Over half of country's farmland unsustainable, Sylhet and Barishal lag far behind: BBS survey
The Productive and Sustainable Agriculture Survey 2025, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, found that 55.63% of farmland is producing far below its potential.
Highlights
- 55.63% of Bangladesh farmland remains unsustainable
- Rajshahi (50.58%) and Mymensingh (50.42%) lead in sustainability
- Sylhet (24.75%), Barishal (34.17%), Chattogram (42.73%) lag behind
- Khulna shows highest agricultural profitability at 56.36%
- Sylhet has lowest desirable farmland at 0.31%
- 98.82% of farmland remains food secure
More than half of Bangladesh's agricultural land is being farmed at unsustainable levels, causing low productivity, finds a new survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), raising concerns about long-term food security and resilience.
The Productive and Sustainable Agriculture Survey 2025, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, found that 55.63% of farmland is producing far below its potential. In other words, more than half of the country's farmland is underperforming, suggesting that current farming methods, resource use, or farm management are not maximising output.
By contrast, 44.37% of farmland was classified as productive and sustainable. Within this group, only 1.20% of farmland reached the "desirable" category, representing the most efficient farms in the country.
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Meanwhile, 43.17% fell into the "acceptable" range, indicating moderate productivity. These farms are performing reasonably well but have room to improve through better techniques, technologies, and resource management.
Divisional performances in sustainable agriculture
The survey revealed significant regional differences. Rajshahi (50.58%) and Mymensingh (50.42%) performed above the national average, showing that over half of their farmland is sustainably managed.
Sylhet (24.75%), Barishal (34.17%), and Chattogram (42.73%) were below average, highlighting divisions that require targeted interventions. Dhaka division had the highest share of "desirable" farmland at 1.59%, suggesting pockets of high productivity, whereas Sylhet lagged at just 0.31%.
Urban agricultural areas showed a polarised pattern: many plots exceeded the "desirable" category, but numerous others fell below the acceptable range. Rural areas, in contrast, had more consistent, moderate productivity, reflecting steadier but not exceptional performance.
Khulna farmlands lead profitability race amid environmental stress
The survey assessed 11 sub-indicators under SDG 2.4.1, which tracks sustainable management of farmland across economic, environmental, and social dimensions.
It found that 78.79% of farmland was profitable at least once between 2022 and 2024, showing that while many farms generate income, consistent profitability is limited. Khulna led in consistent profitability at 56.36%, while Sylhet trailed at 21.89%.
Environmental stress remains a concern: 72.75% of farmland is managed on degraded land, signalling pressure on soil health.
Water stability was higher, with 81.66% of farmland reporting reliable water access, a positive sign for agricultural resilience.
Adoption of recommended sustainable practices is moderate: 56.95% of farms follow at least two suggested farming techniques, while 51.37% manage pesticides sustainably.
In terms of biodiversity, 71.05% of farmland uses practices that support ecological balance, indicating awareness of environmental stewardship.
Paying fair wages: Chattogram leads, Sylhet trails
On the social side, 60.12% of farmland pays unskilled labour at or above the national agricultural wage. Chattogram led at 54.45%, reflecting better labour compensation, whereas Sylhet lagged at 14.86%.
Encouragingly, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) sub-indicator showed 98.82% of farmland or households are considered food-secure, reflecting strong progress in addressing hunger and improving access to food.
The BBS said the survey provides the first official statistics on Bangladesh's progress towards SDG 2.4.1, giving a benchmark for farmland under sustainable management. Field data were collected between 20 January and 5 March 2025.
While the survey shows gains in profitability, wages, and food security, it also highlights that more than half of the country's farmland is economically unsustainable and underperforming. Experts say this calls for targeted interventions, especially in divisions like Sylhet and Barishal, to improve resilience and secure long-term food production.
A BBS official, speaking anonymously, noted that smallholder farming dominates Bangladesh, with over 90% of farmers operating small plots, often not on a commercial scale. "Initiatives must focus on subsectors with the highest levels of unsustainability," the official said. "Agriculture must be developed in ways that make it sustainable for farmers themselves."
