Minister
Ministry of Agriculture Food, and disaster
Management & Relief Government of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
MESSAGE
It is my pleasure to know that the Department of Agricultural Extension has updated the New Agricultural Extension Policy (1996) as National Agricultural Extension Policy (2012) addressing the key constraints, emerging issues and strategic shifts of agriculture sector in the context of present global scenario to maintain food security of rapidly growing population.
The Policy emphasizes on integrated extension service. In order to achieve the mission and vision of the Policy, the public and private Agricultural Extension Services will play an increasingly important role in motivating, educating and assisting farmers to adopt improved farming practices leading to increased farm production.
I believe that the National Agricultural Policy (NAEP) will create an enabling environment for continued growth in food production and commercial crops and contribute to enhance farmers’ income and growth of agro-based industry through proper utilization of existing resource base, organizing farmers and developing market linkages of agricultural produce.
I hope that the Policy will support the Government’s priority to agricultural development as a means of poverty alleviation and socio-economic emancipation.
(Matia Chowdhury)
Secretary mwPe
Ministry of Agriculture Government of the
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FOREWORD
The agriculture sector including crop, livestock and fisheries contributes over 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product in Bangladesh and provide employment to nearly 80 of its people. The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is committed to the continuous development of agriculture and its sustainability to maintain food security of a progressively increasing population and socio-economic emancipation of its people through high value agriculture and value addition through agro-industrialization. In this endeavor, updating the New Agricultural Extension Policy (1996) as National Agricultural Extension Policy (2012) is a very timely effort.
The National Agricultural Extension Policy concentrates on decentralized and demand-led extension to meet farmers’ needs, emphasizes on coordinated extension service delivery and encourages effective research-extension-farmer linkages.
The National Agricultural Extension Policy has set the principles outlined strategies for the effective functioning of public and private extension service providers through creation of National Agricultural Extension System (NAES) with the Department of Agricultural Extension as the Lead Agency. The policy “seeks to ensure that effective co-ordination is established to increase the efficiency of agricultural extension”. The key to successful implementation of the policy lies in forging a broad–based understanding amongst extension providers, farmers and other stakeholders.
I believe that the policy will enable all extension providers and agencies to work more closely with farmers and other organizations for agricultural development in the country in the light of lesson learned from the National Agricultural Technology Project.
I hope that a sound implementation strategy will be formulated within a very short time and the policy is made operational.
(Monjur Hossain) Secretary
Table of Contents
Section PageI Acronym ii II Executive Summary iii III Background 1
IV Key Constraints of the Sector 1
V Emerging Policy Perspectives 3
VI Other Driving Policies 4
VII Mission 5
VIII Vision 5
IX Key Objectives of the Policy 5
X Strategic Shifts and Guiding Principles 5
XI Components of the Policy 7
Annexes
Annex-1. Map of Bangladesh showing Bio-ecological and Agro-ecological 13
Zones, ecologically constrained areas, poverty and nutritional status
Annex-2 Constraints and Technology Gaps Matrix in the Agriculture Sector in 14 Bangladesh
I. Acronym
- AEZ Agro Ecological Zones
- AWD Alternate Wetting and Drying
- BADC Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation
- BBS Bangladesh Bureau Statistics
- BCCSAPBangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
- CIP Country Investment Plan
- DAE Department of Agriculture Extension
- DAECC District Agricultural Extension Coordination Committee
- DLS Department of Live Stock
- DOF Department of Fisheries
- DTW Deep Tube Well
- FG Farmers Group
- FIAC Farmers Information and Advice Centre
- FO Farmers Organization
- GAP Good Agricultural Practices
- GB General Body
- GDP Gross Domestic Product
- HID Human Institution Development
- HQ Head Quarter
- HYV High Yielding Variety
- ICT Information and Communication Technology
- IPM Integrated Pest Management
- MIS Management Information System
- MSE Mini and Small Entrepreneur
- NAECC National Agricultural Extension Coordination Committee
- NAEP New Agricultural Extension Policy
- NAEPICC National Agricultural Extension Policy Implementation and Coordination Committee
- NAES National Agricultural Extension System
- NARS National Agricultural Research System
- NDMP National Disaster Management Plan
- NFP National Food Policy
- NGO Non Government Organization
- NIB National Institute of Biotechnology
- PLA Participatory Learning and Action
- PM&E Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
- PPP Public-Private-Partnership
- PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal
- RPRA Rapid and Participatory Rural Appraisal
- SES Specialist Extension Services
- SESP Specialist Extension Service Provider
- SME Small and Medium Entrepreneur
- STW Shallow Tube Well
- UAECC Upazila Agricultural Extension Coordination Committee
II. Executive Summary
This document presents a revised National Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) which sets extension policy directions for transferring technologies to crop, fisheries and livestock sector development. Here, key elements of lesson learnt from existing policy, macroeconomic scenario, agro ecology /bio-ecological zones and current issues in agriculture such as natural disaster, production stagnation, land ownership and tenancy, poor soil health status, decreasing agricultural land, irrigation water scarcity, lack of good agricultural practices, high demand of quality seeds/planting materials etc., livestock and fishery issues including emerging challenges and perspectives have been pointed out for strong consideration. In light of these elements, this policy document has been formulated.
