The National Agricultural Mechanization Policy 2020 establishes a comprehensive framework for accelerating agricultural mechanization as a means of transforming agriculture into a more efficient, profitable and commercially viable sector while ensuring sustainable food and nutrition security. The policy aims to expand the use of cost-effective agricultural machinery, increase labour productivity, strengthen research and development, promote the use of renewable energy and precision agriculture, and enhance agricultural competitiveness through improved access to machinery, technical support, training and finance. It identifies key constraints such as small and fragmented landholdings, limited purchasing power of farmers, inadequate after-sales services, shortages of skilled personnel, and the absence of machinery quality standards, and proposes measures to address these challenges. To achieve these objectives, the policy sets out strategies to encourage the manufacture, importation, certification and dissemination of agricultural machinery through incentives, concessional loans, tax measures and institutional support. It promotes entrepreneurship in machinery services, supports youth and women’s participation, encourages local machinery manufacturing industries, and strengthens coordination among government agencies, research institutions, farmers and the private sector. Special provisions are included for mechanization in vulnerable and geographically distinct areas such as haor, coastal, char, hilly and Barind regions, while additional measures promote conservation agriculture, renewable energy use, safe machinery management and quality certification systems. The policy is intended to guide the long-term development of a modern, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural production system through coordinated public and private action.
Bangladesh · 2020-01-01