The current government has placed a significant emphasis on agriculture, with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus advocating for a technology-driven approach to expand production, drawing inspiration from models like the Netherlands. This vision was articulated by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a conference organised by the Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) in Dhaka. The four-day event, titled “Investment in Agriculture and Food: Quality Agricultural Inputs, Processed Products, and Building Value Chains for Commercialisation,” underscored the critical role of political commitment in shaping the future of agriculture and food security in Bangladesh.
Alam highlighted the Netherlands as a benchmark, noting that despite its small size, the country exports $133 billion worth of farm goods annually. He stressed that Bangladesh, with its limited land resources, could similarly double or even triple its agricultural output. However, he cautioned that increased production alone is insufficient without mechanisms to protect small farmers from market fluctuations. Sudden surges in harvests, for instance, often lead to price drops, leaving farmers with inadequate returns. To mitigate this, Alam advocated for the development of small cold storage units, modern preservation systems, and new markets and export channels at the village level.
The interconnectedness of agriculture, politics, and global trade was a recurring theme in Alam’s address. He cited the China–US soybean dispute as an example, where Bangladesh’s import of soybeans from the United States drew the powerful US farm lobby’s attention, creating a new avenue for foreign policy engagement. Similarly, China has expressed interest in large-scale investment in Bangladesh’s jute sector, including joint ventures, technology transfer, and modern production facilities. If realised, this could lead to new jobs, higher export earnings, and a boost in the overall economic activity of Bangladesh’s jute industry.
Alam noted that traditional retting methods have discouraged farmers from continuing jute production, limiting progress in jute diversification. Chinese investors, however, are interested in processing one million tonnes of jute in Bangladesh to produce biofertiliser, energy, and affordable plastic alternatives. With the right technology, jute could regain a significant share of the global market.
Reflecting on the 1974 famine, Alam described it as the most devastating year in Bangladesh’s history, with recent research estimating that about 1.5 million people died. He attributed the severity of the famine to a lack of government capacity, weak reserves, global agricultural politics, and market system failures. Food hoarding and market instability exacerbated the crisis. Alam emphasised that the experience of 1974 has shaped policymaking in every government since, highlighting the importance of strong reserves, adequate stock, and the capacity to import quickly for food security.
Alam also addressed the challenges posed by rising salinity, shrinking cultivable land, and climate change. He called for investment in new varieties, new technologies, and sector-specific research. He criticised the destruction of farmland through unplanned housing, advocating for planned rural development to address this issue.
In conclusion, Alam emphasised that Bangladesh’s future is inseparable from agriculture. He stressed the need for food self-sufficiency, surplus production, and the protection of farmland and farmers, regardless of the political leadership. While acknowledging that Bangladesh may not become the Netherlands, he expressed confidence that with 10 years of focused effort, significant progress could be made.