Agricultural and Food Production improvement in Bangladesh

Feeding the ever growing population is a big challenge for Bangladesh in the coming decades. The major challenge for the country is to sustain the current level of agricultural production, the task is daunting, especially when the country loses about 80 thousand hectares of cultivable land annually due to excessive pressure on land for human settlement as well as the building of infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Moreover, river erosion and other non-agricultural uses contribute to the diminishing of agricultural land. Although the total number of farm holdings have increased by 22 percent, the cultivated area has declined with average farm size decreasing for 2.26acres in 1983-84 to 1.69 acres in 1996. Given that about 805 of the farms are small and highly fragmented more imaginative and effective organizations of production are needed to sustain community. The newly emerging 'contract farming' taken up by a number of private agri-business firms is one approach for the loss of land is to go for land reclamation in the Bay of Bangla for which of course the country needs massive external assistance. It is essential to improve agricultural production in general and food production in particular. For this, support from the public sector is necessary to generate and promote technologies and hence to strengthen production. Bio-technology research and development of hybrid crops and animal species need to be given which will probably involve partnerships with multinational private sector firms and institutions.

Here are some tips for foreigners about Bangladesh

At the airport :

At the airport, there are taxis, and auto-rickshaws called babitaxis, but you have to bargain for the fare. They demand there/four times more than the usual fare, even more when they see foreigners, especially Europeans. Taxicab services have been introduced but many taxis do not use metres and therefore you may be overcharged.

Driving :

It is difficult to drive in Bangladesh if you have no experience of driving here. Drivers change lanes frequently. As a foreigner you might find lane-changing without signals quite distressing. Many people do not follow traffic signals. Rickshaws and babi-taxis move in and out in a zigzag course and try to push through wherever they find some space. Moreover, pedestrians cross over whenever and wherever they wish. All these make driving in Bangladesh a nightmare experience.

Friendliness :

 Hospitality has long been a part of our culture in Bangladesh. Although many other things are changing now, people are still quite polite and friendly towards foreigners. They like speaking to foreigners even if they have not been introduced. It is quite common for Bangladeshi to ask personal questions about family, jobs and income which visitors from overseas might find awkward. However, it should be understood that no harm is meant by such questions-on the other hand, they express a genuine interest in the foreigner's state of affairs!

Shopping:

There are shops in most, localities of small and big towns which sell both local and imported goods. There are some modern shopping centers with large department stores in the big cities while some air-conditioned, self-service shops have also appeared. In the local markets, traditional haggling is still rampant. However, if you are a foreigner, you do not stand a chance to win.

Bangladesh Banking

An efficient banking system, although important for economic growth, is often unable or unwillingly to lend money to the poorer section of society, hence the need for micro finance institutions. Bangladesh has long history of micro credit finance, with internationally acclaimed organization such as the Grameen Bank providing credit to the poor, particularly rural woman. These institutions, in addition to providing credit, emphasis the need to develop skills and raise consciousness among the rural poor.There are about 800 micro finance institutions in the country with a total membership of about 7 million of which 82 per cent are woman. The cumulative disbursement made by these institutions since their inception is estimated at Tk. 44 billion, with current loans at Tk.9. 6 billion. It is estimated that they have created employment for about 54,000 people.

A recent survey of 1,798 households in Bangladesh indicates that about 45 per cent of eligible households in Bangladesh participate in micro-credit programmes and that about two –thirds of the perticipants are woman. The survey found that micro-credit programmes had a positive effect on socio-economic variables, including children's schooling, children's nutrition and family planning.

Bangladesh Government Employees

In Bangladesh, the retirement age for government employees is 57 years and for university teachers 65 years. In the United Nations the retirement age is 65 years. But this does not mean that after this age people suddenly become useless and unfit to work. These people are an asset to society with knowledge that only experience can bring and need to feel useful and want in society. In the developed countries, social security is provided by the government in the from of post retirement and old age, benefits, so that these people get free medical facilities and can also be economically independent. In Bangladesh, government employees are granted a pension and there are a few facilities at the government hospitals for the old but these are hardly, enough. Besides, the majority of our female population do not belong to the working class. They are housewives and are not eligible for any pension or gratuity. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, about 13.3 million people in 2000.This includes male and female elderly people both from the villages and towns. These people have served their nation and their families through the years. In their old age, it is their right to expect service from us in return. Their physical health has started deteriorating and they need as much care and consideration as possible.