Dhaka:Experts and policymakers have advocated for subsidies to encourage the production and use of organic fertiliser, highlighting concerns that prolonged reliance on chemical fertilisers is detrimental to soil health and sustainable agriculture.
According to United News of Bangladesh, this call to action was made during a round-table discussion titled 'Subsidising and Promoting Organic Fertiliser for Healthy Soil, Crops and Environment' held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital. The event was jointly organised by ActionAid Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), with collaboration from 20 national and international development organisations and five universities.
Participants, including agricultural experts, government and non-government representatives, farmers, and entrepreneurs, discussed the barriers to the production, registration, marketing, and use of organic fertilisers. They emphasized the need for streamlined registration processes for entrepreneurs, effective quality monitoring, and coordinated efforts to promote sustainable agriculture. The speakers also pointed out Bangladesh's 84th ranking among 122 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2026, indicating a gap between food production and nutrition.
The discussions addressed administrative challenges faced by marginal farmers and entrepreneurs in registering organic fertiliser products, as well as the lack of quality assessment and monitoring. While acknowledging that organic fertilisers might lower crop yields compared to chemical ones, experts stressed their importance for maintaining soil health and crop quality, advocating for a balanced approach based on soil conditions and crop needs.
Abdus Salam, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), and Anwar Faruk, director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank, contributed as chief guests during technical sessions. They outlined existing registration processes and proposed district-level registration systems to facilitate entrepreneurs. Faruk also emphasized the necessity of delivering accurate, science-based information to farmers and developing standards for organic fertiliser application rates.
Special guest Mst. Sabira Sultana, MP, promised to present the proposals to relevant parliamentary bodies and urged the preparation of specific proposals and action plans. Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, highlighted the need for coordinated action to enhance quality control and reduce marketing irregularities, expressing their readiness to support government policy changes. Discussions also touched on raw material availability, soil testing, fair pricing, and the impact of middlemen, with a focus on effective mechanisms to regulate fertiliser quality.