Unregulated, untested fertiliser use threatening soil health, food security: Experts

Highlights:

• Excessive pesticide and fertiliser use declining soil quality
• Farmers largely use fertiliser based on guesswork
• Farmland is under pressure from urbanisation
• Calls for certifying fertiliser dealers

Experts and development practitioners, along with scientists and field-level professionals, have raised alarm over the declining health of Bangladesh's soil, citing untested and indiscriminate fertiliser use by farmers as a direct threat to sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and national food security.

The warning came at a roundtable discussion titled "Soil to Sustainability: Promoting Regenerative Agriculture," jointly organised by The Business Standard, Heifer International Bangladesh, and Daffodil International University at the TBS office in Eskaton Garden, Dhaka, today (25 June). 

The event was moderated by TBS Associate Editor Saleem Ahmed.

Also present at the meeting were Member Director (Natural Resource Management) of BARC Dr Md Baktiar Hossain, Director-Training Wing (DAE), Dhaka Md Belal Uddin, PSO-SRDI, Dhaka Md Jainal Abedin, PSO-SRDI, Jashore Md. Motasim Ahmmed and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Professor Mohammad Issak.     

Heifer, in collaboration with Daffodil International University, has produced a scientific report analysing current soil conditions in Bangladesh and recommending remedial action.

Speaking as the chief guest, Begum Samia Sultana, director general of the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), said, "We have comprehensive soil test data for every upazila and union, and these are being used at the field level through a software to guide fertiliser recommendations."

"But farmers often use fertilisers without proper knowledge or understanding. We want them to use accurate information available on our website or through union-level facilitators," she said.

"Our goal is to ensure that farmers know exactly what amount of fertiliser is needed for which crop and variety before they begin cultivation. We are always here to support our farmers," she added.

She also noted that the SRDI operates 24 permanent and 10 mobile soil testing labs and has introduced an online fertiliser recommendation system that provides crop- and location-specific guidance to farmers.

Soil degradation, farmer empowerment, unchecked fertiliser use

Nurun Nahar, country director of Heifer International Bangladesh, stressed that food safety and farmer income are closely tied to soil health. 

"We've long neglected our soil – excessive pesticides, chemical fertilisers, and unscientific farming practices have all taken a toll and we are now facing the consequences," she said. 

"Soil health is deeply connected not only to food and nutrition security but also to human and animal health. It is time we become more responsible toward our soil," she noted.

She urged collaboration across government agencies, NGOs, academia, development partners, and the media to create an integrated approach to soil preservation.

Md Nazmus Shaydut Naheed, head of operations at Grameen Euglena, said, "In Japan, where we export agricultural products under a public-private partnership model, food safety is the top priority. Without caring for soil, food safety cannot be ensured."

He also noted that local farmers still cannot set the price of their produce independently and must rely on middlemen. "In developed countries, farmer associations determine prices themselves. Strengthening farmer organisations here is essential."

Md Mamunur Rahman, chief scientific officer at SRDI, highlighted the pressure on farmland from housing, roads, and industrial development. "We must first stop the loss of farmland. Without land, all soil health efforts will be in vain."

He noted that farmers mostly use three types of fertilisers – urea, TSP, and MOP – often based on guesswork. "There's a common belief that more fertiliser equals more yield. But without soil testing, overuse damages soil health, threatening agriculture and food security."

Shamol Biswas, a farmer from Jashore, said he changed his farming practices after receiving training from SRDI with support from Heifer. "I've been farming for 20 years. I used to apply fertiliser blindly, but now I test the soil first. This has reduced my costs and increased my yield," he said. 

Locals now refer to him as the "Soil Doctor", he added.

Recommendations for regenerative agriculture

Several participants recommended certifying trained fertiliser dealers, offering performance-based recognition for farmers, and expanding union-level service centres. Subsidies for organic farming and vermicomposting were also proposed.

Dr Mohammad Issak, professor at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, presented research titled "Exploring the Soil Health Conditions in Promoting Regenerative Agriculture in Jashore."

"Our research highlights crucial recommendations for improving soil health and sustainable practices. We need multi-stakeholder collaboration—not just government efforts. A decentralised, accessible soil testing system at the union level is vital," he said.

He also advocated for developing skilled agri-entrepreneurs, incentivising best practices through awards like "Best Farming Practice" or "Soil Health Champion," and improving staff availability at grassroots levels. Soft loans and financial incentives could help farmers adopt eco-friendly methods, he added.

TBS Associate Editor Saleem Ahmed concluded, "Soil is not just a medium for growing food – it stores water, supports billions of organisms, and is a key carbon sink. History shows that civilisations that protected their soil survived.

"Ninety-five percent of our food comes from soil, yet we lose 24 billion tonnes of fertile topsoil globally each year. In this context, regenerative agriculture isn't just sustainable—it's revolutionary. It plays a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, reducing chemical use, and mitigating the impacts of climate change." 

Other participants included Royal Danish Embassy Trade Adviser Sakib MMI Chowdhury; Palash Kumar Kundu, deputy director of Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF); and Md Jahidul Islam, senior agricultural marketing officer at the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM).