Editorial
Prioritising agricultural research
Funds must be utilised efficiently
AGAINST the backdrop of intermittent food crises in the country, the government decision to allocate funds to the tune of Tk. 622 crore to carry out agricultural research is a timely step. The research endeavours will be directed towards finding ways and means to increase production of essential agricultural commodities to meet the need for food. The burgeoning population and growing demand for food make such research all the more pressing at the moment. Reportedly, the fund under the project titled National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) will be distributed in two phases, one for research and another for extension services. It has also been said that a sizeable portion of the fund will be spent for building an effective marketing system for farm products, project preparation and coordination. According to the government, the implementation of NATP would raise production of crops, fish and livestock by 10 percent and increase farmers' income by 20 percent.
Theoretically, it sounds cheering. But we are not sure how things would turn out to be once the project goes under implementation with unforeseen variables coming in the way. The reason for our skepticism is, there is anomaly as far as statistical figures given by various agencies are concerned. Most of the reports and analyses concerning our agriculture are found unclear and often contradictory. We are not well-informed about the amount of land available for cultivation of different varieties of rice, jute, cotton and vegetables. We have not been told specifically how extensively we can go for crop diversification on a given piece of land or how harmful a particular variety of seed or fertilizer could be for the native species. With acute shortage of land and waterbodies in the country how far can we extend fisheries and livestock farming without affecting cultivable land remains to be addressed by the experts.
The anomalies in statistics we have mentioned here stem from the conspicuous lack of primary research done to explore the definitive potential of our agricultural sector. It needs no emphasising that a vast area of the sector remains under-utilised, as farmers tend to apply the traditional method of agriculture. Though new varieties of seeds and sowing and irrigation techniques have been introduced sporadically, there is enough opportunity for introducing them throughout the country in a planned manner.
We hope the ambitious research and extension work will be done with the participation of genuine experts having genuine intent. This however should not become another consultancy-driven high-profile exercise to use up the fund within the stipulated time.
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