Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

The area suitable for crop production is estimated to be a little over 9 millionhectares. With the growth in population and other infrastructure development, the croppedareas have been steadily declining. To ensure food and nutrition for the ever increasingpopulation, suitable cropping patterns were introduced based on the concept of cropdiversification depending on soils and other agro-climatic conditions, which raised croppingintensity to 185 percent in 1997 from 100 percent in 1979. As agricultural production isseed-fertilizer-water based, so more than 152 production technologies for crops includingvarieties and management practices have so far been developed. Private traders/distributorswere given permission to have a direct access to the bulk purchase of chemical fertilizers aswell as to import TSP and MP fertilizers freely which has led to increased availability andwider adoption of chemical fertilizers at the farm level. Irrigation water was ensured throughremoving the restriction on the imports of small diesel engines, withdrawal of customs duty,and the abolition of tube-well siting restriction in non-surface irrigation areas, which led to atangible effect on the demand for irrigation equipment and the rate of increase in area underminor irrigation.The strategy for sustaining agricultural growth is based on changing the nature ofBangladesh agriculture from a relatively high risk monsoon based to lower risk irrigationbased cropping system. Sustaining the growth of rice production and emphasizing andstimulating crop diversification are the key strategies to be pursued in future. This will comefrom rapid application and expansion of HYV seed-fertilizer-irrigation technology, relyingmore on competitive markets for inputs delivery, stabilizing soil fertility etc. In order tocombat environmental degradation due to pesticide use and ensure effective pestmanagement, the practice of integrated pest management (IPM) will continue to be pursued.A capability is being developed to monitor changes in the environment, particularly of soilsand surface and ground water with a view to ensure sustainable agricultural development andenvironmental protection.5. CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS OF CROPDIVERSIFICATION IN THE COUNTRYAs Bangladesh is endowed with favourable climate and soils for the production of avariety of crops all the year round, so ample opportunities exist for crop diversification,balancing major crop production with minor crop production. Minor crop production hastremendous potential if seasonal fallow land is brought under irrigation with technologypackages given to the farmers. The per acre yield of minor crops can be increased byimproving agronomic management practices with the existing crop varieties. The mainproblems/constraints facing CDP relate to a variety of factors. These are marketingproblems, ineffective agriculture credit supply, lack of the right kind of technology and lowlevel of investment, non-availability of quality seed, shortage of draught power, lack ofmaintenance of soil fertility, lack of irrigation coverage, and ineffective research-extensionlinkages.Introduction of the Crop Diversification Programme in agriculture has created agolden opportunity to commercialize the production by small holding farmers of those minorcrop varieties which are highly profitable and remunerative and which are importsubstituting and export-oriented through the establishment of community storage and easytransportation facilities. This commercialization of CDP crops can help promote theestablishment of joint-venture enterprises in Bangladesh and around the world that will buy,18