The National Agriculture Policy 2018 of Bangladesh establishes a comprehensive framework for achieving safe, profitable and sustainable agriculture while ensuring national food and nutrition security. Its principal objectives are to increase agricultural productivity and production, improve farmers’ incomes and livelihoods, diversify crop production, strengthen food safety and nutrition, expand export-oriented agriculture, and promote the efficient use of natural resources. The policy places particular emphasis on modernising agricultural research, education, extension services and input management; fostering technological innovation, biotechnology and farm mechanisation; improving irrigation and water management; and enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate change and natural disasters. It also seeks to support high-value crops, market-oriented production and sustainable farming systems capable of meeting changing consumer demand. To achieve these goals, the policy sets out detailed measures covering agricultural research and technology transfer, seed systems, fertiliser and pesticide management, farm mechanisation, agricultural marketing, environmental protection and natural resource management. It promotes climate-resilient agriculture, crop diversification, conservation agriculture, specialised farming systems, safe food production and the adoption of information and communication technologies. The policy further aims to strengthen rural employment, support youth engagement and women’s empowerment in agriculture, encourage investment and agricultural cooperatives, improve market access and value addition, and enhance coordination among public institutions, private stakeholders and international partners. Through these measures, the policy seeks to modernise Bangladesh’s agricultural sector, increase competitiveness and sustainability, and contribute to long-term economic growth and poverty reduction.
Bangladesh · 2018-01-01