Status of technology assessment and transfer mechanisms in Bangladesh agriculture

Abstract

Increase of production per unit of land is the best way to increase agricultural productivity. But improving productivity has a direct relation to the natural environment and sustainability. Changes in soil and water management practices are needed to achieve increase in productivity. In a static sense, traditional agricultural production systems has sustained for centuries. However, to meet the demand of foods for ever increasing population and for saving the resource endowments for future generations a more dynaic view on overall agriculture is needed. Sustainability issues are relatively new aspects of our agricultural development and all agricultural activities center around these issues now. At the heart of the sustainability is the food security which is one of the fundamental problems being faced by Bangladeshi farmers and is dependent on the reliability of production and peoples' access to food supplies. At present research activities are directed towards meeting future food needs and developing technologies that would help to mitigate the risk of farmers and will not bring major changes in the environment of the farmers. Chemical fertilizers, pest and disese control, irrigation, reduction in postharvest losses, etc are necessary to increase production. New Technologies should be economically sound. It is not sufficient to seek self-sufficiency in food production. It is also essential that food quality is improved to naintain mormal health. Food should no longer be comprised to rice and whet alone, it should encompass a wide variety of crops to overcome the problems of malnutrition or undernutrition. There is need for crop diversification integrating the crop component with livestock, poultry and fisheries. This means that traditional commodity research needs will have to be balanced with farming systems research /whole farm approach.