The mission of this NAEP is to provide efficient and effective decentralized demand responsive integrated extension services to all categories of farmers, producers and small & medium entrepreneur (SME) in agriculture through farmers group (FG) and their federations at union, upazila, district and national level, to enable them to optimize their use of resources, in order to promote sustainable agricultural, agri-business and socio-economic development.
Wide range of people directly and indirectly involved in agricultural growth will be benefited from NAEP. The primary beneficiaries of the policy are: all categories of farmers, especially the small and marginal farmers comprising about 86% of the farming community through “Farmers Group” and their federations (Farmers Organization-FO) at union, upazila, district and national level.
The NAEP is built on nine (9) key principles:
- Increasing production (horizontal and vertical) and productivity as a whole;
- Cost effective efficient decentralized demand responsive extension services;
- Targeting and mobilizing farmers group (FG) and their federations (FO);
- Bottom-up planning and implementation;
- Coordinated and integrated extension services through NAES;
- Development of agri-business and contract farming for export promotion;
- Adoption to climate change and development of specialized extension service for climatically distressed areas;
- Broad based extension support (in-time input support and subsidies, credit, price enhancement etc.); and
- Digitalized agricultural extension services (e-agriculture).
The goal of the National Agricultural Extension Policy is to: “Encourage the various partners and agencies within the National Agricultural Extension System (NAES) to provide efficient and effective coordinated services which complement and reinforce each other, in an effort to increase the efficiency and productivity of agriculture in Bangladesh for ensuring food security and business development”.
To achieve the above goal in relation to different agriculture related policies of Bangladesh, the NAEP includes following key pillars:
- Provision of coordinated and integrated extension services through “NAES”
- Support to farmers groups (FG) and their federation (Farmers Organizations)
- Targeting, mobilizing, capacity building and registration of “Farmers Group”
- Implementation of market-led, demand responsive, pluralistic, decentralized bottom-up extension system
- Development and Strengthening FIAC as “One-Stop Service Center”
- Support to development of agri-business and market linkage
- Digitalized agriculture (e-agriculture)
- Strengthening research-extension-farmers linkages
- Strengthening biotechnological development and adoption
10.Information dissemination and extension methodologies
11.Advocacy and policy guidance
12.Strengthening urban agriculture
13.Disaster management and adoption to climate change
14.Specialist Extension Services (SES) for climatically distressed areas
15.Strengthening “Public-Private-Partnership (PPP)” in Agricultural Extension
16.Strengthening supply of quality seeds and other inputs
17.Emphasizing organic farming/ green farming
18.Mainstreaming women in agriculture
19.Private sector development
20.Emphasizing homestead gardening
21.Thrust on farm mechanization
22.Efficient and effective dissemination of technology
23.Industry linkage for enhancing agro-based industries
24.Credit & Insurance
25.Role of Extension Worker
26.Strengthening Monitoring and evaluation
Therefore, this NAEP will enhance as well as ensure the capability of the concerned extension departments of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL) to play strategic role in the light of new and emerging challenges for national development in sustainable manner.
Bangladesh: National Agricultural Extension Policy 1996, revised in2012
[Draft for discussion]
III. Background
- Agriculture in Bangladesh is unique as it is sustained by the world’s largest deltaic planes characterized by natural flooding at the confluence of three mighty river systems of the world, the Padma (Ganges), Jamuna (Brahmaputra) and Meghna which together with about 800 rivers and tributaries draining into Bay of Bengal. The sector is responsible for feeding about 151.5 million people (2.54 percent of the world’s population), making the country largely food secure. Since independence in 1971 the food production has increased three fold. The primary sector continues to be the economic foundation of the country with 85 percent of the total population dependent on agriculture, contributing 20 percent of the total GDP and reasonably growing at about 4 percent per annum.
