ActionAid Bangladesh, Dhaka, 21 December 2024: "While food production in Bangladesh has tripled compared to 1970, the use of chemical fertilisers has increased by a staggering 54 times. This has led to severe degradation of soil health. Therefore, it is imperative to bring about behavioural change among people. By creating certified organic farmers, we can encourage young people to take up agriculture," said Md. Fazlul Kader, Chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), in his keynote speech at the concluding ceremony of a two-day symposium titled ‘Sustainable Agriculture, Soil Health, Healthy Food and Youth & Women Empowerment: Subsidies in Organic Fertilisers’ held at the meeting hall of the Cotton Development Board in Khamarbari, Dhaka organised by ActionAid Bangladesh and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).

He further added, "We need to create a space of trust for the youth. Starting organic farming on a small piece of land amidst chemical farming is not enough; we need to demonstrate large-scale success. Only then can we set a precedent acceptable to both the government and the general public. To achieve this, we must provide subsidies for organic farming."

In his special address, Dr. Khalequzzaman Akanda Chowdhury, former Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), said, "The excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is having a direct negative impact on the environment and human health. Excessive use of chemicals can deplete soil fertility and eventually render the land barren, with long-term consequences for future generations."

Emphasising the need to empower youth and women in sustainable agriculture and increase their interest in organic farming, he suggested organising an annual agricultural olympiad for youth. "We need to raise awareness about the available subsidies, bank loans, and grants for organic farming, especially for young farmers," he added.

Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said in her presidential address, "First and foremost, we need to prioritise soil health and respect farmers. Moreover, we cannot limit agriculture to crops alone; it must be viewed holistically. We need to develop integrated plans that include crops, poultry, fish, cattle, and goats. We also need to influence policy. We have noticed that subsidies are being provided for corporate farming, but not for farmers—we need to change this mindset."

Professor Dr. M Manjurul Alam Champak of Bangladesh Agricultural University emphasised the need to innovate agricultural machinery suitable for the country’s environment and climate, and to ensure waste recycling. He said, "We do not give importance to cooperatives. We need to strengthen farmers' federations and bring them to a profitable position. Farmers are producing fertilisers but have to wait for years to get licences. This licensing process needs to be simplified. For this, the licensing system needs to be decentralised."

Dr. Nazim Uddin, Senior Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, in his concluding remarks, emphasised the importance of soil health for agriculture. "We have been feeding the plants, but now it's time to feed the soil; if we feed the soil, the plants will get the food," he said.

The two-day symposium featured a total of six sessions. The first day's sessions focused on soil health and sustainable agriculture, the role of organic fertilisers in sustainable agricultural systems, and climate-resilient agricultural practices. The second and concluding day's sessions focused on empowering youth and women farmers in agriculture, the framework for providing subsidies for organic fertilisers, and a roadmap for increasing organic farming practices in Bangladesh.

Dr Rezaul Karim Siddik Rana, Research Director of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), presided over the session. Munshi Rashid Ahmed, Director General of the Institute of Soil Resources Development Begum Samia Sultana, and Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Md. Showkat Osman, were also in attendance.

For Details contact with: Amit Ranjan Dey

Deputy Manager - Food Security and Livelihood, ActionAid Bangladesh.

Mail: amit.dey@actionaid.org Number: +8801712681711