Bangladesh Agriculture: A Review of Modern Practices and Proposal of a Sustainable Method †

Abstract

Agriculture is the largest economic and employment sector in Bangladesh, accounting for 23 percent of its gross domestic product and 65 percent of its labour force. It has a total land area of 14,570 km2, with cultivated land accounting for 60% of the total land area. The population is still growing at a 1.37 percent annual rate, but cultivated land is shrinking at the same time. The agricultural land is being converted as a result of uncontrolled urbanization, industrialization, and an increase in human activity. Modern sustainable agricultural methods approach to agricultural innovations and farming practices that increase farmers’ efficiency and reduce the use of natural resources. This study uses secondary information to provide a general view on modern practices used in Bangladesh for sustainable agriculture (i.e., crop diversification, change in cropping pattern and rotations, integrated farming systems, etc.) and suggests a sustainable method (polyculture and crop rotation) based on SWOT and PESTEL analysis. This paper recommends that Bangladesh should adopt polyculture and crop rotation more to improve soil health and for higher crop resistance to plant pests that will hedge against a loss in agricultural sustainability.