- The performance of the sector assumes criticality due to persistent pressure on it to produce 0.3 million tones of additional food to feed about two million new mouths every year. In addition to the ever increasing demands from the swelling population, the sector has to support the livelihoods of 18 million farm households, 70 percent of whom owns less than ‘3 bighas’ (0.4 hectares) of land. The situation is compounded by the fact that about 45 percent of the farm households are poor and about 53 percent are virtually landless who depend on the sector for employment. Development of the sector assumes greater significance in reducing poverty especially in rural Bangladesh. In addition the sector is highly vulnerable to climate change consequences of increasing frequencies of prolonged droughts, devastating floods and irreversible aftermaths of salinity intrusion.
- The geo-physical and bio-climatic setting together with the socio-economic and environmental demands call for a paradigm shift in agricultural extension for the country. Government of Bangladesh synthesized this National Agricultural Extension Policy benchmarked on the long term impacts on agricultural production, well-being of rural communities and environmental sustainability in addition to mitigating the adverse effects of climate change challenges.
IV. Key Constraints of the Sector
- The Agricultural Extension Policy has been drawn up to strategically address the following key challenges of the current production systems and aim for a rebound and turnaround of the agricultural sector.
- Proneness to Natural Disasters: About 6 geographic zones of the country have been identified as ecologically constrained areas; (i) Persistent droughts resulting from erratic rainfall in north western and western parts, (ii) Increasingly frequent and severe floods in
the central part, (iii) Flash floods in northern and eastern parts, (iv) Salinity intrusion in to south western and south central part, (v) erratic rainfall in Chittagong Hills and (vi) Tropical cyclones and storm surges in the coastal areas, which together constitute about 41 percent of area of the country.
- Increasing Pressure of Population on Land:The net area available for cultivation is declining due to conversion of agricultural land to non agricultural uses for varied needs of the growing population. The annual average rate of decline has been around 28.8 thousand hectares making the current cultivated area to 7.94 million hectares (2009). The cropping intensity is at 181 percent.
- Preponderance of Tiny, Marginal and Small Holders:The average size of own land declined significantly to 0.28 hectares (2008). Marginal farmers who cultivate 0.5 to 1.49 acres are about 24 percent and small farmers who cultivate 1.50 to 2.49 acres are about 11 percent. The proportions of landless who have tiny holdings less than 0.49 hectares are a majority 53 percent. The proportions of medium farmers who cultivate 2.5 to 7.49 acres are only 11 percent and large farmers who cultivate over 7.5 acres are a miniscule 1 percent. The tiny, marginal and small holders rent in land under share cropping arrangement, who are called ‘barga chashis’ are common across the country. Inequality in access to and tenure of land act as disincentive for sustainable investments practices and usage.
- Issues in Input Supply:Lack of timely supply of adequate quantities of quality seeds, appropriate fertilizers and plant protection chemicals at fairprices continue to constrain the production system.
- Degrading Soil Health:Rising cropping intensity, poor fertilizer and water management, recurrent floods and drought situations have led to depletion of soil nutrients, declining soil organic matter contents and overall soil degradation.
- Shortage of Working Capital:Use of modern technology, irrigation and improved varieties make the production system capital intensive. The already resource poor tiny, marginal and small holders find it difficult to access the banking system for investing in productive assets and operations due to governance issues, stringent collateral requirements, complex procedures and exorbitant interest rates. The micro finance activities are neither adequate nor friendly to the not so credit worthy poor holders.
- Food Safety Issues:Indiscriminate use of chemicals and pesticides raise issues of safe production of produce causing concerns of health hazards to human, livestock and fisheries. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices though have been initiated but limited knowledge and availability of the inputs are limiting wide spread application. Also there isno approved Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in Bangladesh or “Bangla GAP” standards ensuring quality agricultural product with tolerable level of traceability for export market as well as domestic consumption.
- Inefficient Use and Scarcity of Irrigation Water:About 6.36 million hectares is under irrigation and Boro rice is the main irrigated crop. Inefficient use of water and unwise lifting of underground water fosters the depletion of underground water, which causes drawdown, salinity intrusion and unavailability of irrigation water as well as drinking water. On the other hand, high siltation of the rivers and water bodies, and low rainfall lead to low recharge of aquifers leading to drawdown problems and scarcity of irrigation water. Improper fielding of Shallow Tube Wells and Deep Tube Wells and inefficient use of surface water also causes scarcity of irrigation water.
- Slow Mechanization in Agriculture: Scarcity of draft power necessitates increased use of mechanical power and machines in agricultural production system. The desired level of mechanization could not be achieved due to limited capital or credit facilities coupled with fuel and energy cost.
- Skewed Focus on Cereal Crops: Though self sufficient in food production, cereal production has been remaining stagnant. Diversification of the production system focusing on increased production of high value crops and value added enterprises are still to catch up. Extension activities narrowly focus on productivity and production enhancement with very little attention on improving producer’s access to markets and removing constraints in developing farm enterprises and agribusiness.
- Lack of Orchestrated Management of Sub Sector Activities:Crop, livestock and fisheriesconverge at the farm level, with most of the farmers following integrated farming approach, the extension agencies plan their activities and functions separately for the key sub sectors. The need for coordinated functioning of the three extension agencies is the need of the hour for strengthening integrated farming systems and to achieve farmer level synergies.
V. Emerging Policy Perspectives
- Policy Guidelines in the past and innovative programs being implemented like National Agricultural Technology Project, have already brought about path breaking improvements in the sector. The strategic shift and directions of change have already set in. The new Agricultural Extension Policy will build on these emerging perspectives and potentials already demonstrated.
- Increasing Public Investment in Agriculture Sector: The public investment for extension support has gradually increased to 1.22 percent of the AGDP.
- Priority setting of the Research Agenda:The thematic areas for pursuing agricultural research and technology development have been identified and prioritized through wider stakeholder consultations including farmers. An innovative and competitive model for inviting, screening, funding and monitoring research proposals is in place and promising appropriate technologies are being developed, validated and disseminated among farmers through Extension.
- Amendments to the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council Act:BARC act has been amended for improving the governance, management and development of the National Agricultural Research System for achieving an impedance match among the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and emerging threats of the primary sector and making it more responsive to national priorities.
- Farmer Group based Demonstration and Adoption: Mobilization and development of Common Interest Groups of farmers, are working as the village level hubs for demonstrating newer and improved technologies. These specialized crop fisheries and livestock farmer institution have been gradually achieving widespread adoption among farmers within the groups and outside.
- Decentralized One Stop Extension Unit at Union Level: Housed within the new Union Parishad Complex, Farmer Information and Advisory Centers (FIAC) are emerging as the local extension units providing integrated advisory services on crop, livestock and fisheries to all categories of farmers.
- Supply chain Activities for High Value Agriculture:Though on a pilot basis, initiatives are under way to develop and tap the potential of promising high value crops with a clear focus on farm based livelihood development and income improvements through crop diversification and market linkage.
- Bottom up Micro Extension Planning: Extension activities are being systematized and streamlined with the preparation of Micro Extension Plans for Farmer Groups, its gradual consolidation and aggregation at union level and upazilla level. The implementation of micro extension plan follows a coordinated arrangement among Agriculture (DAE), Livestock (DLS) and Fisheries (DOF) departments.
VI. Other Driving Policies
24.The Agriculture Extension Policyis synthesized within the context of and drawing lessons from the following policy framework and approaches already in operation.
- National Agricultural Policy - 1999
- National Food Policy - 2006
- Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan-2008
- National Seed Policy
- Flood Action Plan
- National Disaster Management Plan (2007 - 2015)
- Country Investment Plan - 2010
- Perspective Plan (2010 - 2021)
- National Livestock Policy - 2007
- National Fisheries Policy - 1998
VIII. Mission
25.The mission of National Agricultural Extension Policy is to provide efficient, effective, coordinated and de-centralized, demand responsive and integrated extension services to help farmers in Bangladesh access and utilize better know how, improve productivity, optimize profitability and ensure sustainability thereby ensuring the well being of their families.
IX. Vision
26.The vision is to become self reliant to meet the entire food demand of its population as well as competitively produce high value produces for global markets with the objectives of alleviating rural poverty, maintaining nutritional standards, accelerating economic growth and sustaining natural resources.
X. Key Objectives of the Policy
27.Considering the Constraints and Emerging Policy Perspectives, the objectives of the Extension Policy is to
- Improve the productivity and production of primary food crops to sustain National Food Security
- Increase farm income and employment through increased diversification of the sector with high value crops and farm enterprises linked with domestic and international markets
- Improve longer term sustainability of the use and conservation of Natural Resources including mitigation of climate change induced vulnerabilities.
