Reported by: Faridunnahar Laili
Written by: Eshan Maitra
During his time as the Prime Minister, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman urged everyone to cultivate crops on every piece of land available. He also changed the tradition of single-crop lands in the 70’s. This encouraged and revolutionized the agricultural tradition in Bangladesh. Also cantonment lands were voluntarily utilized by the personnel for producing rice-paddies. Even elite families from Dhanmondi & Gulshan area started growing vegetables on their yards.
These totally changed the tradition and attracted more & more farmers to pitch in. Also they were properly valued for their work by the Awami League government. The long-term initiations by Bangabandhu, to this day shaped the agricultural growth & economy. Himself he initiated the agricultural guidance program that, engaged Agricultural Experts with the farmers at the fields for training.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina further aided her father’s campaign by decreasing the fertilizer price from 60 taka to only 20 taka. Even, her first-hand electricity-grid widening project included the farmers first. To help them with the electricity for irrigation pumping.
The Awami League government also funded countless agricultural researches. Hence, many talented scientists had the opportunity to share their work and develop several hybrid seeds. For better production and crops survivability.
For all of these, Bangladesh now fulfills 100% need of food for 16 crores population. While it was only 60% before Bangabandhu and the population was only 7 crores. Currently, Bangladesh is the 3rd largest country for growing vegetables. Also, Bangladesh did not produce half a ton of potatoes just a decade ago. Now the number meets 82 lacs 10 thousand tons yearly.