Future Technology: Agricultural And Food Security Concerns

Future Technology: Agricultural And Food Security Concerns

Future technology agricultural and food security concerns in Bangladesh is an agricultural country. Although the contribution of the agriculture sector, to the country's GDP, is about 24 per cent, about 80 per cent of the people of rural Bangladesh are directly and indirectly dependent on agriculture.

Future technology agriculture is the main life force of the country's economy. Food security depends on agricultural production. For various reasons, ensuring food security for all the people of the world, not just Bangladesh, is a huge challenge. Due to industrialization, urbanization and unplanned land use, it is a great challenge for Bangladesh to provide food to the growing population from the declining land.

An essential element of social justice is adequate food security for all people. Understanding the importance of food and agriculture, Norman Ernest Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution and Nobel laureate, said: "Hunger is undoubtedly one of the obstacles to development and peace." Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lord John Boyd made a similar statement: "You can never make peace with a hungry stomach." The father of our nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also expressed a similar opinion in his first speech in the newly independent country. Therefore, the goal of the present government is to make the country a prosperous and happy digital Bangladesh by 2021. The issue of future technology in agriculture and food security must come first.

Fortunately, after 40 years of independence, we can see that despite all the adversities, our biggest achievement is the green revolution in agriculture. As a result of the research, the application of new agro-technologies in the field of farmers has almost tripled the production of cereals and other agro-foods. The credit for this huge achievement goes to the agriculturists and the peasantry of the country. The achievements of the government in formulating and implementing timely agricultural policy are also significant in this regard. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the greatest Bengali nation of all time, started the AB revolution in agriculture in Bangladesh. He rightly felt that there was no alternative to agricultural development in the implementation of Sonar Bangla. Although agricultural production has almost tripled in the last four decades, Yet the average yield of any crop in the country is still much lower than that of any developed country. So there is an opportunity to increase production in agriculture. But for various reasons, the application of ultra-high-tech technologies invented in the green revolution is not the only reason why the desired yield is not being achieved. There are various long-term adverse effects on natural resources and the environment. Excessive use of chemicals in agriculture and unplanned industrialization and urbanization are endangering agricultural lands and the environment. Here are some of them:

1. Land degradation and environmental pollution from unplanned chemicals such as synthetic pesticides, fertilizer use and industrial waste have taken a serious turn.

2. Intensive cultivation of a single species is causing an alarming decline in biodiversity. Productivity is declining due to the depletion of certain nutrients in the soil.

3. Adverse effects of chemical pesticides used in agriculture are adversely affecting other organisms in the environment and even human health.

4. As a result of the unplanned settlement, industrialization, construction of brickfields, urbanization, agricultural land is declining at the rate of 220 acres per day or 1% per annum. In the last 40 years, about one-third of the agricultural land has gone to the non-agricultural sector. Brickfields on agricultural land are major cancer, a deadly disease for future agriculture.

5. At present, 3-4 thousand litres of water is used per kg of paddy production. As a result of extra water extraction, the groundwater level is going down. As a result, desertification is noticeable in the north.

. The amount of organic matter in agriculture is declining alarmingly. As a result, the soil has become barren and lifeless.

. In the meat and poultry industry, synthetic chemicals such as antibiotics and harmful growth chemicals can wreak havoc on human health. The combination of adulterated and harmful chemicals in fruits, fish and other agricultural foods is causing panic everywhere.

Along with these challenges, there is a new and more daunting challenge, the problem of climate change. It is said that in the next few years, a large part of the southern part of the country will be submerged. Loss of arable land due to salinity, increase in natural calamities, untimely rainfall, change in seasons and temperature have put the agricultural system at serious risk. Besides, both the farmers and the consumers are suffering as a result of the failure of the market system. To solve these problems we need to innovate knowledge-based sustainable technology and apply it to the farmers on time. It is necessary to adopt far-sighted policies and plans so that continuous development of technology and knowledge in agriculture can be carried out in continuous problem-based research.

It has been observed that one taka investment in agricultural research in this country gives a return of more than three rupees. So we need to increase investment in agricultural research. It is difficult to ensure the supply of food to the growing population through traditional adaptation techniques and traditional horizontal farming. We need to increase investment in agriculture and introduce crop insurance. The present government is called an agri-friendly government. Despite the various challenges, taking timely steps has had a significant positive impact on agricultural production. Notable among these steps are:

A) Reduction/subsidy of agricultural inputs fertilizer diesel and fuel in agriculture, agricultural assistance and rehabilitation of farmers in Ailadurgat and Haor areas, production and supply of quality seeds, the introduction of agricultural cards and providing diesel to farmers for irrigation through card, various subsidies in agriculture, the introduction of e-agriculture, Adaptation strategy for climate change and re-introduction of Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award.

B) Formulation of agricultural policy, formulation of other agricultural policies will have a positive impact on agricultural production. The present Government has emphasized strengthening agricultural research activities for the development of environmentally friendly sustainable technologies in the National Industrial Policy. Which is admirable. Recognizing the importance of using biotechnology in agriculture and industrial production, the National Institute of Biotechnology has been established.

If agricultural production is not profitable, the farmer will not survive. Farmers have to be saved even with subsidies. Without that, it is not possible to establish food security and peace in this country with a huge population. In this context, it is time to formulate a master plan to create basic knowledge through research at the cell and molecular level for the efficient use of biodiversity and natural resources and to ensure food security in their application in agriculture. Through biotechnology and genetic engineering, it is possible to create various crop tolerant crops and animal species in agriculture. However, before using any new technology invented through genetic engineering, it is necessary to follow the bio-safety policy properly.

Like the national education policy, the e-agriculture policy also needs to be made open for public opinion. Digital Bangladesh is not possible without e-agriculture. E-agriculture can help overcome the weaknesses of the current market system. The lack of an efficient market system is detrimental to both farmers and consumers. In this case, the institutional structure invented by the 2010 Nobel laureate in economics Oliver Williamson can be introduced. Successful use of this theory in the contract agricultural production system is also seen in our country. In this case both the farmer and the buyer benefit. In the last few years, farmers have not been able to get adequate prices for potatoes, tomatoes and even rice for the market system in our country. Norman Borlaug, the father of the green revolution, dreamed of a blue revolution in agriculture through the application of biotechnology in the 21st century to ensure food security for a growing population using limited resources.

However, climate change, new challenges, additional materials and over-technology dependence are putting agriculture at risk. However, it is possible to make agriculture more productive by inventing appropriate new technologies and formulating proper policies. To ensure food security of the growing population in the country through tackling climate change and other threats: 1) radical change in agricultural research and extension system, (2) ensuring proper use of land through legislation and (3) use of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

Despite all the challenges, as a researcher in biotechnology, I think the work of curious scientists will continue in the struggle to change the day and build a prosperous Bangladesh. New technology will be able to meet new challenges. However, nationally coordinated initiatives are needed to address any challenge. The traditional style must be changed. In this context I would like to recall Norman Borlaug's statement: "Change we must, or we will perish as species, just as did the dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous". But for any change, we need the planned and continuous efforts of the government, political leaders, scientists, people, intellectuals, cultural activists and the media. Sad but true is the fact that the challenge to global food security is the efficient market and distribution system and the over-consumption mentality of rich countries. Finally, I am concluding with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi; Mahatma Gandhi said: “The world provides enough to satisfy every men’s need, but not every men’s greed.”