By Dr. Asadur Rahman & Dr. Md. Muzahidul Islam Selim

Agriculture is one of the main foundations of Bangladesh’s economy, food security and rural life. Built on rivers, fertile alluvial soil, productive land and the hard work of farmers, the country’s agricultural system has made significant progress despite numerous challenges since independence. However, population growth, declining agricultural land, rising production costs, shortages of farm labor and the impacts of climate change have created new challenges for Bangladesh’s agriculture.

Against this backdrop, the need is growing to transform agriculture from a purely labor-intensive production system into an integrated system combining science, technology, information, research, markets and environmental sustainability. Recent statements by Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, along with various initiatives announced by the government, have also emphasized transforming agriculture into a modern, technology-driven, profitable and sustainable sector.

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, agriculture is no longer limited to traditional cultivation practices. Technologies such as smart farming, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, satellites, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and big data are rapidly transforming agricultural production systems.

These technologies can provide advance information on soil conditions, crop health, diseases and pests, water requirements, weather forecasts and potential yields. As a result, farmers will be able to apply fertilizers, irrigation and other agricultural inputs according to actual requirements. This can reduce production costs while minimizing the waste of resources.

According to government statements, initiatives have been undertaken to transform agriculture from a traditional and labor-intensive system into a technology-driven, competitive and sustainable sector through research, modern technology, innovation and mechanization.

In modern agriculture, information is an important resource. If timely information on weather, soil quality, diseases and pests, crop varieties, market prices and agricultural inputs reaches farmers, their decision-making can become more scientific and effective.

To this end, the government has announced plans to expand farmer registration, farmer databases, digital agricultural services, mobile-based weather and market information, agricultural advisory services and e-extension services. At the same time, initiatives such as a “Farmer Card” have been proposed to ensure that government services reach farmers directly.

Artificial intelligence can play an important role as a decision-support technology for farmers. By analyzing long-term weather data, soil characteristics, crop histories and disease information, AI can help predict which crops are suitable for specific areas, when crops should be planted and when the risk of diseases and pests may increase.
Drones can enable rapid monitoring of large agricultural areas, identification of diseases and nutrient deficiencies, targeted application of agricultural inputs and assessment of damage caused by natural disasters.

Meanwhile, can collect information on the condition of agricultural land, floods, droughts, crop growth and potential production on a large scale.
The government has also stated that it intends to expand the use of remote sensing, AI, IoT, drones, GIS, satellite data and big data in agriculture.

In conventional agriculture, the same amount of fertilizer, water and pesticides is often applied across an entire field. However, not every part of a field has the same soil quality or water requirements.
Precision agriculture creates opportunities to apply fertilizers, irrigation and other inputs according to the specific needs of different sections of a field. This can help reduce production costs, prevent water wastage, minimize excessive use of chemicals and increase productivity.

The government has also highlighted the use of mobile-based technologies, including the “Khamari App,” to promote data-driven precision agriculture. Such systems can help provide farmers with location-specific crop selection, fertilizer management and weather information.

Farmer Cards Planned for Direct Assistance
The Farmer Card has been highlighted as an important component of agricultural policy aimed at reducing farmers’ production costs and ensuring that government support reaches them more directly.

According to the Prime Minister’s parliamentary statement, plans include providing farmers with agricultural inputs at fair prices, irrigation support, easy access to credit, subsidies, training, weather information, crop protection advice, agricultural insurance and fair access to markets through the Farmer Card.
Earlier, the agricultural plan announced by Tarique Rahman also included provisions for directly providing farmers with fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, agricultural machinery, loans, crop insurance and market-related services through Farmer Cards.

One of the major challenges facing Bangladesh’s farmers is not only production but also ensuring fair prices for their agricultural products. Due to weaknesses in storage and marketing systems, farmers often fail to receive the expected prices for their produce.

In this context, modern cold storage facilities, warehouses, agricultural processing, digital marketplaces and export-oriented supply chains can play an important role in increasing farmers’ incomes.

The government has announced initiatives to construct modern cold storage facilities and warehouses for agricultural products, establish mini cold-storage facilities for fruits and vegetables, and create agricultural export zones and collection centers to facilitate the export of agricultural products.

