PARTHA PRATIM BHATTACHARJEE and MD ABBAS

Agriculture is an incredible success story for Bangladesh.

In the last five decades after independence, the country has reached many millstones in farm sector, uplifting people’s livelihood, creating employment, and contributing 13.47 percent to the national GDP.

The significance of this boost is more relevant at time when inflations are high. As commodity prices are expected to remain high on the back of the second-round effects from rising fuel and food prices, agro production can go a long way in taming the raging market.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries, with 1,119 people living per square kilometre, according to the population and housing census 2022. Every year, farmland is shrinking due to non-agricultural use of the land.

Despite these and many other odds, agricultural production is increasing every year.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the total yield of 28 major products was 961.46 lakh tonnes in 2022-2023, compared to 667.53 lakh tonnes in 2012-13, representing a 44 percent increase in production over the last 10 years.

The country recorded $843 million from export of agricultural products in 2022-23, according to the Export Promotion Bureau.

Bangladesh is also one of the top importers of food grain. According to an FAO report released in 2023, the country imported 1.25 crore tonnes of food grain in 2021, making it the third among food-importing nations.

But due to increased crop production, the country emerged as one of the top 10 countries in producing at least 18 crops, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

According to FAO data, Bangladesh stands second in producing jute, chillies, and dry chillies, as well as areca nuts.

In 2022, the country produced 15.29 lakh tonnes of jute, affectionately called the golden fibre, while India ranked at the top with 17.57 lakh tonne production.

The country earned $912.25 million by exporting jute, making it the fifth biggest export item.

It also produced 624,825 tonnes of chillies and dry chillies and 333,724 tonnes of areca nuts, securing second position in both items.

In terms of yield of rice, Bangladesh holds third position globally, producing around 391 lakh tonnes of the staple in 2022-23, after China and India.

The country also ranks third in

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