Bangladesh targets sustainable, market-oriented agriculture by 2050
Govt prepares draft 'Transforming Bangladesh Agriculture: Outlook 2050'
Highlights:
- Studies conducted across 13 thematic areas
- Feasibility studies based on 2050 projections
- Consultations held in all 14 regions
- Seven-chapter plan with phased implementation
- 300,000 hectares targeted under good practices
- Pest management planned on 70% farmland
- Horticultural exports projected at $1 billion
- Monitoring system included for progress tracking
The government has drafted a comprehensive long-term plan aiming to transition the country's farming sector into a sustainable, innovation-driven, and highly productive industry by 2050.
The draft of the plan titled "Transforming Bangladesh Agriculture: Outlook 2050" was presented at a national workshop held at a hotel in Dhaka yesterday (28 January). The workshop was jointly organised by the agriculture ministry and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Participants were told that background studies were initially carried out across 13 thematic areas, including nutrition security, climate resilience, agricultural value addition, agricultural technology, agricultural education and skills development, and agricultural market management.
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FAO and UNDP provided technical support for these studies, and detailed strategies and targets have been set for each theme.
For each thematic area, feasibility studies were conducted based on data analysis, trend assessment and demand-supply projections up to 2050.
As part of the process, regional consultation meetings were held across all 14 agricultural regions of the country to reflect agro-ecological conditions, farming practices and market realities. These consultations, with participation from farmers and other stakeholders, identified regional priorities, implementation challenges and investment opportunities.
Plan structure and consultation process
The plan has been divided into seven chapters, covering the background and formulation process, the current state of the agriculture sector, future challenges and opportunities, supporting policies and regulatory frameworks, integrated findings from the 13 thematic studies, phased implementation plans, and an investment framework aligned with national plans. It also includes a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to track progress and allow necessary adjustments.
At the workshop, Abu Noman Faruq Ahmmed, a registered trainer of GlobalGAP and a professor at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, presented papers on GAP, SPS compliance, pest management and soil health.
He said the target is to bring 3,00,000 hectares of land under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification by 2028 to ensure food safety, while 70% of farmland is planned to be brought under integrated pest management and bio-pesticide use by 2050.
"To ensure safe food, we have set a target to bring three lakh hectares of land under GAP certification by 2028," Ahmmed said.
He added that soil health protection would focus on increasing soil organic matter, correcting salinity and acidity, and promoting balanced fertiliser use through digital soil health cards.
Long-term vision and implementation outlook
Addressing as chief guest, Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, "The transformation of agriculture over the next 25 years will play a key role in improving living standards, ensuring food security and advancing rural development."
He added that successful implementation of the plan would be important not only for agriculture, but also for the country's overall economic progress.
Officials involved in drafting the plan said the Outlook 2050 was prepared through a participatory process at both national and regional levels. The process included consultations with ministries and departments, research institutions, the Department of Agricultural Extension, policymakers, researchers, academics, professional and business organisations, agricultural entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, media professionals, farmer organisations and development partners.
They said multiple workshops and discussion meetings were held to reflect regional and national needs and challenges, adding that feedback from the national workshop would also be incorporated into the final document.
