Agriculture is the largest employment sector in Bangladesh, making up 14.2 percent of Bangladesh's GDP in 2017 and employing about 42.7 percent of the workforce. [1] The performance of this sector has an overwhelming impact on major macroeconomic objectives like employment generation, poverty alleviation, human resources development, food security, and other economic and social forces. A plurality of Bangladeshis earn their living from agriculture. Due to a number of factors, Bangladesh's labour-intensive agriculture has achieved steady increases in food grain production despite the often unfavorable weather conditions. [2] These include better flood control and irrigation, a generally more efficient use of fertilisers, as well as the establishment of better distribution and rural credit networks. [2]
Although rice and jute are the primary crops, maize and vegetables are assuming greater importance. [2] Due to the expansion of irrigation networks, some wheat producers have switched to cultivation of maize which is used mostly as poultry feed. [2] Tea is grown in the northeast. [2] Because of Bangladesh's fertile soil and normally ample water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year in many areas. [2] The country is among the top producers of rice (third), potatoes (seventh), tropical fruits (sixth), jute (second), and farmed fish (fifth). [3] [4] With 35.8 million metric tons produced in 2000, rice is Bangladesh's principal crop. In comparison to rice, wheat output in 1999 was 1.9 million tonnes (1,900,000 long tons; 2,100,000 short tons).
Population pressure continues to place a severe burden on productive capacity, creating a food deficit, especially of wheat. Foreign assistance and commercial imports fill the gap. Underemployment remains a serious problem, and a growing concern for Bangladesh's agricultural sector will be its ability to absorb additional manpower. [2] Finding alternative sources of employment will continue to be a daunting problem for future governments, particularly with the increasing numbers of landless peasants who already account for about half the rural labour force. [2] Other challenges facing the sector include environmental issues: insecticides, water management challenges, pollution, and land degradation all effect the agricultural system in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with extreme weather and temperature changes significantly changing the conditions for growing food. Adaptation of the agricultural sector is a major concern for policy addressing climate change in Bangladesh.
Although rice, wheat, mango and jute are the primary crops, rice and wheat are mostly main crops or food crops of some countries. [5] Due to the expansion of irrigation networks, some wheat producers have switched to cultivation of maize which is used mostly as poultry feed. [5] Tea is grown in the northeast. [5] Because of Bangladesh's fertile soil and normally ample water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year in many areas. [5] Due to a number of factors, Bangladesh's labour-intensive agriculture has achieved steady increases in food grain production despite the often unfavorable weather conditions. [5] These include better flood control and irrigation, a generally more efficient use of fertilizers, and the establishment of better distribution and rural credit networks. [5] With 28.8 million metric tons produced in 2005–2006 (July–June), rice is Bangladesh's principal crop. [5] By comparison, wheat output in 2005–2006 was 9 million metric tons. [5] Population pressure continues to place a severe burden on productive capacity, creating a food deficit, especially of wheat. [5] Foreign assistance and commercial imports fill the gap. [5] Underemployment remains a serious problem, and a growing concern for Bangladesh's agricultural sector will be its ability to absorb additional manpower. [5]
Food grains are cultivated primarily for subsistence. Only a small percentage of total production makes its way into commercial channels. Other Bangladeshi food crops, however, are grown chiefly for the domestic market. They include potatoes and sweet potatoes, with a combined record production of 1.9 million tons in FY 1984; oilseeds, with an annual average production of 250,000 tons; and fruits such as bananas, jackfruit, mangoes, and pineapples. Estimates of sugarcane production put annual production at more than 7 million tons per year, most of it processed into a coarse, unrefined sugar known as gur, and sold domestically.
