Cooperative farming potential for establishing food security within rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Cooperative farming led by smallholder farmers might be the future of Bangladesh's agriculture. The paper examines rice-farming surveys from Kurigram Sadar, Bangladesh, and explores the potential of cooperative farming and mechanization. It reveals that a number of informal, community-supported cooperative practices are already in place, although rice farming is still labor intensive and inefficient. The paper argues that mechanization of key activities and institutionalization of cooperative farming may reverse the situation and improve food security. Kurigram Sadar rice farming is relevant to other parts of rural Bangladesh as well, as most of the country is employing similar agricultural practices.