- Mobilize, build and develop farmer groups and organizations for better access to technologies, information and markets through aggregation, economies of scale and building social capital.
- Help alleviate poverty among tiny, small and marginal farmers including removal of nutritional imbalances and ensuring food safety.
Strategic Shifts and Guiding Principles
- The National Agriculture Extension Policy draws from the fore-going constraint analysis and derives the following strategic approaches considering the competitive and strategic advantages for Bangladesh.
- Differentiated Approach to Suit Location Specific Demands: Depending upon the biological diversity, climate variability, land forms, land use and soils, the country is sub divided in to agro-ecological zones. In addition, there are ecologically constrained areas resulting from proneness to natural disasters and emerging vulnerabilities from climate change issues. The concentration and spread of poverty and incidence of malnutrition among rural masses vary across the length and breadth of the country. This policy recognizes a zoning and matrix approach using agro-ecological zones, ecologically constrained areas, incidence of poverty and malnutrition, to define varied as well as unique spatial and geographic demands for extension services as defined in the map given in Appendix-I and constraints and technology gaps matrix given in Appendix-II. The approach will increase the efficiency of extension efforts by defining location specific and purpose specific extension approach, tools and messages so that the objectives set under the policy are better achieved.
- Targeting the Tiny, Marginal and Small Holders: Thecontexts, constraints and capacities vary across different sub groups of farm households. In order to reach out to all categories, optimize impacts and to ensure equity of benefits the extension services have to match the needs and priorities of different sub groups of farmers. Participatory targeting methodologies will be implemented to identify small holders and their sub groups.
- Recognizing Farmers as Partners in Development: This policy recognizes direct roles for farmers in defining, managing and implementing extension activities. Inclusive, accountable and empowered Farmer Groups at village level partner with extension agencies to improve the effectiveness of extension efforts.
- Synergizing Producer Organizations to Address Value Chain Constraints: The key objectives of increased income and employment opportunities for the farm households will be achieved through aggregation of farmer groups into higher level producer organizations. The producer organizations are viable, economic enterprises for enhancing farmer’s access to resources, technology and markets on a sustainable basis based on the principles of promoting collective activities with more pronounced benefits through all stages of production cycle. The producer organizations aim at increasing incomes of farmer members through cost reduction, productivity and quality improvement as well as risk and disaster mitigation measures.
- Reinventing Integrated Whole Farm Approach:Shifting of focus fromproductivity enhancement to income improvement and nutritional considerations call for integrating crop, livestock and fisheries production. This will help supplement and complement benefits from the production sub systems. Kitchen gardens/nutrition gardens and backyard poultry are also integral part of the integrated approach.
- Value Added Facilitation Style of Extension Agents: Farmer centered learning and internalization of knowledge is the prime requirements for sustained and improved behavior changes. This calls for a radical change from the current advisory and prescriptive styles of extension to more of facilitation. Such facilitation needs more farmer friendly approaches of guiding, mentoring and handholding to help farmers take informed decisions based on evaluation of alternate choices.
- Pluralistic and De-centralized Approach: Enhancingoutreach and sustained meaningful benefits to farmers can only be ensured through collaborative efforts of public, non-governmental and private initiatives. Locally based arrangements for guidance and harmonizing to suit unique local characteristics and farmer needs will be promoted with adequate coordination and monitoring. A bottom up participatory need identification, prioritization and program planning approach will be strengthened.
- Enhanced Capacity Building of Extension Personnel: The broadened scope and renewed strategy require capacity building of extension personnel. Concerted efforts to develop knowledge, skills and mental conditioning of the extension officers and specialists in additional areas of facilitation skills, farmer institution building, supply chain development etc. would be a priority for maintaining staff motivation and effective performance.
- Investment in Common Productive Assets to Augment Information Support: In order to comprehensively mitigate constraints in the different stages of production cycle, and to realize better income for farmers the new policy recognizes the importance of investing in productive common assets, equipment and machinery.
- Promoting e-Agriculture: Innovative use of information and communication technologies will be promoted in all possible stages of agricultural production cycle. However, the tools used will be farmer friendly easy to access as well as cost effective.
- Copping with Climate Changes and Balancing Environmental Issues: Technology adaptations to climate change induced vulnerabilities and a long term resilient strategy on environmental and human health will be promoted.
- Refocus on Social Safeguard Considerations: Special needs of women farmers, young farmers, farmers in special constrained areas will be addressed through tailor made extension approaches and packages.