Rice is Bangladesh's primary crop and staple food, dominating agricultural production, employment, nutritional intake, and contributing substantially to national income. [6] Since 2019, Bangladesh ranked as the third-largest producer of rice globally, [7] reaching about 39.1 million tonnes in 2023. [8] Rice is cultivated in three distinct seasons, [6] with the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute playing a significant role in researching and developing methods to improve its production. [9]
Wheat is the second major food grain of Bangladesh. [10] While historically not a major crop in Bangladesh, domestic wheat production hit a record high of 1.5 million tonnes in 1985, although still accounting for only 7 to 9 percent of total food grain production. [11] Since then, wheat production in Bangladesh has remained stagnant, with annual production of about 1 million tonnes, falling significantly short of the demand of 7 million tonnes. [12] The shortfall is met through imports, which have exceeded 6 million tonnes, amounting to $1.4–$2 billion in imports annually. [13] Wheat imports constitute the majority of imported food grains in the country. About half of Bangladesh's wheat is grown on irrigated land. [11]
Poultry farming in Bangladesh is the process of keeping various types of birds for meat, egg, feather, or sale. In Bangladesh, poultry birds are primarily used for meat and egg consumption.
The weather in Bangladesh is perfect for raising poultry, with several types of poultry birds having been domesticated for many years. As of 2017, about 300 billion taka was invested in the poultry industry, with an estimated 150,000 poultry farms in Bangladesh. [14] From 2 to 4 March 2017, Poultry Science Association Bangladeshi branch held the tenth International Poultry Show and Seminar in Bashundhara Convention centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh. [15] By 2019, significant further investments were noted in the sector. The farms produce 570 million tonnes of meat and 7.34 billion eggs annually. [16] Poultry feed is primarily made from imported soybean and soy meal. [17] The per capita consumption of meat and egg in Bangladesh remains below the level recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization. [18] The impact of Avian Influenza in 2007 and the COVID-19 pandemic has been detrimental to the poultry and associated feed industry in Bangladesh. The outbreak in 2007 resulted in the closure of two-thirds of all farms in Bangladesh. In March 2023, poultry farmers urged the government to set chicken and egg prices for the local market, highlighting the industry's significance in the country's economy [19] Notable figures in the poultry sector include Late Syed Hedayetullah and Phanindra Nath Saha, who developed the poultry sector with Aftab Bahumukhi Farms. [20]As of the end of 1987, prevailing methods for culturing shrimp in Bangladesh were still relatively unsophisticated, and average yields per hectare were low. [21] In the late 1980s, almost all inland shrimping was done by capture rather than by intensive aquaculture. [21] Farmers relied primarily on wild postlarval and juvenile shrimp as their sources of stock, acquired either by trapping in ponds during tidal water exchange or by gathering from local estuaries and stocking directly in the ponds. [21] Despite the seemingly low level of technology applied to shrimp aquaculture, it became an increasingly important part of the frozen seafood industry in the mid-1980s. [21] The shrimp farming industry in Bangladesh has been handicapped by low-quality and low prices.[ citation needed ]
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank financed projects to develop shrimp aquaculture in the 1980s. [21] Much of the emphasis was on construction of modern hatcheries. [21] Private investors were also initiating similar projects to increase capacity and to introduce modern technology that would increase average yields. [21] The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has provided assistance to the shrimp and fishing industry in meeting fish safety and quality control standards based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach. [22]
Shrimp in the wild are associated with mangroves. Mangrove estuaries such as those found in the Sundarbans of southwestern Bangladesh are especially rich productive ecosystems and provide the spawning grounds for shrimp and fish. [23] Intensive shrimp farming often involves conversion of mangrove stands to brine ponds where shrimp are grown. [24]Bangladesh is an important tea-producing country. It is the 12th [25] largest tea producer in the world. Its tea industry dates back to British rule, when the East India Company initiated the tea trade in the hills of the Sylhet region. [26] In addition to that, tea cultivation was introduced to Greater Chittagong in 1840. [27] Today, the country has 166 commercial tea estates, including many of the world's largest working plantations. [28] [29] The industry accounts for 3% of global tea production, and employs more than 4 million people. [30]
