1. Policy Brief
Promoting Climate Adaptive Agriculture technology in Bangladesh
Background
Agriculture plays one of the most significant roles in the economy of Bangladesh.
This sector employs about 48% of the working force and contributes a major share in
the GDP, which is about 21%. The country has some steady progress in food
production by increasing crop intensity from 148 to 179 percent which is being kept in
pace with the annual demand (31.9m MT food produces annually and annual demand
is also 31m MT). Though steady progress is being continued but there are recurrent
environmental challenges which are exaggerated due to emerging climate change as
Bangladesh owned top most Climate Risks countries. Climate induce risks in
agriculture are yet to be anticipated but susceptible risks will be hindering growth of
production and increasing vulnerabilities of poor and marginalized farmers. This is
alarming for food security and people’s lives and livelihood.
Agriculture and Climate change
Agricultural crops of Bangladesh are especially sensitive to the different variables of
climate such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, day-length etc. as well as different
natural disasters like floods, drought, salinity and storm surges. In terms of
geographical location, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate
change. According to Climate Risk Index ranking Bangladesh positioned is fifth. The
kind of risks that climate change is putting Bangladesh are- Sea Level Rise (SLR),
recurrent of Floods, Riverbank erosion , Drought, Salinity intrusion, Low dying of
ground water level, loss of homestead and livelihoods, Pest infestation and
consequently Land scarcity. Anticipated impacts of climate change is huge on
agriculture sector in Bangladesh because agriculture is heavily depends on natural
rainfall, weather & temperature, water level, soil condition etc.
Due to climate change scenario of the country some potential crops growing areas are
becoming drought prone. The southern coastal area in Bangladesh is suffering from
salinity and submergence and northern area are suffering from water shortage and
drought.
NGOs and GOs Response for Promotion of Agriculture technology
Ministry of Agriculture broadly prime ministry of Bangladesh Government to
formulate and implement government policies and strategies with a view to attain
country’s vision, ‘food reliance’ country. However there are other related ministries
which are linked with Agriculture like Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry
of Land, Ministry of Food. Currently National Agricultural Policy 2010, New
Agriculture Extension Policy 2006 (NAEP) and National Seed Policy are the
reflection of state’ initiatives. Suspected climate risks and adaptation strategies for
mitigating the vulnerability of poor and marginalized has enshrined in the NAEP.
However government of Bangladesh has promulgated the ideas and taken
intergovernmental actions through implemented a solemn policy entitled National
Plan of Action for Adaptation (NAPA).

2. National Agricultural Research System (NARS), comprised of government
agricultural research and educational institutions provide knowledge and technical
know how in this sector. Along with GoB there are many agencies which provide
extension support to the farmers of Bangladesh. They are non-government
organisations, commercial traders and input suppliers (manufacturers, wholesalers,
and retailers) operating in rural areas of the country. Together, all these partners can
be seen as comprising the National Agricultural Extension System.
A few non profit development organizations have nominal extension services among
only a few poor and marginal farmers. BRAC, Agriculture and Food Security Program
has been revisited according to its new strategy that target to contribute country’s
MDGs target one, halving the rate of poverty and hunger by 2015 promote agriculture
research, farming system research and dissemination and agriculture extension
services among the poor and marginalized farmers. It is worthwhile to mention that
Brac has seed banks where about 100 indigenous seeds are stored. AFSP has been
doing a research on how to make available these indigenous seed for meet up the
increasing demand of quality seed and reduce the cost of production of farmers
through increasing per acre productivity.
Challenges
Country faces challenges in implementing respective policy where co-ordination
between Go and other private sectors are very week. Alike in the government itself
there is lacked of intra government coordination among different department,
institutions in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Studies show that, public investment in agriculture has seen a down-ward trend and
the government is not doing actual investment in market development which is badly
needed for agricultural development.
Public expenditure in agriculture extension services are mostly being concentrated to
some input deliveries like fertilizers and pesticides. Pragmatic farming system action
research on emerging and reemerging issues as anticipated in the NAPA, enhancing
farmers behaviour in new technology, improvement of production and how to reduce
cost of production, sustainable mechanization with equitable access to new
technology of poor, marginal and women farmers are neglected in the extension
services.
Most of the farmers of Bangladesh are marginal and landless and their literacy rate is
low but they are very receptive in new technologies. Still very limited numbers of
agricultural machineries are being used among the farmers, which limits the
productivity of farms have widen scopes to improvement.
It is perceived the cost of uses of technology is higher to the farmers’ than normal
practices due to high labour cost. But farmers can grow higher yield and return from
modern technology practices. Though primarily capital input is high but if cost benefit
ratio is done it is profitable. Input level supports in this sector are very lagged from the

3. government extension services. Most of the budget allocation of this sector is spent in
the non development cost rather for R& D sector. Policy makers and donors are still
reluctant to come up with actual investment in areas such as development of market
infrastructure.
Besides though policy recommends for making the services available & accessible to
climate adaptive technology among all farmers particularly poor and marginalizes
through decentralized and demand led approach yet the policy and decisions are
formulated from top down approach.
Recommendation:
• Initiatives are needed to increase coordination between government and
private sector for promoting climate adaptive technology
• Go and Private sector partnership should be strengthened for promotion of
Climate adaptive agriculture technology through increasing sharing of research
and enhancing extension linkages.
• The government should provide adequate funds for conducting trials in
farmers’ fields in order to promote climate Adaptive Agriculture technology.
• Regular review of policy and practice gaps and area for increasing private
sectors involvement are required
• Private sector should be encouraged to conduct research with government
research organizations