BANGLADESH AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS ASSOCIATION
Agriculture is the largest sector of Bangladesh, employing more than 46% of the total population, contributing 13.50% of the total GDP (BBS, 2018). The sector comprises of crop, livestock, fishery, forestry and many cross-cutting areas. Although, our natural resources are finite and the productivity of land and water are diminishing, nevertheless the agricultural productivity has increased as a result of application of better science and technology and improved management practices. It is our pride that the country for the first time in the history attained food autarky in the year 2000 as a result of spectacular contribution of the large number of professionals engaged in agriculture, the farmers and the policy of the Government. Besides self-sufficiency in the main staples, we have to think about nutrition, macro and micronutrients and safe food. The government already achieved targets of Millennium Development Goals within 2015 and the Honorable Prime Minister of the Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina awarded recognition from United Nations for achieving these goals. The country is now on the way to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the year 2030 and be a developed country by the year 2041. The two important goals of the SDG are; No Poverty and Zero Hunger. The government has declared different programs to achieve these goals. The members of the Bangladesh Agricultural Economists Association (BAEA) are working closely with the government to achieve these goals. BAEA should revamp its programs to achieve a production level of more than this marginal sufficiency.
The BAEA is working from 1977 to contribute policy supports as well as implementation strategy of the government initiatives. The BAEA already conducted 16 National and International conference in different field of Agricultural sector (Attachment 1). The outcome of the conferences published in the Farm Economy Journal. The association also organized seminars in preparation of national budget every year. The members of the organization are working on feasibility study of the variety and technology developed by different Agricultural University and Research Organizations of Bangladesh. In addition the members are contributing to identify the bottlenecks of the developed varieties & technologies and provide suggestions to overcome. The members of the organization are contributing in formulating the five year plans, perspective plan, delta plan 2100. Moreover, the members are contributing in formulating and implementing food policy, agricultural policy, environment policy etc. and in flourishing the rural economy of Bangladesh. The members are also contributing in the field of Government Administration, Bangladesh Police and different civil service cadre. They are also working in different Banks, Financial Institution, in development organizations and as an entrepreneur.
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University are producing Agricultural Economics graduates. There are 1800 members of the society becoming one of the largest professional societies of Bangladesh, committed to different nation building programs.
The productivity enhancement in this sector is due to the dedicated contribution of its member working in the public and private sectors. The institution is continuously providing the information and management skill to its member and upgrading the knowledge base through different programs of capacity buildings and various R&D activities.
In pursuit of article no. 38 of the constitution of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, the BAEA is performing different nation building programs and rendering services to maintain food security for all and creation of better livelihoods for rural people all over the country.
Objectives of BAEA
The objectives of the BAEA are:
- Overall:
- To promote, advance and transfer the scientific achievements in all disciplines of agriculture with modern technology and exchange of knowledge to the farmers in accordance to their hopes and aspirations as codified under the constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, vis a vis welfare and development of the farming community.
- To help encourage and motivate the members of the association in the acquisition of scientific knowledge and professional skills in all matters related to agriculture by means of decisions, lectures, conference, symposia, workshop, publication of periodicals, journals, books and other activities related to agricultural and rural development.
- To help the government recognize and appreciate problems of agricultural development and of the farmers and suggest appropriate measures for their solution.
- To foster cooperation, solidarity and fellow feeling amongst the members of the association, uphold the honor and dignity of the profession and to lay down the professional code of ethics for its members to abide by in their professional conduct and socio-cultural aspects of national life.
The Future Programs of the BAEA
The association is planning to building programs encompassing the following major areas for revitalizing agricultural production and promotion of professional excellence for the sustained comprehensive agricultural development in a holistic approach:
- Academic initiative;
- E-agriculture;
- Agribusiness development & employment generation;
- National and international networking;
- Outreach program of reaching unreached;
- Agricultural & rural development advisory services.
Academic initiative
The Association has plan to devote in some academic program. The universities and other formal academic institutions are imparting academic courses for gaining degrees. There is need to cater to build knowledge base information centre. All over the world the post graduate diploma and courses are being continuously offered to refresh the professional with current information. The association has committed to device an offer to the following advanced and appropriate diploma and certificate courses as a part of Continual Professional Development. Certificate courses will be prepared through (in collaboration with) national & international institution and bilateral agreement with international organization/developed countries etc.
- Advanced applied certificate course (short & long term);
- Entrepreneur capacity development program.
- Advanced socioeconomic research program
E-agriculture
This association is continuously perusing programs to reach the un-reached people. Agricultural technology dissemination in the future could be increasingly knowledge intensive; there is basic need for improving technical literacy and vocational skill of farmers. The BAEA has strong commitment on e-agriculture. Faster dissemination of technology is now possible with the following programs:
- Development of technology module on commercial agricultural venture;
- Formation of producer association & capacity building;
- Technology transfer on value addition and market chain management;
- Development on entrepreneurship and agribusiness management skill;
- Establishing digital database network for technology transfer;
- E-agriculture and reaching the un-reach.
- E-animal and fisheries health services.
Agribusiness development & employment generation
No other sector in Bangladesh still creating employment opportunity and providing better livelihood to the people of Bangladesh other than agriculture. Over 46% of the people of the country directly earn livelihood from agriculture. The high value agriculture, farm mechanizations, fisheries and livestock, seed and seedling including nursery business has enormous potential for employment. Over 2.5 million people still could be employed in above high value program and the BAEA is engaged to uphold the skill with the following programs:
- Enhancing agricultural productivity;
- Responsive growers’ development (seed, planting materials, poultry hatchery etc.);
- Employment creation through management of common property resources;
- Entrepreneurship development on small scale livestock, poultry, fisheries and high value crops.
Sustainable agriculture development & environmental management
Environmental vulnerability is a global concern. Agricultural sector is the most vulnerable to the climate change impact. Sea level rise, change in temperature and carbon-di-oxide severely affects biodiversity and sustainability of our beloved motherland. The BAEA has strong mandate on awareness building program and capacity development of its member to cope with the climate change impact:
- Capacity building and awareness development for safe agriculture;
- Preparedness against environmental hazards;
- Development of adaptation program to cope with climate change.
Agricultural & rural development Advisory service
The changes in agriculture always require better scientific innovation and adaptation by farmers and it is highly location specific. The association being large professional body spreading all over the Bangladesh is providing advisory services to farmers, different communities, entrepreneurs and related development practitioner in the process of enhance productivity for nation building. As the apex professional organization the association has many distinguished scholars and senior professionals to advice the government for attaining food and nutrition security, poverty reduction strategy through ever green revolution and regenerative agricultural development.
The Centre of excellence
A scientific council would be formed in the association which will foster the scientific knowledge pertaining to post graduate academic programs. The council shall provide instruction and govern to uphold the quality of the program. It will offer some small grants for appropriate R&D activities under the supervision of the council to foster greater scientific and professional creativity. The agricultural universities and research institutions will play vital role in this regard.