The tea is grown in the northern and eastern districts, the highlands, temperate climate, humidity and heavy rainfall within these districts provide a favourable ground for the production of high quality tea. [30]Bangladesh currently cultivates two varieties of coffee, namely Robusta and Arabica, in large scale in the hilly districts: Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Moulvibazar, while experimental cultivation takes place in Tangail, Rangpur, and Nilphamari, which feature flat terrain. [31] [32] [33]
Despite meeting 95 percent of its coffee demand through imports, [32] the country produced 55.75 tonnes of coffee on 118.3 hectares (1.183 km2) of land in the fiscal year 2019–2020, [33] with approximately 2,000 farmers engaged in coffee farming across seven districts of the country as of 2023. [31] The government has initiated projects aimed at promoting commercial coffee cultivation by providing training to interested farmers and establishing workshops and research centres in this regard. [32]
Coffee cultivation in independent Bangladesh, considered an emerging industry, commenced in the 1990s when the government distributed a limited number of coffee saplings to farmers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region for experimental purposes. [32] Subsequently, private initiatives were undertaken to commercialise coffee production. [31] In the early 19th century, British entrepreneurs established a coffee company in Chittagong, which flourished alongside tea plantations, but faced opposition from tea-focused investors and local resistance, ultimately leading to its decline and the loss of Chittagong's coffee cultivation legacy. [34]
Cashew nut cultivation primarily occurs in hilly areas of Bangladesh, with ongoing efforts aimed at expanding production to plains, including areas such as Jessore District. [35] The country produces approximately 1,500 tonnes of cashew fruits annually, engaging over 2,000 farmers in its cultivation. To encourage cashew production, the government has initiated projects and distributes free saplings among farmers. [36]
As of 2021, there are 12 factories across the country processing approximately 300 tonnes of cashew nuts each year. According to government officials, Bangladesh imports about 5,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts. [37] Additionally, 700 tonnes of processed cashew nuts are brought in annually, with plans to import raw nuts in large quantities and re-export after processing. [36]
Mustard oil production in Bangladesh rose by 3.35 lakh tones to 11.52 lakh tones this year, according to the agriculture ministry. Mustard oil output worth Tk 3,000 crore in Bangladesh. [38]
National sales of the classes of insecticide used on rice, including granular carbofuran, synthetic pyrethroids, and malathion exceeded 13,000 tons of formulated product in 2003. [39] Insecticides not only represent an environmental threat, but are a significant expenditure to poor rice farmers. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute is working with various NGOs and international organisations to reduce insecticide use in rice. [40]
In most countries like Bangladesh, yields from rain-fed agriculture was predicted to be reduced to 50% by 2020.[ citation needed ] For a country with increasing population and hunger, this will have an adverse effect on food security. Although the effects of climate change are highly variable, by 2030, South Asia could lose 10% of rice and maize yields, while neighboring states like Pakistan could experience a 50% reduction in crop yield.
As a result of all this, Bangladesh would need to prepare for long-term adaptation, which could be as drastic as changing sowing dates due to seasonal variations, introducing different varieties and species, to practicing novel water supply and irrigation systems. [41] : 230 Bangladeshi farmers have been adapting to rising water levels by making creative floating gardens which mesh water hyacinth plants with bamboo and fertilizer to provide a sturdy floating platform for agriculture, according to climate researcher Alizé Carrère. [42]
Being an agrarian society, people of Bangladesh are greatly dependent on various forms of agriculture. It is the main source of rural job in the country having over 87% people somewhat related to agri-based economy. [43] In 2016, according to World Bank, agriculture contributed to 14.77% of country's GDP. A steady increase in agricultural production with the use of modern equipment and scientific methods, agriculture has been a key driver to eradicate rural poverty in Bangladesh. The risk of sea level rising and global warming is the biggest challenge not only to country's agricultural improvement but also the success on poverty reduction.
