Doubling Rice Productivity in Bangladesh: A Way to Achieving SDG 2 and Moving Forward

Abstract

Built on deep-rooted political and cultural heritage, ‘rice security’ is the foundation of ‘food security’ in Bangladesh. The country has been in production-surplus of rice in the current decade feeding over 165 million people. This on-going ‘selfsufficiency momentum’ would require to maintain to meet increased demand from growing future population. On developmental side, Bangladesh is placed among the three of the world’s fastest growing economies in the years through to 2050. Rice sector would need to match with the pace of this growth. In addition, agriculture sector, that includes rice, is to double the productivity as the government commits to meet the SDG goal 2.3.1. This study addresses those issues through scoping increased rice production and productivity in Bangladesh, developing a plan of work (POW) on translating the scope and designing implementation plans and actions, incorporating efficiency, resilience, stability and sustainability issues, to achieve the POW. The study has used brainstorming, and rigorous analysis to achieve the objectives. The productivity has been explained in terms of yield- and labour-productivity. The developed three-winged ‘doubling rice productivity (DRP)’ framework directs yield enhancement and production accumulation in unexplored spaces (Wing-1); increased adoption of mechanization to impact on labour productivity (Wing-2), and improvements in nutritional quality and rice-based product diversity, and stabilizing the farmgate price (Wing-3). Analyses show, from the baseline figure of 35.29 MT in 2015, rice production in the country can be raised to 46.90 MT in 2030, 54.09 MT in 2040 and 60.85 MT in 2050 with combined contributions of three pillars – yield improvements by enhanced varietal potential (Pillar 1), reduction in existing yield gap (Pillar 2) and production increase by exploring unexplored spaces for rice (Pillar 3) of Wing-1 of the DRP. This production will produce a surplus of 6.50, 10.29 and 13.65 MT in 2030, 2040 and 2050, respectively, over the production target (40.40, 43.80 and 47.20 MT in 2030 and 2050, respectively). Results further reveal that through scale-appropriate mechanization backed up by estimated fair price, labour productivity in rice will be doubled by 2029, meeting the SDG 2.3.1. Good number of released varieties have been identified to have specific nutritional trait, and value adding quality. We have emphasized on much needed actions on demand-driven research for varietal development and field-adoptable management, mechanization for transplanting and harvesting operations, accommodation of rice in unexplored spaces, farmer-based speedy seed multiplication and dissemination system, establishment of commission for agricultural costs and prices, input buffer stock terminals for managing production risk, long-term storage and export of surplus production, and research-publicity-market development for rice-based products through public-private partnership. It is concluded that efficiency, resilience and sustainability around the three wings of DRP in the rice production systems to be ensured to achieve the rice production, productivity and labour use estimates. Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (2): 1-47, 2021

Growth and trend analysis of area, production and yield of rice: A scenario of rice security in Bangladesh

“…Therefore, to ensure the future food demand of overgrowing populations, we have to sustain or increase the Aman rice production in Bangladesh. Though the rice cultivation area of Aman is higher than Aus and Boro, the yield capacity of Aman varieties is lower than the Boro varieties [5]. Climatic conditions i.e., cloudy weather, low uptake capacity of fertilizer, lowest growing degree days and short life duration are the main causes of low rice yield of Aman season.…”

“…To increase the regional productivity equally, varietal and management interventions is must. Kabir et al, [5] reported that there are five unexplored areas in Bangladesh, where rice cultivation is possible. They mentioned that greater Barishal region, greater Sylhet region, South-west and greater Jashore region, Coastal charland in Barishal and Noakhali, and Chattogram hill tracts have unexplored areas.…”

“…Rice is also the staple food in Bangladesh and accounting for approximately 78 percent of the country's total net cropped areas cultivation. The country achieves an autarky to meet up the rice demand for its 169.04 million peoples from 11.55 million hectares of cultivated gross area [5,6]. In Bangladesh, food security is equivalent to rice security [5].…”

“…The country achieves an autarky to meet up the rice demand for its 169.04 million peoples from 11.55 million hectares of cultivated gross area [5,6]. In Bangladesh, food security is equivalent to rice security [5]. Rice is cultivated in three seasons namely Aus, Aman and Boro throughout the year.…”

“…Improved loan distribution policies (credit deposits directly to farmers' 10 Taka bank accounts), well-organized fertilizer supplies, availability of high-quality seeds by the public and commercial sectors, and technical interventions (e.g. genetic improvements of varieties for favorable and unfavorable ecosystems) make it possible to make Bangladesh as one of the largest contributors of rice in the world [5,8]. Bangladesh recently placed the third position worldwide in rice production, behind China and India, with a production volume of 3.6 crore tonnes [1].…”