population. In Bangladesh BADC is producing and selling quality seeds of paddy, wheat, jute etc. and quality seeds also imported by both privately and governmentally from India, china and Vietnam.

Irrigation and Water System

According to use data of national census on small irrigation, the total irrigated land in the country was 45.06 lakh increases in FY 1999-2000. It increased to 52.61 lakh hectares in FY 2005-06 (Table 4).

Table 4: Area Under Irrigation

(Aea in Hectare)
Type of irrigation a. Surface water Major irrigation* LLP Traditional Sub-Total (a) b. Ground water Deep Tube well (DTW) Light Tube well (Surface/Deep/Very Deep Sot) Others** Sub-Total (b) Total (a+b) 522066 2645471 46902 321442 4506323 524330 2673944 86906 3285180 4624055 581599 2747098 62518 3391215 4827560 583692 2756558 58122 3398372 4910195 583692 2776557 44397 3404646 4894346 65189 316989 9 381408 8 528353 5 700662 3120607 3821269 5260629 1999-00 422656 645053 224172 1291881 2000-01 469575 647300 222000 1338875 2001-02 492666 761439 182240 1436345 2002-03 571243 764300 176280 1411823 2003-04 548347 766153 175200 1489700 2004-05 605570 838377 25500 146944 7 2005-06 607947 803170 18241 1439360

Source: Department of Agricultural Extension Ministry of Agriculture *Estimated irrigation data under Water Development Board *Ponds, pump, hand tube well etc with un-mechanized units.

Fertilizer
The use of fertilizer for agricultural production has been consistently increasing. In FY 1995-96, the total quantity of fertilizer use was 30.23 lakh metric tons in FY 2005-06. The use of urea fertilizer alone was the highest. In FY 1995-96, the use of Urea was 20.46 lakh metric tons which increased to 24.51 lakh metric tons in FY 2005-06. The percentage increase in Urea use in FY 2005-06 is nearly 20 percent compared to that of FY 1995-96. The Market Monitoring and Information System (MMIS) of the Ministry of Agriculture has been regularly monitoring the fertilizer situation in the country. In order to ensure smooth

supply to districts as per estimated demand of Urea, restriction has been imposed on interdistrict movement of Urea. There is no such restriction on the movement of super granules Urea. Since 1995-96 Urea super/mega granules are being manufactured and marketed through private sector. Super/mega-granules are also being used in other rabi crops. Beside, use of different types of mixed fertilizer is being encouraged for balanced use of fertilizer. TSP complex in Chittagong has started production and marketing of NPKS fertilizer on experimental basis. Several factories in the private sector have started producing and marketing NPKS. Import of NPKS is also being encouraged under private sector.

Table 5: Use of Chemical Fertilizer

(000metric tons)

Type Urea TSP DAP MP SSP NPKS AS Zinc Gypsum

Total

95/96
2045.5 111.1 0 155.9 596.9 0 8.7 1 103.6 3022.7

96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01

2141 72.6 0 219.3 525.3 0 11.7 1.2 86.6 3057.7 1867 62.4 6.8 193.5 473.3 0 9.7 0.7 113.4 2726.8 1902 170.2 38.6 210.8 362.4 0 12.4 0.3 128.2 2824.9 2151 259.3 109.2 239.5 237.2 0 26 1.2 189.4 3212.9 2121 399.5 90.1 139.8 138.6 10.2 13 3 102.3 3017.5

01/02
2247.42 425.31 127.03 222.26 127.13 12.87 20.19 0.24 96.05 3278.5

02/03
2239 405 112 250 130 30 10 2 120 3298

03/04
2324.08 361 90 240 148 45 9 7 140 3364.08

04/05
2523.39 420.02 140.72 260.38 170.93 90 5.59 8 135.7 3754.75

05/06
2451.37 436.47 145 290.67 130.39 110 6.32 7.5 104.95 3682.67

Source: Ministry of Agriculture

Agricultural Credit
Agricultural credit remains a significant input as agriculture in Bangladesh still remains at the subsistence level employing over fifty percent of labour force. During FY 200405, disbursement stood at Tk. 4956.78 crore against the target of Tk 5537.91 crore. The target of credit disbursement through Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Nationalised Commercial Banks, Bangladesh Rural Development Board and Bangladesh Samobai Bank has been fixed at Tk. 5542.21 crore for the fiscal year 2005-06. In FY 2005-06 Tk. 5789.71 crore has disbursed which is 104.47 percent of the target. The overall situation relating to agricultural credit during FY 1995-96 to 2005-06 is presented in Table 6.

Table 6: Agricultural Credit Disbursement, Recovery and Outstanding Balance

(In crore Tk)

Financial year 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00

Target 2434.27 2394.22 2525.83 3270.01 3331.00

Disbursement 1635.81 1672.43 1814.53 3245.36 2851.29

Recovery 1340.02 1646.38 1779.29 2039.65 2996.29

Balance 7769.07 8256.00 8515.04 9702.51 10648.90

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

Source: Bangladesh Bank.

3265.92 3326.64 3560.53 4388.94 5537.91 5542.21

3019.67 2954.91 3278.37 4048.41 4956.78 5789.71

2877.87 3250.27 3516.31 3135.32 3171.15 4123.91

11137.26 11355.58 11913.35 12705.95 14408.94 16182.44

Annual Development Programme (ADP) in Agricultural Sector

In the RADP of FY 2005-06, a total of Tk. 631.70 crore was allocated for implementation of 75 projects. Of the total project cost, Tk. 521.14 crore was financed from project aid. In FY 2005-06, a total of Tk. 600.66 crore has been spent which is 95 percent of the total allocation.