As agricultural production is heavily related with temperature and rainfall, the current change in weather conditions is creating negative impact on crop yielding and the total area of arable land has been decreased. According to a report published by the Ministry of Environment and Forests - GoB, 1 degree Celsius increase in maximum temperature at vegetative, reproductive and ripening stages there was a decrease in Aman rice production by 2.94, 53.06 and 17.28 tons respectively. [44] Another major threat deriving from this factor is water salinity which directly affects rice production especially in the coastal part of Bangladesh. The same report state that, the country will lose 12-16% of its land if the sea level rises by 1 meter. These challenges lead to food scarcity and insecurity for the huge populace of the country. There are several adaptation measures which are practised to help cope with abnormal climactic conditions, such as resilient varieties of crops, diversification, change in cropping pattern, mixed cropping, improved irrigation facilities, adopting soil conservation, agroforestry and so on. [45]
A number of these measures have already been adapted by the government of Bangladesh and well practised throughout the country. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute has introduced a varieties of saline tolerant rices like BR-11, BR-23, BRRI rice -28, BRRI rice -41, BRRI rice -47, BRRI rice -53 and BRRI rice -54. In the drought prone areas, BR-11, BR-23, BRRI rice -28, BRRI rice -41, BRRI rice -47, BRRI rice -53 and BRRI rice -54 are used which take short time to cultivate. To make the best and efficient utilization of water the Department of Agricultural Extension has introduced 'Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). [44] The government also provide financial support to the affected farmers from different disasters and hazards
Agriculture is a major sector of the Nigerian economy, accounting for up to 35% of total employment in 2020. According to the FAO, agriculture remains the foundation of the Nigerian economy, providing livelihood for most Nigerians and generating millions of jobs. Along with crude oil, Nigeria relies on the agricultural products it exports to generate most of its national revenue. The agricultural sector in Nigeria comprises four sub-sectors: crop production, livestock, forestry, and fishing.
Roughly one-third of Iran's total surface area is suitable for farmland, but because of poor soil and a lack of adequate water distribution in many areas, most of it is not under cultivation. Only 12% of the total land area is under cultivation but less than one-third of the cultivated area is irrigated; the rest is devoted to dryland farming. Some 92 percent of agricultural products depend on water. The western and northwestern portions of the country have the most fertile soils. Iran's food security index stands at around 96 percent.
Agriculture is one of the dominant parts of Senegal's economy, even though Senegal lies within the drought-prone Sahel region. As only about 5% of the land is irrigated, Senegal continues to rely on rain-fed agriculture. Agriculture occupies about 75% of the workforce. Despite a relatively wide variety of agricultural production, the majority of farmers produce for subsistence needs. Millet, rice, corn, and sorghum are the primary food crops grown in Senegal. Production is subject to drought and threats of pests such as locusts, birds, fruit flies, and white flies. Moreover, the effects of climate change in Senegal are expected to severely harm the agricultural economy due to extreme weather such as drought, as well as increased temperatures.
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Agriculture in Indonesia is one of the key sectors within the Indonesian economy. In the last 50 years, the sector's share in national gross domestic product has decreased considerably, due to the rise of industrialisation and service sector. Nevertheless, for the majority of Indonesian households, farming and plantation remains as a vital income generator. In 2013, the agricultural sector contributed 14.43% to national GDP, a slight decline from 2003's contribution which was 15.19%. In 2012, the agricultural sector provides jobs to approximately 49 million Indonesians, representing 41% of the country's total labor force.
Agriculture is one of the main industries in Taiwan. It contributes to the food security, rural development and conservation of Taiwan. Around 24% of Taiwan's land is used for farming.
Agriculture is still an important sector of Turkey's economy, and the country is one of the world's top ten agricultural producers. Wheat, sugar beet, milk, poultry, cotton, vegetables and fruit are major products; and Turkey is the world's largest grower of hazelnuts, apricots, and oregano.
Agriculture in Ethiopia is the foundation of the country's economy, accounting for half of gross domestic product (GDP), 0
Agriculture employs the majority of Madagascar's population. Mainly involving smallholders, agriculture has seen different levels of state organisation, shifting from state control to a liberalized sector.
Uganda's favorable soil conditions and climate have contributed to the country's agricultural success. Most areas of Uganda have usually received plenty of rain. In some years, small areas of the southeast and southwest have averaged more than 150 millimeters per month. In the north, there is often a short dry season in December and January. Temperatures vary only a few degrees above or below 20 °C but are moderated by differences in altitude.
Agriculture in Algeria composes 25% of Algeria's economy and 12% of its GDP in 2010. Prior to Algeria’ colonization in 1830, nonindustrial agriculture provided sustenance for its population of approximately 2-3 million. Domestic agriculture production included wheat, barley, citrus fruits, dates, nuts, and olives. After 1830, colonizers introduced 2200 individual farms operated by private sectors. Colonial farmers continued to produce a variety of fruits, nuts, wheat, vegetables. Algeria became a large producer of wine during the late 19th century due to a crop epidemic that spread across France. Algeria's agriculture evolved after independence was achieved in 1962. The industry experienced multiple policy changes modernize and decry on food imports. Today, Algeria's agriculture industry continues to expand modern irrigation and size of cultivable land.
Benin is predominantly a rural society, and agriculture in Benin supports more than 70% of the population. Agriculture contributes around 35% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and 80% of export income. While the Government of Benin (GOB) aims to diversify its agricultural production, Benin remains underdeveloped, and its economy is underpinned by subsistence agriculture. Approximately 93% of total agricultural production goes into food production. The proportion of the population living in poverty is about 35.2%, with more rural households in poverty (38.4%) than urban households (29.8%). 36% of households depend solely upon agricultural (crop) production for income, and another 30% depend on crop production, livestock, or fishing for income.
Agriculture in Sudan plays an important role in that country's economy. Agriculture and livestock raising are the main sources of livelihood for most of the Sudanese population. It was estimated that, as of 2011, 80 percent of the labor force were employed in that sector, including 84 percent of the women and 64 percent of the men.
The role of agriculture in the Bolivian economy in the late 1980s expanded as the collapse of the tin industry forced the country to diversify its productive and export base. Agricultural production as a share of GDP was approximately 23 percent in 1987, compared with 30 percent in 1960 and a low of just under 17 percent in 1979. The recession of the 1980s, along with unfavorable weather conditions, particularly droughts and floods, hampered output. Agriculture employed about 46 percent of the country's labor force in 1987. Most production, with the exception of coca, focused on the domestic market and self-sufficiency in food. However, with increased industrial agriculture starting in the early 2000s, exportation of commodities such as quinoa has grown substantially and local consumption has declined. Foreign industries' introduction of new machinery, monoculture, and chemicals to Bolivian agriculture has shifted production further away from Indigenous farmers and created a larger dependence on foreign markets. Agricultural exports accounted for only about 15 percent of total exports in the late 1980s, depending on weather conditions and commodity prices for agricultural goods, hydrocarbons, and minerals.
Rice production in Bangladesh plays a critical role in the nation's economy, affecting various sectors and socioeconomic factors. As the primary crop and staple food, rice is central to agricultural production, employment, and nutritional needs. It is a major contributor to Bangladesh’s national income. With a production of approximately 39.1 million tonnes in 2023, Bangladesh is the third-largest rice producer globally.
Agriculture in Panama is an important sector of the Panamanian economy. Major agricultural products include bananas, cocoa beans, coffee, coconuts, timber, beef, chicken, shrimp, corn, potatoes, rice, soybeans, and sugar cane.
Agriculture in Spain is important to the national economy. The primary sector activities accounting for agriculture, husbandry, fishing and silviculture represented a 2.7% of the Spanish GDP in 2017, with an additional 2.5% represented by the agrofood industry.
Mozambique has a variety of regional cropping patterns; agro-climatic zones range from arid and semi-arid to the sub-humid zones to the humid highlands. The most fertile areas are in the northern and central provinces, which have high agro-ecological potential and generally produce agricultural surpluses. Southern provinces have poorer soils and scarce rainfall, and are subject to recurrent droughts and floods.
Agriculture is the main part of Tanzania's economy. As of 2016, Tanzania had over 44 million hectares of arable land with only 33 percent of this amount in cultivation. Almost 70 percent of the rich population live in rural areas, and almost all of them are involved in the farming sector. Land is a vital asset in ensuring food security, and among the nine main food crops in Tanzania are maize, sorghum, millet, rice, wheat, beans, cassava, potatoes, and bananas. The agricultural industry makes a large contribution to the country's foreign exchange earnings, with more than US$1 billion in earnings from cash crop exports.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . Country Studies. Federal Research Division.