- Alignment, Harmonization and Coordination: The Country Investment Plan (CIP), the national planning fund mobilization and alignment tool, presents a coherent set of 12 priority investment programs for Bangladesh to improve food security and nutrition through food availability, access and utilization; out of which 7 programs are directly relating to issues addressed in this policy. Following the Paris declaration, all external sources of funding for the sector will be aligned to strengthen the NAEP for ensuring cohesion, coordination and to avoid duplications. The policy is also aligned with the sixth five year plan. Therefore NAEP will ensure effective coordination of interventions
as outlined in the CIP among development partners, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management.
XI. Components of the Policy
- In order to realize the vision and objectives, The National Agriculture Extension Policy proposed to harness and channelizes resources to implement the following activities on a priority basis.
- Coordinated and Integrated Umbrella for Extension: a National Agricultural Extension System (NAES) encompassing crop, fisheries and livestock sub sectors will be promoted. The apex responsibility will be shared on rotation basis among the line departments at district and upazilla level. However the national level coordination will be lead by Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
- Inclusive Farmer Organization at Village and Higher Levels: In order to restore decision making in the hands of the farmers and to have direct access to resources and markets, inclusive farmer groups will be mobilized, supported and strengthened as representative organizations of crop, livestock and fisheries farmers of all categories. These accountable institutions will perform and govern the primary sector activities in accordance with comprehensive guidelines and rules of business. Building upon the village level, farmer organizations, higher level Producer Organizations will be established, mandated with activities covering entire production cycle. The performances of Producer Organizations will be based on economies of scale, enhanced bargaining capacity, equity of benefits, participation in decision making and risk reduction. Farmer groups at the village level and higher levels will be registered under appropriate laws for legal recognition.
- Strengthening the One Stop Service Centre - FIAC:In order to ensure two-way flow of information between farmers and other stakeholders (local government, extension, research, private sector, NGOs), Farmers Information and Advice Centers (FIAC) housed within the UP complex or UP office will be further developed and strengthened under the leadership of DAE. Field extension personnel and local service providers of extension agencies (at least DAE, DLS, DoF) will provide one stop integrated services for all kinds of farmers as per roaster schedule. In the course of time, FIAC will be strengthened with furniture, ICT facilities, small agricultural equipments, information materials, mobile phone facilities and demand responsive information center for all categories of farming communities/farmers.
- Fortifying Information with Supply Chain Development: The extension services will be broadened to support farmer institution building and addressing issues of input supply including seeds and planting materials, quality assurance of produce, market and price information provision, linkages with processors and exporters, brokering market linkages, post harvest management etc. through farmer institutions. Technical and financial support provision will cover entire spectrum of activities in the production cycle of nationally critical sub sectors and produces.
- Ensuring Food Safety: Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards for agricultural production and post harvest management will be developed and disseminated to promote quality of produce, ensure phyto-sanitary standards and less traceability for domestic and export consumption market.
- Innovative Improvements for e-Agriculture: Use of ICT for linking marketing system with production system will be implemented through web based and mobile based technologies. Digitized data bases and management information system will be set up at upazilla, district and national level. Mobile based text messages and voice messages will utilized for early warning on pest and disease outbreak, natural disasters as well as to disseminate critical information.
- Demand Responsive Research-Extension-Farmer linkage: The core of the NAEP will be strengthening the multi-way cyclical feedback and response system and linkage among farmer, research institution and extension system. The process includes but not limited to (a) the early involvement of researchers in extension planning and work on demand-based on-farm technology validation; (b) demonstrations, field days, fair, horticulture nursery, workshops and farmer exchange visits including increased use of communications technologies for training and dissemination of extension related information; (c) imparting training to the extension service providers on the newly developed technologies from the research institutes; (d) participatory action research involving extension service providers and farmers; (e) participatory annual technology review workshop and (f) feedback procedure.
- Newer Technology for Sharper Focus on Hot spots: Adoption of biotechnologically develop technologies on crops, livestock and fisheries will be strengthen in collaboration with NARS institutes and National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB). This will benefit the poor farmers located in deeply flooded areas, char land, flash flood prone areas, coastal tidal surge and salinity prone areas, and hilly areas.
- Strategic Communication and Policy Governance: The National Agricultural Extension Policy Implementation and Coordination Committee (NAEPICC) will be a permanent body to serve as a forum for the NAES organizations and for the overall coordination of NAEP chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. Honorable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture would be the Patron of the Committee.