Development programmes financed under non-development budget

Twenty-seven development programmes are being implemented under the nondevelopment budget in FY 2005-06. In the revised non-development budget, a total of Tk. 16113.85 crore has been allocated for the implementation of these programmes, out of which Tk. 11258.61 crore has been spent, was about 70 percent of the allocation.

Harmony in Cultivation and Food Sufficiency

This is imperative to maintain harmony in cultivation and attain self-sufficiency in food production crop diversification can also help earn foreign exchange and maintain environmental balance. There is a need for crop diversification to increase the production of pulse, oil seeds and tuber crops in comparison with rice production. The country used to cultivate many more crops in the past with special emphasis on rice. It is little self-sufficient in rice production, but not in other crops. Huge amount of foreign currency has to be spent for importing pulse, oil seeds and other crops. Huge amount of foreign currency could be earned and environmental balance could be maintained through crop diversification program. We can easily double our production capacity by our own technologies. We have to increase cropping intensity and production as crop area is shrinking day by day. Increasing trend of rice production is creating an imbalance situation and compelling the country to import pulses and oil seeds.

Crop production be profitable

Farmers will continue to expand growing Boro unless the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds are made profitable compared to Boro. To make the pulses and oilseeds as profitable as Boro at the present level of yields, mustard would need a price rise of about 60 percent, lentil and black gram about 100 percent and about 300 percent. Rice is grown on about 10.5 million hectares over three main growing seasons of the year. Out of this area, Boro covers more than 2.5 million hectares, which is about 25 percent of the total rice area and 27 percent of the cultivable area.

Ending

Even we are still increasing our crops production day by day with the use of modern technologies, many people are passing their days with Khali Pet (Hunger). We are eagerly waiting for those days will come soon when nobody would be passing in hungrily. For this we should aware about proper and modern cultivating of food grains for self-sufficiency and agricultural development as well as economic development.
[This is a personal proposal paper of me to reduce imports of crops and to increase crop production in Bangladesh based on geo-socio-economic conditions.]

PROPOSAL PAPER
Suitable geo- climatic condition for crop production
The soil, physiography and environment of Bangladesh are proved to be suitable for the production of range of rice, jute, vegetables, fruits, spices which have a ready market in the national and international in general. Production technologies are changing day to day. Introducing new varieties of hybrid crops production scenario of our country can be changed. Round year jute, tea, mango, jackfruit and lemon cultivation may be excellent cash crop fruits; furthermore, hybrid strains of fruits may be on trial. Success has been expreinced by many NGOs in introducing new varieties of cash crops in the region.

Scope for introduction of high value field crops

The modern varieties of field crops like rice (var BR 24, BR 26, BR 27), jute (BTD, Tossa) and green tea may be taken into account for more extension. In Bangladesh, scented coriander has been proved economically highly profitable crop.

Bad effects of present land use system is widely realised by the farmers
That the present unsuitable land use system is highly detrimental to environment and natural resources of Bangladesh is well understood by the both farmers and stakeholders. It is a good sign indicating presence of motivation with regard to land use system.

Constraints
In fact, a sustainable farming system development is closely associated with some on going constraints which should be addressed appropriately. 1. Serious lack of information as to the agricultural and natural resources, farming system, agricultural practices and their ecological effect is prevailing which reflects in policy making and project preparation. 2. There is no reliable statistics on rural cultivation. 3. Prevailing land disputes and land tenure insecurity. 4. Poor communication system of Bangladesh limits both extension other development activities in the region. 5. Due to poor marketing facility farmers often are deprived of fair prices for their produces.

6. It is experienced that in the peak period of season, markets of the region become full of traditional fruits. But in absence of storage facilities farmers are compelled to sell their products at uneconomic prices to the unscrupulous traders. 7. There is no agro-processing industry operating year round in the rural area. 8. Under staffed research and extension departments can not operate in full strength. 9. Research stations do not have sufficient on-farm research activities for the veritication of appropriate technologies they often prescribe. As a result, extension work is hampered. 10. Confidence between the line departments of government and farmer communities is not pleasant.

Recommendations
To overcome the above constraints the following recommendations may be considered: 1. Intensive benchmark surveys should be carried out by the research stations working in the rural area. So as to developing a baseline for undertaking need and problem-based development initiatives. 2. Crops cultivation should be brought under closer observation and should be observed not only from viewpoint of production unit but also from socio-cultural consideration. 3. Research activities should be strengthened with a view to developing newer technologies that will be economically viable, eco-compatible and socially acceptable. To achieve this goal on-farm and off-farm research work should be given equal emphasis. 4. Long, medium and short-term research efforts should be made to meet the challenges of time. 5. BRRI should be involved with a view to developing new rice cultivars specially adapted in the rainfed flood condition. 6. Agro-based industries should be established in a well-planned way so that it becomes economically viable and farm produces can be utilized. 7. To save the farmers from middlemen interference, agricultural marketing system should be improved. 8. Establishment of cold storages is necessary for seasonal crops preservation in the peak periods. 9. Land-use system development approach should include development of infrastructures and communication system as well. Otherwise, objectives of the system cannot be achieved. 10. Farming practices of same characteristics of other continents and countries (Vietnam, China) should also be observed closely and taken into account. Extensive motivational tours of both farmers and authorities concerned will give good results. 11. Land use system should include formation of crop-based belts. Special areas should be declared for special crops.

References
Inside Bangladesh Economy-Anu Mahmud

 Economic Review 2005-06 (Bangladesh)