Improving irrigation systems has long been an important issue for Bangladesh’s agriculture. Reducing excessive dependence on groundwater and increasing the use of surface water from rivers, canals and other water bodies could create a new balance in water management.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has told Parliament that initiatives have been undertaken to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country alongside expanding modern irrigation systems to increase agricultural production and productivity.

If implemented effectively, such initiatives could increase the availability of irrigation water while also having a positive impact on agricultural and environmental management.

Climate change is increasing the impacts of floods, droughts, salinity and irregular weather patterns on Bangladesh’s agriculture. Therefore, the need to make future agriculture climate-resilient is becoming increasingly important.

Government plans have emphasized developing crop varieties tolerant to salinity, drought and flooding, improving water management and promoting environmentally friendly agricultural technologies. At the same time, importance has been placed on producing crops using less water, chemical fertilizer and pesticides.

To protect soil health, the use of integrated nutrient management, organic fertilizers and biofertilizers can be expanded. At the same time, maintaining a balance between production and the environment is possible through the proper application of chemical fertilizers and the use of agricultural inputs based on soil characteristics.

The government has also announced initiatives to increase the use of organic fertilizers, biofertilizers and environmentally friendly agricultural technologies.
Micro-Irrigation and AWD
Micro-irrigation and the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method in rice cultivation can play an important role in reducing water wastage. Particularly in drought-prone areas, these technologies can help reduce pressure on groundwater and improve irrigation efficiency.

The government has stated that initiatives are being taken to reduce groundwater use in drought-prone areas through AWD and prepaid meters. At the same time, plans are underway to use digital technologies for location-specific crop selection and the optimal use of agricultural inputs.

Research, development of improved crop varieties and agricultural mechanization are essential for making agriculture profitable. In response to labor shortages and rising production costs, the government has announced initiatives to make agricultural machinery such as tractors, harvesters and reapers more accessible.

At the same time, greater importance is being given to the development of high-yielding, disease-resistant and short-duration crop varieties, as well as climate-resilient crops, through the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA).

Technology is not a replacement for farmers; rather, it is a tool to strengthen their capabilities. Drones can collect data, AI can analyze information and sensors can report field conditions, but farmers’ experience remains crucial in making final decisions based on the realities of the field.
Therefore, one of the biggest challenges for technology-driven agriculture in Bangladesh will be making technology accessible to small and marginal farmers.

Increasing farmers’ digital literacy, establishing smart agricultural services at the upazila level, strengthening collaboration among agricultural universities, research institutions and technology companies, developing Bengali-language AI agricultural assistants, and providing accessible financing and training could be important steps in this regard.

Bangladesh’s agriculture now faces a dual challenge—limited land and growing food demand on the one hand, and climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources on the other. In this context, integrating technology with environmental sustainability will be essential for ensuring sustainable agriculture.

The agricultural policies and recent parliamentary statements announced by the government under Tarique Rahman have placed emphasis on digital agriculture, Farmer Cards, modern irrigation, agricultural mechanization, research, precision agriculture, climate-smart farming and agricultural market management.

Experts believe that the key to successfully implementing these plans will be ensuring that the benefits of technology reach small and marginal farmers rather than remaining limited to large-scale farmers. At the same time, research, agricultural extension, market systems, water management and fair prices for farmers must be brought under an integrated policy framework.

Agriculture in the 21st century is no longer dependent solely on plows, seeds and labor. Information, technology, research, artificial intelligence, drones, satellites, IoT, modern irrigation and agricultural mechanization could become integral components of the agriculture of the future.

The future of Bangladesh’s agriculture therefore does not lie simply in increasing the amount of agricultural land. Rather, it lies in the efficient use of limited land, water and natural resources, increasing farmers’ incomes, producing safe food and building climate resilience.

If research, technology and farmers’ practical experience can be effectively integrated in implementing the agricultural plans announced by the Tarique Rahman government, Bangladesh’s agriculture could become more productive, profitable, environmentally friendly and export-oriented.

The ultimate goal of this transformation should be empowering farmers through the light of technology, ensuring sustainable food security and building a prosperous agriculture-based Bangladesh.