What Measures is to be taken for development of Agriculture?

It is expected that combined efforts of the government and people can solve the present problems of our agriculture. The following measures can be prescribed for removing the bottlenecks of our agriculture:

1. Reduction of dependence on Nature: In order to ensure mechanized cultivation and more production, irrigation facilities need be provided during dry season. Keeping this view in mind, water resources of the rives and canals of the country need be economically used to achieve the production target. Vast wasteland can be brought under cultivation by operating different irrigation projects and plans. It may open a new era of production, if necessary irrigation can be provided through hand and power-driven machines, deep and shallow tube-wells and other indigenous methods.
2. Flood Control: Flood control mechanism of Bangladesh is very weak. Necessary steps should be taken to construct embankment on both sides of the river, dredge to remove abstention, construct barrage on the upstream to protect external water, stop the flow of saline water in the southern part, increase the depth of rivers and canals, stop construction of unplanned roads and highways etc.
3. Introduction of Collective Farming: The law of inheritance has been executed in Bangladesh with the increased populations. This is raising demand of the successors. A piece of land is being sub-divided many times making its size smaller. This law of inheritance created problems for mechanization of agriculture. Size of holding needs be large for its cultivation by power tillers. It is also a very difficult task to withhold the law of inheritance. It is, therefore, necessary to motivate the cultivators about the benefits of collective farming. Necessary laws may also be formulated for the same.
4. Loan at Low Interest: Adequate capital is necessary for properly carrying out agricultural activities. But the rural people of Bangladesh since live below the poverty level, they cannot apply required inputs in their land. Therefore, production targets are seldom achieved. This situation can improve, if necessary loan is provided to the cultivators at low rate of interest and reasonable terms and conditions. It is, therefore, essential to expand the activities of loan disbursing societies and the Krishi Banks. Success of this program also partially depends on the loan disbursing agencies/ persons.
5. Subsidy: Subsidy needs be provided to the cultivators to procure different agricultural inputs like fertilizer, pesticides etc. This would help the cultivators procure necessary inputs at low prices to be applied in their lands. In spite of pressure from the donor agencies against subsidy, it should be continued. The Government is very much in favor of it. In this 2011-12 fiscal year. The amount of tk. 5700 core has been year marked as agricultural subsidy.
6. Pests Control: The local administrative machinery should be more active than the cultivators for pest control.  When the poor cultivators fail to adopt pest control measure because of financial crisis, local chairman, member or any other government representative from ‘Gram Sarker’ should come forward for their help. In addition, Agriculture council may be constituted in every village to work as auxiliary machinery not as an alternative to local administration for the development of agriculture. This council will concentrate its work only on agricultural development.
7. Modernization of Agriculture: Scientific cultivation can triple the current production; it is necessary to lunch scientific method of cultivation countrywide. In order to mechanize agriculture as well as raise production, new technologies commensurate to environment different inputs including green manure, cow dung manure, ashes or even the ‘Sharna’ fertilizer or Dr. Abdul Khaleque may be evolved. Application of this manure will reduce cost of production to a considerable extent. Requirement of ‘Sharna’ fertilizer per bigha has been estimated 800 grams only as against that of chemical fertilizer of 52 kilograms. That is, the above mentioned quantity of chemical fertilizer will cost Tk. 1000.00 while that of ‘Sharna’ will stand at tk. 105.00 only. The same will not only minimize the cost of production, but also increase the volume of production to the tune of 22 manuals per bigha. Utilization of ‘Sharna’ is scientifically known as the ‘Fight Hormon Catalyst’. The specialists expect that the application of ‘Sharna’ fertilizer can bring about a revolutionary change in agricultural production of Bangladesh.
8. Education and Training on Agriculture: Rural cultivators need be provided with necessary education and training on different fields of agriculture, especially for the use of machinery, application of fertilizer, pest control and other related matters. Mass media may also be utilized for the purpose.
9. Difficulties in Storage: Difficulties in Storage: The farmers face difficulties in preserving their commodities for the whole year due to lack of proper storage facilities. They can preserve only a small chunk of commodities in their dwelling houses and have to sell out the balance quantity immediately after harvest. Necessary initiatives both by government and private sectors need be taken for construction of store houses to help the producers.
10. Defective Marketing System: Transport and communication system of Bangladesh has not yet been developed to a desired level. For want of inadequate number of vehicles and undeveloped means of communication, perishable commodities are not timely transported from one place to another and as a result, these are damaged. This necessities for increased number of vehicles as well as developed means of communication.
11. Elimination of Middlemen: The illiterate rural farmers have to take the help of middlemen for marketing their products. These middlemen are very deep-rooted. The farmers can be saved from the clutches of these middlemen provided the government laws are properly enforced.
12. Amendment of the Tenancy System: The government should strictly play its role to execute the Tenancy Act; otherwise the poor farmers will be exploited by the rich landlords.