- Promoting Urban Agriculture: Urban agriculture (especially urban horticulture) will be promoted in any fallow land, roadside and in the roof-top of the high raised buildings to meet up the demand of a portion of horticultural product and restoring a good environment for the urban people. The opportunity of the horticultural farming with high technology will be emphasized for strengthening urban agriculture.
- Mainstreaming Disaster Preparedness and Adaption to Climate Change: To combat with disasters, the farmers group will be trained to adopt short duration varieties, late varieties, salinity tolerant varieties, drought tolerant varieties and other available technologies. It is recognized that farmers of Bangladesh have adjusted their cropping pattern by growing a range of indigenous and high yielding varieties of rice and other crops. The climate change adaptation in agricultural extension may include but not limited to: (i) integrated approach involving concerned ministries and departments; (ii) resilient extension practices for different climatically stressed and saline conditions; (iii) strengthen capacity of NAES organization as a whole and (iv) documenting and promoting indigenous farmer practices against disasters and vulnerabilities.
- Specialized Extension Services for Climatically Distressed Areas: The following Specialist Extension Service Providers (SESP) will be developed and provided: (i) development of area specific climate resilient specialized cropping patterns; (ii) field level trials of climate resilient specialized cropping patterns and associated water management system in collaboration with agricultural research and related organizations/institutes; (iii) development of organized seed production, preservation and supply system for area specific adopted varieties; (iv) identification/development of area specific production technologies (i.e., mulching, water management, polytunnels, raised beds, floating beds, rain water reservers etc.) for crop production in the vulnerable areas; (v) development of early warning and weather forecasting for crop production against diseases, insects, drought, floods, storms, tidal surges etc.; (vi) development of the capacity of the SESP in special areas by the concerned NAES organizations.
- Strengthening “Public-Private-Partnership (PPP)” in Agricultural Extension: For high-value, market led, export oriented sub sectors and producers private sector driven development will be promoted in: (i) commercial production, processing and marketing; (ii) agro-technology extension services; (iii) market information system (development, expansion and flow); and (iv) establishment and management of agricultural product collection centers, wholesale market etc.
- The registration and regulations of private establishments in the agriculture sector will be simplified for encouraging the development of private sector in seed production, processing and marketing, non-urea fertilizer production and marketing, irrigation equipments manufacturing and marketing, mini and small SME in village level etc. There will be provision for low interest credit facilities and creating marketing opportunities. There is also an urgent need to adjust education and training to the needs of the private sector and provide working conditions in line with what is necessary for growth and increased employment and income in agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The leaders of the private sector, on their part, must focus more on productive investment, growth and employment. In accordance with the definition used by the Government of Bangladesh,
the following categorization of enterprises: (i) Microenterprise–one to 9 employees, (ii) Small enterprises–10 to 49 employees, (iii) Medium enterprises–50-99 employees and (iv) Large enterprises–100 or more employees, out of which (i) and (ii) will be considered in agriculture sector. The policy development and legal aspects in agriculture sector will be the responsibility of the public sector, where as the private sector will play the role of implementer of the policy framework.
- Strengthening Supply of Quality Seeds and Other Inputs: A coordinated effort will be made by the extension organizations for production, processing, preservation and distribution of quality seeds of HYVs (crops, livestock, fisheries etc.), timely availability of the fertilizer giving emphasis on organic culture, low use of pesticides providing more emphasis on the use of IMP technologies (sex pheromones and related technologies), efficient irrigation water management providing more emphasis on the preservation and use of rain and surface water and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation system and other efficient irrigation systems (e.g., buried pipe, sub-surface irrigation, pukka nala etc.).
- Actively Promoting 0rganic Farming/ Green Farming: Pest attacks are one of the most important limiting factors for satisfactory production of different crops. Pest-induced crop losses range between 30%-52% every year, which means the crop losses are anywhere between one-third to one half of attainable crop production. The crop losses are a higher percentage of output in the developing countries than in the developed countries - with a substantial absolute value of crop losses in South Asia. Several biorational basedpest management packages have been developed and became highly popular among the farmer communities. IPM packages for toxic pesticide free vegetable viz. eggplant, tomato, beans, cucurbits, okra etc. production are becoming much popular and extended throughout the country. Bio-control agents are being commercially utilized for pest management. It is true that progress has been made in the IPM research, development and adoption, which is not enough for the safeguard of our environment and total cropping system. Utmost importance will be given to disseminate bio-rational based management to ensure productivity, food safety and safe environment in collaboration with private sectors.
- Mainstreaming Women in Agriculture: Participation of women in agriculture will be encouraged through developing women farmer groups, encouraging women SME development in agri-business, developing confidence for raising voice through grass root level women farmers’ organization, creating gender awareness in both women and male farmers. In addition women farmers are encouraged to lead and occupy decision making positions in higher level farmer organizations.
- Emphasizing homestead gardening : The development of home gardening that build on traditional practices, local conditions and cultural context, and that are conducted by extension service providers that are well-established in the community, can be a sustainable means of improving micronutrient intake among high-risk groups and improving household food security, will be emphasized. In addition, home gardening programs can be implemented successfully and cost-effectively on a national scale using a collaborative model that fits local conditions. As women are usually the main caretakers of the home garden, such programs empower them, thus ensuring better utilization of the income from the garden for food and increasing family welfare. These benefits will be important contributions towards poverty alleviation and food security in Bangladesh. Emphasis will be given on the establishment of improved homestead gardens that have more types of vegetables and productive throughout the year.
- Thrust on Farm Mechanization: The government has already given due importance to agricultural mechanization in the National Agricultural Policy. In the Policy it is included that “The Government will encourage production and manufacturing of agricultural machinery adaptive to our socio-economic context. Manufacturing workshops and industries engaged in agricultural mechanization activities will be provided with appropriate support.”
The policy realize the shortage of farm power and will promote projects to mechanize different crop production operations like tillage, seeding transplanting, fertilizing, weeding, herbicide spraying, harvesting and threshing, with 25% subsidy price to the farmers to purchase different farm machinery to perform the above mentioned operation in time which will be emphasized for a certain period of time.
- Efficient and Effective Dissemination of Technology: Getting a technology adopted, even when it has obvious advantages is often very difficult. Many technologies require a lengthy period, often of many years from the time they become available to the time they are widely adopted. Therefore, a common problem for many individuals and organizations is how to speed up the rate of dissemination of a technology. Implementation modalities including the target groups are important in determining the dissemination and adoption of new technologies in the field. Furthermore, the rate of adoption depends on the behavioral change and risk taking capacity of the farmer categories: the (i) innovators, (ii) early adopters, (iii) early majority, (iv) late majority and (v) laggards.
Change in attitude, skill and knowledge of the farmers and their groups will be enhanced through “need-based single topic one day training program” and involving risk taking farmers (category i & ii) in adopting new technologies through adaptation trial and demonstration.
- Industry Linkage for Enhancing Agro-based Industries: The development of agriculture depends on the transformation of agricultural products into the commercial industrial product as per preference of up-growing consumers. The industry linkage will be enhanced through continuous supply of agricultural products by contract farming with farmers groups and their federations at union, upazilla, district and national level and linked with agro-based potential industries in home and abroad.
- Credit and Insurance: Continued production with high productivity along with adoption of input intensive innovative technologies require optimum amount of working capital in time. This will be enhanced through group savings, linking with the financial institutes and banks. The linking process will be initiated by the farmer organizations (FOs) at upazilla and district level with the facilitation of the extension agent. Crop insurance, though matter of debate, may be introduced for the save of small and marginal farmers from damage-shock of their crops by sudden disaster.
- Enabling and Guiding Role of Extension Workers: The role of extension agent will be the “Facilitator but not the doer”. They will guide and help the private sector, FGs and FOs in decision making process, creating demand view, identifying the local resources, linking with the market and financial institutes, public resource institutes in home and abroad within the legal framework. The capacity of the extension agent will be enhanced through intensive technical and HID training, higher studies and on-spot coaching. Adequate logistic support will be provided for efficient and effective extension support at all level.
- Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation: Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) will be introduced at all level of extension initiative. Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) is a process through which stakeholders at various levels engage in monitoring or evaluating a particular program, share control over the content, the process and the results of the M&E activity and engage in taking or identifying corrective actions. PM&E will focus on the active engagement of primary stakeholders (FG, FOs etc). In the course of PM&E processes, it will be ensured that the (i) primary stakeholders are active participants – not just sources of information, (ii) capacity of local people is build up to analyze, reflect and taking action, (iii) joint learning of stakeholders at various levels have been taken place adequately, and (v) catalyzes commitment for taking corrective actions.
Appendix I
Map of Bangladesh showing Agro-ecological Zones, ecologically constrained areas, poverty and nutritional status.
Appendix II
Map of Bangladesh showing Agro-ecological Zones and ecologically constrained areas.
7. National Livestock Policy, 2007. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh