Minister gš¿x

Ministry of Agriculture Food, and disaster

Management & Relief Government of the
K…wl gš¿Yvjq
People’s Republic of Bangladesh MYcÖRvZš¿x evsjv‡`k miKvi

MESSAGE

It is my pleasure to know that the Department of Agricultural Extension has updated the
New Agricultural Extension Policy (1996) as National Agricultural Extension Policy (2012)
addressing the key constraints, emerging issues and strategic shifts of agriculture sector in
the context of present global scenario to maintain food security of rapidly growing
population.

The Policy emphasizes on integrated extension service. In order to achieve the mission and
vision of the Policy, the public and private Agricultural Extension Services will play an
increasingly important role in motivating, educating and assisting farmers to adopt improved
farming practices leading to increased farm production.

I believe that the National Agricultural Policy (NAEP) will create an enabling environment
for continued growth in food production and commercial crops and contribute to enhance
farmers’ income and growth of agro-based industry through proper utilization of existing
resource base, organizing farmers and developing market linkages of agricultural produce.

I hope that the Policy will support the Government’s priority to agricultural development as a
means of poverty alleviation and socio-economic emancipation.

(Matia Chowdhury)

i
 Secretary mwPe
Ministry of Agriculture Government of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
K…wl gš¿Yvjq
MYcÖRvZš¿x evsjv‡`k miKvi

FOREWORD

The agriculture sector including crop, livestock and fisheries contributes over 20 percent of
Gross Domestic Product in Bangladesh and provide employment to nearly 80 of its people.
The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is committed to the continuous
development of agriculture and its sustainability to maintain food security of a progressively
increasing population and socio-economic emancipation of its people through high value
agriculture and value addition through agro-industrialization. In this endeavor, updating the
New Agricultural Extension Policy (1996) as National Agricultural Extension Policy (2012) is
a very timely effort.

The National Agricultural Extension Policy concentrates on decentralized and demand-led

extension to meet farmers’ needs, emphasizes on coordinated extension service delivery
and encourages effective research-extension-farmer linkages.

The National Agricultural Extension Policy has set the principles outlined strategies for the
effective functioning of public and private extension service providers through creation of
National Agricultural Extension System (NAES) with the Department of Agricultural
Extension as the Lead Agency. The policy “seeks to ensure that effective co-ordination is
established to increase the efficiency of agricultural extension”. The key to successful
implementation of the policy lies in forging a broad–based understanding amongst
extension providers, farmers and other stakeholders.

I believe that the policy will enable all extension providers and agencies to work more
closely with farmers and other organizations for agricultural development in the country in
the light of lesson learned from the National Agricultural Technology Project.

I hope that a sound implementation strategy will be formulated within a very short time and
the policy is made operational.

(Monjur Hossain)
Secretary

ii
 Table of Contents

Section Page
I Acronym
ii
II Executive Summary
iii
III Background
1
Key Constraints of the Sector
IV 1
Emerging Policy Perspectives
V 3
Other Driving Policies
VI 4
Mission
VII 5
Vision
VIII 5
Key Objectives of the Policy
IX 5
Strategic Shifts and Guiding Principles
X 5
Components of the Policy
XI 7

Annexes

Annex-1. Map of Bangladesh showing Bio-ecological and Agro-ecological 13

Zones, ecologically constrained areas, poverty and nutritional status
Annex-2 Constraints and Technology Gaps Matrix in the Agriculture Sector in 14
Bangladesh

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 I. Acronym

1. AEZ Agro Ecological Zones

2. AWD Alternate Wetting and Drying
3. BADC Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation
4. BBS Bangladesh Bureau Statistics
5. BCCSAP Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
6. CIP Country Investment Plan
7. DAE Department of Agriculture Extension
8. DAECC District Agricultural Extension Coordination Committee
9. DLS Department of Live Stock
10. DOF Department of Fisheries
11. DTW Deep Tube Well
12. FG Farmers Group
13. FIAC Farmers Information and Advice Centre
14. FO Farmers Organization
15. GAP Good Agricultural Practices
16. GB General Body
17. GDP Gross Domestic Product
18. HID Human Institution Development
19. HQ Head Quarter
20. HYV High Yielding Variety
21. ICT Information and Communication Technology
22. IPM Integrated Pest Management
23. MIS Management Information System
24. MSE Mini and Small Entrepreneur
25. NAECC National Agricultural Extension Coordination Committee
26. NAEP New Agricultural Extension Policy
27. NAEPICC National Agricultural Extension Policy Implementation and Coordination
Committee
28. NAES National Agricultural Extension System
29. NARS National Agricultural Research System
30. NDMP National Disaster Management Plan
31. NFP National Food Policy
32. NGO Non Government Organization
33. NIB National Institute of Biotechnology
34. PLA Participatory Learning and Action
35. PM&E Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
36. PPP Public-Private-Partnership
37. PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal
38. RPRA Rapid and Participatory Rural Appraisal
39. SES Specialist Extension Services
40. SESP Specialist Extension Service Provider
41. SME Small and Medium Entrepreneur
42. STW Shallow Tube Well
43. UAECC Upazila Agricultural Extension Coordination Committee

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 II. Executive Summary

This document presents a revised National Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) which sets
extension policy directions for transferring technologies to crop, fisheries and livestock sector
development. Here, key elements of lesson learnt from existing policy, macroeconomic
scenario, agro ecology /bio-ecological zones and current issues in agriculture such as natural
disaster, production stagnation, land ownership and tenancy, poor soil health status, decreasing
agricultural land, irrigation water scarcity, lack of good agricultural practices, high demand of
quality seeds/planting materials etc., livestock and fishery issues including emerging challenges
and perspectives have been pointed out for strong consideration. In light of these elements, this
policy document has been formulated.

The mission of this NAEP is to provide efficient and effective decentralized demand responsive
integrated extension services to all categories of farmers, producers and small & medium
entrepreneur (SME) in agriculture through farmers group (FG) and their federations at union,
upazila, district and national level, to enable them to optimize their use of resources, in order to
promote sustainable agricultural, agri-business and socio-economic development.

Wide range of people directly and indirectly involved in agricultural growth will be benefited from
NAEP. The primary beneficiaries of the policy are: all categories of farmers, especially the small
and marginal farmers comprising about 86% of the farming community through “Farmers Group”
and their federations (Farmers Organization-FO) at union, upazila, district and national level.

The NAEP is built on nine (9) key principles:

1. Increasing production (horizontal and vertical) and productivity as a whole;

2. Cost effective efficient decentralized demand responsive extension services;
3. Targeting and mobilizing farmers group (FG) and their federations (FO);
4. Bottom-up planning and implementation;
5. Coordinated and integrated extension services through NAES;
6. Development of agri-business and contract farming for export promotion;
7. Adoption to climate change and development of specialized extension service for
climatically distressed areas;
8. Broad based extension support (in-time input support and subsidies, credit, price
enhancement etc.); and
9. Digitalized agricultural extension services (e-agriculture).

The goal of the National Agricultural Extension Policy is to: “Encourage the various partners
and agencies within the National Agricultural Extension System (NAES) to provide efficient and
effective coordinated services which complement and reinforce each other, in an effort to
increase the efficiency and productivity of agriculture in Bangladesh for ensuring food security
and business development”.

v
To achieve the above goal in relation to different agriculture related policies of Bangladesh, the
NAEP includes following key pillars:

1. Provision of coordinated and integrated extension services through “NAES”

2. Support to farmers groups (FG) and their federation (Farmers Organizations)
3. Targeting, mobilizing, capacity building and registration of “Farmers Group”
4. Implementation of market-led, demand responsive, pluralistic, decentralized bottom-up
extension system
5. Development and Strengthening FIAC as “One-Stop Service Center”
6. Support to development of agri-business and market linkage
7. Digitalized agriculture (e-agriculture)
8. Strengthening research-extension-farmers linkages
9. Strengthening biotechnological development and adoption
10. Information dissemination and extension methodologies
11. Advocacy and policy guidance
12. Strengthening urban agriculture
13. Disaster management and adoption to climate change
14. Specialist Extension Services (SES) for climatically distressed areas
15. Strengthening “Public-Private-Partnership (PPP)” in Agricultural Extension
16. Strengthening supply of quality seeds and other inputs
17. Emphasizing organic farming/ green farming
18. Mainstreaming women in agriculture
19. Private sector development
20. Emphasizing homestead gardening
21. Thrust on farm mechanization
22. Efficient and effective dissemination of technology
23. Industry linkage for enhancing agro-based industries
24. Credit & Insurance
25. Role of Extension Worker
26. Strengthening Monitoring and evaluation

Therefore, this NAEP will enhance as well as ensure the capability of the concerned extension
departments of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
(MOFL) to play strategic role in the light of new and emerging challenges for national
development in sustainable manner.

vi
 Bangladesh: National Agricultural Extension Policy 1996, revised in2012
[Draft for discussion]

III. Background

1. Agriculture in Bangladesh is unique as it is sustained by the world’s largest deltaic

planes characterized by natural flooding at the confluence of three mighty river systems
of the world, the Padma (Ganges), Jamuna (Brahmaputra) and Meghna which together
with about 800 rivers and tributaries draining into Bay of Bengal. The sector is
responsible for feeding about 151.5 million people (2.54 percent of the world’s
population), making the country largely food secure. Since independence in 1971 the
food production has increased three fold. The primary sector continues to be the
economic foundation of the country with 85 percent of the total population dependent on
agriculture, contributing 20 percent of the total GDP and reasonably growing at about 4
percent per annum.

2. The performance of the sector assumes criticality due to persistent pressure on it to

produce 0.3 million tones of additional food to feed about two million new mouths every
year. In addition to the ever increasing demands from the swelling population, the sector
has to support the livelihoods of 18 million farm households, 70 percent of whom owns
less than ‘3 bighas’ (0.4 hectares) of land. The situation is compounded by the fact that
about 45 percent of the farm households are poor and about 53 percent are virtually
landless who depend on the sector for employment. Development of the sector
assumes greater significance in reducing poverty especially in rural Bangladesh. In
addition the sector is highly vulnerable to climate change consequences of increasing
frequencies of prolonged droughts, devastating floods and irreversible aftermaths of
salinity intrusion.

3. The geo-physical and bio-climatic setting together with the socio-economic and
environmental demands call for a paradigm shift in agricultural extension for the country.
Government of Bangladesh synthesized this National Agricultural Extension Policy
benchmarked on the long term impacts on agricultural production, well-being of rural
communities and environmental sustainability in addition to mitigating the adverse
effects of climate change challenges.

IV. Key Constraints of the Sector

4. The Agricultural Extension Policy has been drawn up to strategically address the
following key challenges of the current production systems and aim for a rebound and
turnaround of the agricultural sector.

5. Proneness to Natural Disasters: About 6 geographic zones of the country have been
identified as ecologically constrained areas; (i) Persistent droughts resulting from erratic
rainfall in north western and western parts, (ii) Increasingly frequent and severe floods in

1
 the central part, (iii) Flash floods in northern and eastern parts, (iv) Salinity intrusion in to
south western and south central part, (v) erratic rainfall in Chittagong Hills and (vi)
Tropical cyclones and storm surges in the coastal areas, which together constitute about
41 percent of area of the country.

6. Increasing Pressure of Population on Land: The net area available for cultivation is
declining due to conversion of agricultural land to non agricultural uses for varied needs
of the growing population. The annual average rate of decline has been around 28.8
thousand hectares making the current cultivated area to 7.94 million hectares (2009).
The cropping intensity is at 181 percent.

7. Preponderance of Tiny, Marginal and Small Holders: The average size of own land
declined significantly to 0.28 hectares (2008). Marginal farmers who cultivate 0.5 to 1.49
acres are about 24 percent and small farmers who cultivate 1.50 to 2.49 acres are about
11 percent. The proportions of landless who have tiny holdings less than 0.49 hectares
are a majority 53 percent. The proportions of medium farmers who cultivate 2.5 to 7.49
acres are only 11 percent and large farmers who cultivate over 7.5 acres are a miniscule
1 percent. The tiny, marginal and small holders rent in land under share cropping
arrangement, who are called ‘barga chashis’ are common across the country. Inequality
in access to and tenure of land act as disincentive for sustainable investments practices
and usage.

8. Issues in Input Supply: Lack of timely supply of adequate quantities of quality seeds,
appropriate fertilizers and plant protection chemicals at fair prices continue to constrain
the production system.

9. Degrading Soil Health: Rising cropping intensity, poor fertilizer and water management,
recurrent floods and drought situations have led to depletion of soil nutrients, declining
soil organic matter contents and overall soil degradation.

10. Shortage of Working Capital: Use of modern technology, irrigation and improved
varieties make the production system capital intensive. The already resource poor tiny,
marginal and small holders find it difficult to access the banking system for investing in
productive assets and operations due to governance issues, stringent collateral
requirements, complex procedures and exorbitant interest rates. The micro finance
activities are neither adequate nor friendly to the not so credit worthy poor holders.

11. Food Safety Issues: Indiscriminate use of chemicals and pesticides raise issues of safe
production of produce causing concerns of health hazards to human, livestock and
fisheries. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices though have been initiated but
limited knowledge and availability of the inputs are limiting wide spread application. Also
there is no approved Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in Bangladesh or “Bangla GAP”
standards ensuring quality agricultural product with tolerable level of traceability for
export market as well as domestic consumption.

2
12. Inefficient Use and Scarcity of Irrigation Water: About 6.36 million hectares is under
irrigation and Boro rice is the main irrigated crop. Inefficient use of water and unwise
lifting of underground water fosters the depletion of underground water, which causes
drawdown, salinity intrusion and unavailability of irrigation water as well as drinking
water. On the other hand, high siltation of the rivers and water bodies, and low rainfall
lead to low recharge of aquifers leading to drawdown problems and scarcity of irrigation
water. Improper fielding of Shallow Tube Wells and Deep Tube Wells and inefficient use
of surface water also causes scarcity of irrigation water.

13. Slow Mechanization in Agriculture: Scarcity of draft power necessitates increased use
of mechanical power and machines in agricultural production system. The desired level
of mechanization could not be achieved due to limited capital or credit facilities coupled
with fuel and energy cost.

14. Skewed Focus on Cereal Crops: Though self sufficient in food production, cereal
production has been remaining stagnant. Diversification of the production system
focusing on increased production of high value crops and value added enterprises are
still to catch up. Extension activities narrowly focus on productivity and production
enhancement with very little attention on improving producer’s access to markets and
removing constraints in developing farm enterprises and agribusiness.

15. Lack of Orchestrated Management of Sub Sector Activities: Crop, livestock and
fisheries converge at the farm level, with most of the farmers following integrated farming
approach, the extension agencies plan their activities and functions separately for the
key sub sectors. The need for coordinated functioning of the three extension agencies is
the need of the hour for strengthening integrated farming systems and to achieve farmer
level synergies.

V. Emerging Policy Perspectives

16. Policy Guidelines in the past and innovative programs being implemented like National
Agricultural Technology Project, have already brought about path breaking
improvements in the sector. The strategic shift and directions of change have already
set in. The new Agricultural Extension Policy will build on these emerging perspectives
and potentials already demonstrated.

17. Increasing Public Investment in Agriculture Sector: The public investment for
extension support has gradually increased to 1.22 percent of the AGDP.

18. Priority setting of the Research Agenda: The thematic areas for pursuing agricultural
research and technology development have been identified and prioritized through wider
stakeholder consultations including farmers. An innovative and competitive model for
inviting, screening, funding and monitoring research proposals is in place and promising

3
 appropriate technologies are being developed, validated and disseminated among
farmers through Extension.

19. Amendments to the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council Act: BARC act has
been amended for improving the governance, management and development of the
National Agricultural Research System for achieving an impedance match among the
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and emerging threats of the primary sector and
making it more responsive to national priorities.

20. Farmer Group based Demonstration and Adoption: Mobilization and development of
Common Interest Groups of farmers, are working as the village level hubs for
demonstrating newer and improved technologies. These specialized crop fisheries and
livestock farmer institution have been gradually achieving widespread adoption among
farmers within the groups and outside.

21. Decentralized One Stop Extension Unit at Union Level: Housed within the new Union
Parishad Complex, Farmer Information and Advisory Centers (FIAC) are emerging as
the local extension units providing integrated advisory services on crop, livestock and
fisheries to all categories of farmers.

22. Supply chain Activities for High Value Agriculture: Though on a pilot basis, initiatives
are under way to develop and tap the potential of promising high value crops with a clear
focus on farm based livelihood development and income improvements through crop
diversification and market linkage.

23. Bottom up Micro Extension Planning: Extension activities are being systematized and
streamlined with the preparation of Micro Extension Plans for Farmer Groups, its gradual
consolidation and aggregation at union level and upazilla level. The implementation of
micro extension plan follows a coordinated arrangement among Agriculture (DAE),
Livestock (DLS) and Fisheries (DOF) departments.

VI. Other Driving Policies

24. The Agriculture Extension Policy is synthesized within the context of and drawing
lessons from the following policy framework and approaches already in operation.

• National Agricultural Policy - 1999

• National Food Policy - 2006
• Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan-2008
• National Seed Policy
• Flood Action Plan
• National Disaster Management Plan (2007 - 2015)
• Country Investment Plan - 2010

4
 • Perspective Plan (2010 - 2021)
• National Livestock Policy - 2007
• National Fisheries Policy - 1998

VIII. Mission

25. The mission of National Agricultural Extension Policy is to provide efficient, effective,
coordinated and de-centralized, demand responsive and integrated extension services
to help farmers in Bangladesh access and utilize better know how, improve productivity,
optimize profitability and ensure sustainability thereby ensuring the well being of their
families.

IX. Vision

26. The vision is to become self reliant to meet the entire food demand of its population as
well as competitively produce high value produces for global markets with the objectives
of alleviating rural poverty, maintaining nutritional standards, accelerating economic
growth and sustaining natural resources.

X. Key Objectives of the Policy

27. Considering the Constraints and Emerging Policy Perspectives, the objectives of the
Extension Policy is to

• Improve the productivity and production of primary food crops to sustain National
Food Security
• Increase farm income and employment through increased diversification of the
sector with high value crops and farm enterprises linked with domestic and
international markets
• Improve longer term sustainability of the use and conservation of Natural Resources
including mitigation of climate change induced vulnerabilities.
• Mobilize, build and develop farmer groups and organizations for better access to
technologies, information and markets through aggregation, economies of scale and
building social capital.
• Help alleviate poverty among tiny, small and marginal farmers including removal of
nutritional imbalances and ensuring food safety.

Strategic Shifts and Guiding Principles

28. The National Agriculture Extension Policy draws from the fore-going constraint analysis
and derives the following strategic approaches considering the competitive and strategic
advantages for Bangladesh.

5
29. Differentiated Approach to Suit Location Specific Demands: Depending upon the
biological diversity, climate variability, land forms, land use and soils, the country is sub
divided in to agro-ecological zones. In addition, there are ecologically constrained areas
resulting from proneness to natural disasters and emerging vulnerabilities from climate
change issues. The concentration and spread of poverty and incidence of malnutrition
among rural masses vary across the length and breadth of the country. This policy
recognizes a zoning and matrix approach using agro-ecological zones, ecologically
constrained areas, incidence of poverty and malnutrition, to define varied as well as
unique spatial and geographic demands for extension services as defined in the map
given in Appendix-I and constraints and technology gaps matrix given in Appendix-II.
The approach will increase the efficiency of extension efforts by defining location specific
and purpose specific extension approach, tools and messages so that the objectives set
under the policy are better achieved.

30. Targeting the Tiny, Marginal and Small Holders: The contexts, constraints and
capacities vary across different sub groups of farm households. In order to reach out to
all categories, optimize impacts and to ensure equity of benefits the extension services
have to match the needs and priorities of different sub groups of farmers. Participatory
targeting methodologies will be implemented to identify small holders and their sub
groups.

31. Recognizing Farmers as Partners in Development: This policy recognizes direct roles
for farmers in defining, managing and implementing extension activities. Inclusive,
accountable and empowered Farmer Groups at village level partner with extension
agencies to improve the effectiveness of extension efforts.

32. Synergizing Producer Organizations to Address Value Chain Constraints: The key
objectives of increased income and employment opportunities for the farm households
will be achieved through aggregation of farmer groups into higher level producer
organizations. The producer organizations are viable, economic enterprises for
enhancing farmer’s access to resources, technology and markets on a sustainable basis
based on the principles of promoting collective activities with more pronounced benefits
through all stages of production cycle. The producer organizations aim at increasing
incomes of farmer members through cost reduction, productivity and quality
improvement as well as risk and disaster mitigation measures.

33. Reinventing Integrated Whole Farm Approach: Shifting of focus from productivity
enhancement to income improvement and nutritional considerations call for integrating
crop, livestock and fisheries production. This will help supplement and complement
benefits from the production sub systems. Kitchen gardens/nutrition gardens and
backyard poultry are also integral part of the integrated approach.

34. Value Added Facilitation Style of Extension Agents: Farmer centered learning and
internalization of knowledge is the prime requirements for sustained and improved

6
 behavior changes. This calls for a radical change from the current advisory and
prescriptive styles of extension to more of facilitation. Such facilitation needs more
farmer friendly approaches of guiding, mentoring and handholding to help farmers take
informed decisions based on evaluation of alternate choices.

35. Pluralistic and De-centralized Approach: Enhancing outreach and sustained

meaningful benefits to farmers can only be ensured through collaborative efforts of
public, non-governmental and private initiatives. Locally based arrangements for
guidance and harmonizing to suit unique local characteristics and farmer needs will be
promoted with adequate coordination and monitoring. A bottom up participatory need
identification, prioritization and program planning approach will be strengthened.

36. Enhanced Capacity Building of Extension Personnel: The broadened scope and
renewed strategy require capacity building of extension personnel. Concerted efforts to
develop knowledge, skills and mental conditioning of the extension officers and
specialists in additional areas of facilitation skills, farmer institution building, supply chain
development etc. would be a priority for maintaining staff motivation and effective
performance.

37. Investment in Common Productive Assets to Augment Information Support: In

order to comprehensively mitigate constraints in the different stages of production cycle,
and to realize better income for farmers the new policy recognizes the importance of
investing in productive common assets, equipment and machinery.

38. Promoting e-Agriculture: Innovative use of information and communication

technologies will be promoted in all possible stages of agricultural production cycle.
However, the tools used will be farmer friendly easy to access as well as cost effective.

39. Copping with Climate Changes and Balancing Environmental Issues: Technology
adaptations to climate change induced vulnerabilities and a long term resilient strategy
on environmental and human health will be promoted.

40. Refocus on Social Safeguard Considerations: Special needs of women farmers,

young farmers, farmers in special constrained areas will be addressed through tailor
made extension approaches and packages.

41. Alignment, Harmonization and Coordination: The Country Investment Plan (CIP), the
national planning fund mobilization and alignment tool, presents a coherent set of 12
priority investment programs for Bangladesh to improve food security and nutrition
through food availability, access and utilization; out of which 7 programs are directly
relating to issues addressed in this policy. Following the Paris declaration, all external
sources of funding for the sector will be aligned to strengthen the NAEP for ensuring
cohesion, coordination and to avoid duplications. The policy is also aligned with the
sixth five year plan. Therefore NAEP will ensure effective coordination of interventions

7
 as outlined in the CIP among development partners, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Ministry of Food and Disaster
Management.

XI. Components of the Policy

42. In order to realize the vision and objectives, The National Agriculture Extension Policy
proposed to harness and channelizes resources to implement the following activities on
a priority basis.

43. Coordinated and Integrated Umbrella for Extension: a National Agricultural

Extension System (NAES) encompassing crop, fisheries and livestock sub sectors will
be promoted. The apex responsibility will be shared on rotation basis among the line
departments at district and upazilla level. However the national level coordination will be
lead by Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

44. Inclusive Farmer Organization at Village and Higher Levels: In order to restore
decision making in the hands of the farmers and to have direct access to resources and
markets, inclusive farmer groups will be mobilized, supported and strengthened as
representative organizations of crop, livestock and fisheries farmers of all categories.
These accountable institutions will perform and govern the primary sector activities in
accordance with comprehensive guidelines and rules of business. Building upon the
village level, farmer organizations, higher level Producer Organizations will be
established, mandated with activities covering entire production cycle. The
performances of Producer Organizations will be based on economies of scale, enhanced
bargaining capacity, equity of benefits, participation in decision making and risk
reduction. Farmer groups at the village level and higher levels will be registered under
appropriate laws for legal recognition.

45. Strengthening the One Stop Service Centre - FIAC: In order to ensure two-way flow
of information between farmers and other stakeholders (local government, extension,
research, private sector, NGOs), Farmers Information and Advice Centers (FIAC)
housed within the UP complex or UP office will be further developed and strengthened
under the leadership of DAE. Field extension personnel and local service providers of
extension agencies (at least DAE, DLS, DoF) will provide one stop integrated services
for all kinds of farmers as per roaster schedule. In the course of time, FIAC will be
strengthened with furniture, ICT facilities, small agricultural equipments, information
materials, mobile phone facilities and demand responsive information center for all
categories of farming communities/farmers.

46. Fortifying Information with Supply Chain Development: The extension services will
be broadened to support farmer institution building and addressing issues of input supply
including seeds and planting materials, quality assurance of produce, market and price
information provision, linkages with processors and exporters, brokering market

8
 linkages, post harvest management etc. through farmer institutions. Technical and
financial support provision will cover entire spectrum of activities in the production cycle
of nationally critical sub sectors and produces.

47. Ensuring Food Safety: Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards for agricultural
production and post harvest management will be developed and disseminated to
promote quality of produce, ensure phyto-sanitary standards and less traceability for
domestic and export consumption market.

48. Innovative Improvements for e-Agriculture: Use of ICT for linking marketing system
with production system will be implemented through web based and mobile based
technologies. Digitized data bases and management information system will be set up
at upazilla, district and national level. Mobile based text messages and voice messages
will utilized for early warning on pest and disease outbreak, natural disasters as well as
to disseminate critical information.

49. Demand Responsive Research-Extension-Farmer linkage: The core of the NAEP will
be strengthening the multi-way cyclical feedback and response system and linkage
among farmer, research institution and extension system. The process includes but not
limited to (a) the early involvement of researchers in extension planning and work on
demand-based on-farm technology validation; (b) demonstrations, field days, fair,
horticulture nursery, workshops and farmer exchange visits including increased use of
communications technologies for training and dissemination of extension related
information; (c) imparting training to the extension service providers on the newly
developed technologies from the research institutes; (d) participatory action research
involving extension service providers and farmers; (e) participatory annual technology
review workshop and (f) feedback procedure.

50. Newer Technology for Sharper Focus on Hot spots: Adoption of biotechnologically
develop technologies on crops, livestock and fisheries will be strengthen in collaboration
with NARS institutes and National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB). This will benefit the
poor farmers located in deeply flooded areas, char land, flash flood prone areas, coastal
tidal surge and salinity prone areas, and hilly areas.

51. Strategic Communication and Policy Governance: The National Agricultural

Extension Policy Implementation and Coordination Committee (NAEPICC) will be a
permanent body to serve as a forum for the NAES organizations and for the overall co-
ordination of NAEP chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. Honorable Minister,
Ministry of Agriculture would be the Patron of the Committee.

52. Promoting Urban Agriculture: Urban agriculture (especially urban horticulture) will be
promoted in any fallow land, roadside and in the roof-top of the high raised buildings to
meet up the demand of a portion of horticultural product and restoring a good

9
 environment for the urban people. The opportunity of the horticultural farming with high
technology will be emphasized for strengthening urban agriculture.

53. Mainstreaming Disaster Preparedness and Adaption to Climate Change: To combat

with disasters, the farmers group will be trained to adopt short duration varieties, late
varieties, salinity tolerant varieties, drought tolerant varieties and other available
technologies. It is recognized that farmers of Bangladesh have adjusted their cropping
pattern by growing a range of indigenous and high yielding varieties of rice and other
crops. The climate change adaptation in agricultural extension may include but not
limited to: (i) integrated approach involving concerned ministries and departments; (ii)
resilient extension practices for different climatically stressed and saline conditions; (iii)
strengthen capacity of NAES organization as a whole and (iv) documenting and
promoting indigenous farmer practices against disasters and vulnerabilities.

54. Specialized Extension Services for Climatically Distressed Areas: The following
Specialist Extension Service Providers (SESP) will be developed and provided: (i)
development of area specific climate resilient specialized cropping patterns; (ii) field level
trials of climate resilient specialized cropping patterns and associated water
management system in collaboration with agricultural research and related
organizations/institutes; (iii) development of organized seed production, preservation and
supply system for area specific adopted varieties; (iv) identification/development of area
specific production technologies (i.e., mulching, water management, polytunnels, raised
beds, floating beds, rain water reservers etc.) for crop production in the vulnerable
areas; (v) development of early warning and weather forecasting for crop production
against diseases, insects, drought, floods, storms, tidal surges etc.; (vi) development of
the capacity of the SESP in special areas by the concerned NAES organizations.

55. Strengthening “Public-Private-Partnership (PPP)” in Agricultural Extension: For

high-value, market led, export oriented sub sectors and producers private sector driven
development will be promoted in: (i) commercial production, processing and marketing;
(ii) agro-technology extension services; (iii) market information system (development,
expansion and flow); and (iv) establishment and management of agricultural product
collection centers, wholesale market etc.

56. The registration and regulations of private establishments in the agriculture sector will be
simplified for encouraging the development of private sector in seed production,
processing and marketing, non-urea fertilizer production and marketing, irrigation
equipments manufacturing and marketing, mini and small SME in village level etc. There
will be provision for low interest credit facilities and creating marketing opportunities.
There is also an urgent need to adjust education and training to the needs of the private
sector and provide working conditions in line with what is necessary for growth and
increased employment and income in agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The leaders of
the private sector, on their part, must focus more on productive investment, growth and
employment. In accordance with the definition used by the Government of Bangladesh,

10
 the following categorization of enterprises: (i) Microenterprise–one to 9 employees, (ii)
Small enterprises–10 to 49 employees, (iii) Medium enterprises–50-99 employees and
(iv) Large enterprises–100 or more employees, out of which (i) and (ii) will be considered
in agriculture sector. The policy development and legal aspects in agriculture sector will
be the responsibility of the public sector, where as the private sector will play the role of
implementer of the policy framework.

57. Strengthening Supply of Quality Seeds and Other Inputs: A coordinated effort will be
made by the extension organizations for production, processing, preservation and
distribution of quality seeds of HYVs (crops, livestock, fisheries etc.), timely availability of
the fertilizer giving emphasis on organic culture, low use of pesticides providing more
emphasis on the use of IMP technologies (sex pheromones and related technologies),
efficient irrigation water management providing more emphasis on the preservation and
use of rain and surface water and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation system
and other efficient irrigation systems (e.g., buried pipe, sub-surface irrigation, pukka nala
etc.).

58. Actively Promoting 0rganic Farming/ Green Farming: Pest attacks are one of the
most important limiting factors for satisfactory production of different crops. Pest-induced
crop losses range between 30%-52% every year, which means the crop losses are
anywhere between one-third to one half of attainable crop production. The crop losses
are a higher percentage of output in the developing countries than in the developed
countries - with a substantial absolute value of crop losses in South Asia. Several bio-
rational based pest management packages have been developed and became highly
popular among the farmer communities. IPM packages for toxic pesticide free vegetable
viz. eggplant, tomato, beans, cucurbits, okra etc. production are becoming much popular
and extended throughout the country. Bio-control agents are being commercially utilized
for pest management. It is true that progress has been made in the IPM research,
development and adoption, which is not enough for the safeguard of our environment
and total cropping system. Utmost importance will be given to disseminate bio-rational
based management to ensure productivity, food safety and safe environment in
collaboration with private sectors.

59. Mainstreaming Women in Agriculture: Participation of women in agriculture will be

encouraged through developing women farmer groups, encouraging women SME
development in agri-business, developing confidence for raising voice through grass root
level women farmers’ organization, creating gender awareness in both women and male
farmers. In addition women farmers are encouraged to lead and occupy decision
making positions in higher level farmer organizations.

60. Emphasizing homestead gardening : The development of home gardening that build
on traditional practices, local conditions and cultural context, and that are conducted by
extension service providers that are well-established in the community, can be a
sustainable means of improving micronutrient intake among high-risk groups and

11
 improving household food security, will be emphasized. In addition, home gardening
programs can be implemented successfully and cost-effectively on a national scale
using a collaborative model that fits local conditions. As women are usually the main
caretakers of the home garden, such programs empower them, thus ensuring better
utilization of the income from the garden for food and increasing family welfare. These
benefits will be important contributions towards poverty alleviation and food security in
Bangladesh. Emphasis will be given on the establishment of improved homestead
gardens that have more types of vegetables and productive throughout the year.

61. Thrust on Farm Mechanization: The government has already given due importance to
agricultural mechanization in the National Agricultural Policy. In the Policy it is included
that “The Government will encourage production and manufacturing of agricultural
machinery adaptive to our socio-economic context. Manufacturing workshops and
industries engaged in agricultural mechanization activities will be provided with
appropriate support.”

The policy realize the shortage of farm power and will promote projects to mechanize
different crop production operations like tillage, seeding transplanting, fertilizing,
weeding, herbicide spraying, harvesting and threshing, with 25% subsidy price to the
farmers to purchase different farm machinery to perform the above mentioned operation
in time which will be emphasized for a certain period of time.

62. Efficient and Effective Dissemination of Technology: Getting a technology adopted,

even when it has obvious advantages is often very difficult. Many technologies require a
lengthy period, often of many years from the time they become available to the time they
are widely adopted. Therefore, a common problem for many individuals and
organizations is how to speed up the rate of dissemination of a technology.
Implementation modalities including the target groups are important in determining the
dissemination and adoption of new technologies in the field. Furthermore, the rate of
adoption depends on the behavioral change and risk taking capacity of the farmer
categories: the (i) innovators, (ii) early adopters, (iii) early majority, (iv) late majority and
(v) laggards.

Change in attitude, skill and knowledge of the farmers and their groups will be enhanced
through “need-based single topic one day training program” and involving risk taking
farmers (category i & ii) in adopting new technologies through adaptation trial and
demonstration.

63. Industry Linkage for Enhancing Agro-based Industries: The development of

agriculture depends on the transformation of agricultural products into the commercial
industrial product as per preference of up-growing consumers. The industry linkage will
be enhanced through continuous supply of agricultural products by contract farming with
farmers groups and their federations at union, upazilla, district and national level and
linked with agro-based potential industries in home and abroad.

12
64. Credit and Insurance: Continued production with high productivity along with adoption
of input intensive innovative technologies require optimum amount of working capital in
time. This will be enhanced through group savings, linking with the financial institutes
and banks. The linking process will be initiated by the farmer organizations (FOs) at
upazilla and district level with the facilitation of the extension agent. Crop insurance,
though matter of debate, may be introduced for the save of small and marginal farmers
from damage-shock of their crops by sudden disaster.

65. Enabling and Guiding Role of Extension Workers: The role of extension agent will be
the “Facilitator but not the doer”. They will guide and help the private sector, FGs and
FOs in decision making process, creating demand view, identifying the local resources,
linking with the market and financial institutes, public resource institutes in home and
abroad within the legal framework. The capacity of the extension agent will be enhanced
through intensive technical and HID training, higher studies and on-spot coaching.
Adequate logistic support will be provided for efficient and effective extension support at
all level.

66. Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation: Participatory monitoring and evaluation

(PM&E) will be introduced at all level of extension initiative. Participatory monitoring and
evaluation (PM&E) is a process through which stakeholders at various levels engage in
monitoring or evaluating a particular program, share control over the content, the
process and the results of the M&E activity and engage in taking or identifying corrective
actions. PM&E will focus on the active engagement of primary stakeholders (FG, FOs
etc). In the course of PM&E processes, it will be ensured that the (i) primary
stakeholders are active participants – not just sources of information, (ii) capacity of local
people is build up to analyze, reflect and taking action, (iii) joint learning of stakeholders
at various levels have been taken place adequately, and (v) catalyzes commitment for
taking corrective actions.

13
 Appendix I

Map of Bangladesh showing Agro-ecological Zones, ecologically constrained areas, poverty and
nutritional status.

14
 Appendix II

Map of Bangladesh showing Agro-ecological Zones and ecologically constrained areas.

15
 Appendix III

Policy Implication Matrix

Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested

SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies*
Himalayan Old North-western • M ainly • Transplanted • Surface water supplies • Lack of suitable • Improve soil & crop
Piedmont Himalayan part of noncalcareous Aman are limited for dry season wheat varieties for management by dibbling,
Plain Piedmont Dinajpur, most brown • Aus paddy or irrigation. late planting. line-sowing or dry
Plain of floodplain soils, kaon (foxtail • Predominant soils are • Lack of short transplanting aus paddy.
grey floodplain millet). rapidly permeable. duration cereals • Increase use of
Panchagarh & soils & black • HYV boro • Variable extent of and pulses fertilizers and organic
Thakurgaon. terrai soils. varieties. manures.
• Sugar cane, flooding/water logging
• Mean annual potato, wheat, from year to year. • Dearth of drought • Improve field drainage
rainfall 1780- mustard, • Flash floods in tolerant crop for dry land crops.
2290 mm. pulses. depressions. varieties. • Expand rainfed HYV aus
• Temperature • Jute • Late drainage of soils in • Need for heat & dry land rabi crops.
max. 36º C and depressions. tolerant variety of • Promote the use of dug
1 min. 9º C. • Seasonal water logging. wheat. wells or hand
• High to medium • Late start & early end of • Need for low water pumps/tubewell.
high flash rainy season and high consuming • Identify local schemes
floods occur temperature & low cropping for flood protection &
following humidity delay sowing of patterns/crop drainage.
seasonal heavy aus & jute. varieties. • Provide more all-
local rainfall. • Soil fertility problem. weather roads.
• Poor road • Improve processing and
communication marketing facilities.
• Remoteness from the
urban services.

16
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies*
Barind High Barind Naogaon, • The region has • Transplanted • Unreliable low pre & post • Need for low water • Need to increase the
Tract Tract Nawabganj, been tilted aman monsoon rainfall. consuming use of fertilizers and
Rajshahi. upward along • Broadcast • Soils which are poorly cropping manures for crop
the western Aus drained in rainy season patterns/crop management.
edge. • HYV boro become very dry in dry varieties. • Improve maintenance
• Deep grey • Gram, barley season. • Lack of of field bunds and
terrace soils. & mustard • Low natural soil fertility. appropriate drainage outlets
• Mean annual • Generally technique for between fields so as to
rainfall 1300- inadequate surface removal of iron retain water on fields
1400 mm. water. and arsenic in more efficiently and to
• Temperature • Some areas contain high irrigation water. reduce the risk of
max. >40º C Iron - in groundwater • Dearth of drought gulley erosion during
and min. <20º tolerant crop heavy
which adversely affects
C. varieties. rainfall.
the crop.
• All the land • Lack of short • Promote the use of
• Worse internal
stands duration cereals dug- wells.
communication.
above and pulses • Increase the number of
• Big land-ownership
normal flood- varieties. tanks & re-excavate
2 level.
makes difficult to
derelict tanks to provide
organize cooperative
• Mainly additional irrigation
activities.
drought prone water.
area. • Increase the thickness
of the cultivated layer
above the ploughpan
without destroying
bearing capacity when
the soils are wet.
• Grow dry land crops
after transplanted aman.
• Conduct water
management trials on
rainfed and irrigated
land to increase the
efficiency of water use.
• Build more all-
weather roads.

17
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies*
Level Bogra, • Almost level • Transplanted • Soils which are flooded • Lack of quick- • Improve soil and crop
Barind Natore, area, elevation aman in the rainy season maturing HYV management by
Tract Naogaon, nearly 60-90 • Broadcast become very dry in the aus and HYV increased use of
cm. HYV aus dry season. aman varieties. fertilizers and manures
Gaibandha,
• Deep & • HYV boro • Low organic matter • Dearth of drought on all soils.
Jaipurhat, shallow grey content & low soil tolerant crop • Promote the
paddy
Dinajpur, terrace soils. • potato & fertility. varieties. supplementary
Rangpur, • Mean wheat • Uncertain groundwater • Need for low water irrigation of kharif &
Sirajganj. annual supplies in some consuming early rabi crops using
rainfall 1300- areas. cropping tanks, dug wells and
1500 mm. • Big land-ownership. patterns/crop existing DTWs/STWs
• Temperature • Poor rural road varieties during drought season.
max. 40º C, communication • Construct flood protection
min. 20º C.
• Seasonal especially in the rainy infrastructures and
flood occur season. improve drainage to
during heavy protect the HYV boro &
local rainfall. kharif crops from early &
• Mainly flash floods.
drought prone • Expand cultivation of
area. transplanted HYV aus
or aman, using quick-
maturing varieties.
• Re-excavate old tanks
and khals (canals),
excavate new tanks.
• Concentrate
extension efforts on
progressive medium

18
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies*
North- Gaibandha, • The region • Field crops • Low moisture holding • Lack of quick- • Increase use of
eastern Jaipurhat, stands slightly include aus, capacity of soil. maturing HYV aus organic manures on all
Barind Dinajpur, higher than t.aman, mesta, • The red soils are and HYV aman soils for growing
Tract adjoining mustard, strongly phosphate varieties. dryland crops.
Rangpur,
floodplain land. potato, fixing. • Dearth of drought • Increase use of fertilizers..
Bogra. sugarcane and • The brown-mottled soils
• Deep red-brown tolerant crop • Use mulching of red &
& brown mottled mashkalai are neither well suited for varieties. brown soils for cultivating
terrace soils. (blackgram). dry land nor for wetland • Need for low water dry land crops.
• Mean annual kharif crops because of consuming cropping • Apply supplementary
rainfall 1800- these uncertain patterns/crop irrigation to kharif crops
2000 mm. hydrological conditions. varieties. from dug wells and tanks
• Temperature max. • Poor road during drought.
>40º C, min. <15º communication during • Improve field drainage of
C. rainy season. red and brown soils to
• Soils are acidic. protect dry land crops
• Most of the from water logging during
region is better heavy rainfall.
drained.
• A few valleys
are seasonally
deeply flooded.
• Mainly drought
prone area.

19
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies*

Madhupur Madhupur Jamalpur, • Deep red-brown • Mainly • Complex relief & soil • Lack of short • Increase use of
Sal Tract Gazipur, terrace soils & rainfed aus, patterns. duration/flood fertilizers and organic
Tract Mymensingh, noncalcareous t.amam & • Low moisture holding tolerant varieties of manures.
Tangail. floodplain soils. also HYV capacity of soil & low paddy. • Provide deeper
• Mean annual boro. natural fertility. • Lack appropriate of ploughing to break up the
rainfall 2030-2290 • Mustard, • Both uncertain flash water management ploughpan in red & brown
mm. jackfruit, flood & deep flooding technique for the upland soils.
• Temperature max. sugarcane, occur. complex relief area. • Improve maintenance
34º C, min.11º C. wheat, potato, • Poor road of field bunds on soils to
• Areas of vegetables. communication in interior protect erosion.
floodplain areas, especially in rainy • Expand command areas
alluvium season. of existing irrigation
moderately • Big land-ownership and facilities by lining
deeply flooded. also dominance of channels, leveling fields,
3 absentee landlords. full-time pump operation
through rotational
irrigation.
• Create terraced fields
for paddy cultivation.
• Adapt new crops
varieties.
• Re-excavate old tanks
and khals, excavate new
tanks.
• Construct road,
embankments
and culverts.
• Dug channels
below culverts.

20
 Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
Tista Active Tista Kurigram, • Noncalcareous • Cheena, kaon • About one-third of the • Lack of quick- • Increase production of
Floodplain Floodplain, Lalmonirhat, grey floodplain or early aus, land remains barren, maturing HYV aus suitable crops like non-
Nilphamari, soils. t.aman, jute mainly on new char land. and HYV aman rice cereals, mustard,
Rangpur, • Mean annual and • Poor soils on new chars. varieties. potato, etc. on silty soil.
Gaibandha. rainfall 1270- sugarcane. • Shifting river channels • Lack of • Use more fertilizers on
2290 mm. which constantly erode management silty soils & more manure
• Temperature agricultural land & techniques for on sandy soils.
max. 38º C, displacing settlements. bringing new • Make kharif crop
min.10º C. • Uncertain crop alluvial soils production more secure
• Most areas are production due to risk of quickly under by growing early aus
shallowly bank erosion. cultivation. paddy & jute.
flooded in rainy • Variable flood-levels • Absence of • Grow quick growing trees
season. within the rainy season techniques for in those areas which
& between years. avoiding or have most distant from
• Backward socio- mitigating natural active river channels.
economic conditions due disasters. • Increase economic
to big land holdings by • Lack of security by giving priority in
absentee owners. appropriate quick the settlement of new
4a growing woody chars to farmers who have
plants varieties. lost land by bank erosion.
• Improve road
communication
• Construct flood shelters &
embankment.
• Promote industrial &
agricultural development
in neighboring region to
attract people out of the
insecure char areas.

21
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies
Karatoya- Eastern half of • Noncalcareous • Aus, aman, • Uncertain depth & extent • Lack of practical • Increase use of fertilizers
Bangali Bogra, most of grey floodplain jute, pulses, of rainwater in basins. means of increasing in all soils and organic
Floodplain, Sirajganj. soils. oilseed, wheat, • Deep flooding & heavy the thickness of soil manures especially in
• Mean annual potato, soil consistence in basin without destroying light textured soils.
rainfall 1500-1800 mustard, chilli, clays. the bearing capacity. Improve crop
•
mm. sugarcane. • Irregular relief & complex • Lack of appropriate management by
• Temperature soil patterns near river low water dibbling/line-sowing aus
max. 40º C, min. channel. consuming method on permeable soils and
15º C. • Sometimes shortage of of jute retting. transplanting on
• Most areas are surface water for jute impermeable soils.
deeply flooded retting. • Promote the use of dug
in rainy season. • The plough pan in soils wells & hand pumps for
used for t. aman restricts supplementary irrigation.
root development of other • Excavate khals/tanks.
crops. • Improve flood control &
• Risk of extensive crop drainage.
damage if the • Improve marketing
Brahmaputra facilities.
embankment is breached • Provide all weather roads.
by flood.

Lower Atrai Naogaon, • Low-laying area. • Local boro, • Deep seasonal flooding. • Lack of • Increase use of fertilizers
Basin Natore, Bogra, • Noncalcareous HYV boro, • Rapid flash flooding. submergence and organic manures.
Sirajganj, grey floodplain deepwater • Slow drainage after tolerant modern • Expand command areas
Rajshahi. soils. aman. heavy rainy season. rice varieties. of existing irrigation
• Mean annual • Occasional drought. • Dearth of facilities.
rainfall 1500- • Heavy clay soils which appropriate • Provide additional
1600 mm. are very heavy to technique for DTWs/STWs.
• Temperature cultivate. tillage of heavy • Identify local schemes for
max. >40º C, • Poor dry season clay soils. flood & drainage
min. <15º C. road communication. • protection.
• Most areas are • Improve external &
deeply & often internal road links.
rapidly flooded
in rainy season.

22
 Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
Tista Most of • Noncalcareous • T.aman, aus, • Droughty, infertile, sandy, • Lack of practical • Increase use of fertilizers
Meander greater grey floodplain jute, wheat, ridge soils. means of increasing and organic manures.
Floodplain Rangpur, soils. potato, spices, • Wetness of ridge soils the thickness of soil • Improve crop management
eastern part of • Mean annual vegetables & during periods of heavy without destroying by dibbling/line-sowing of
Panchagarh & rainfall 1500-2300 tobacco. rainfall. the bearing aus on permeable soils
mm. • Plough pan and slow capacity. and transplanting on
Dinajpur,
• Temperature drainage of basin soils • Lack of appropriate impermeable soils.
northern
max. >40º C, after rainy season. low water • Improve jute retting
Bogra, parts of min. <20º C. • Occasional serious flood. consuming method facilities.
Jaipurhat, • Most areas are • Sometimes shortage of of jute retting. • Promote the use of dug
Naogaon, shallowly surface water for jute wells & hand pumps for
Rajshahi. flooded in rainy retting. supplementary irrigation.
season. • Irregular relief & complex • Improve marketing
soil patterns. facilities.
• Provide all-weather roads.

Ganges Arial Bil Munshiganj, • Low lying basin • Local boro • Deep and sometimes • Lack of • Improve crop
Floodplain Dhaka. area. paddy, aus, early flooding. submergence management by
• Relief is locally aman, potato, • Predominantly heavy clay tolerant/deep- water dibbling/line-sowing aus
irregular. pulses, soils. modern rice on loamy ridge soils.
• Calcareous dark mustard, • Empolderment & pump varieties. • Employ more efficient
grey floodplain wheat, drainage would be difficult method for applying
soils & vegetables. and expensive to provide fertilizers.
calcareous because of the rapid run- • Use land leveling in crop
brown floodplain off from the predominant fields.
soils. clay soils. • Create small polders with
• Mean annual pump drainage and
4b rainfall 1900- irrigation facilities.
2150 mm. • Identify small
• Temperature embankment for flood
max. >35º C, protection.
min. <15º C. • Make raised cultivation
• Mainly deeply platforms.
flooded in rainy • Use more fertilizer &
season. pesticide.
• Improve water
communication.

23
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies
High Nawabganj, • Most areas have • Aus paddy, • Uncertain flood levels. • Lack of quick- • Improve crop management
Ganges Rajshahi, a complex relief. jute, pulses, • Crops on both ridge & maturing HYV aus by dibble- sowing aus
River Pabna, • Calcareous oilseed, wheat, basin exposed to the risk varieties. paddy on ridge &
Floodplain Kushtia, dark grey potato, of drought, flood & • Dearth of drought transplanting aus and
Meherpur, floodplain soils sugarcane, waterlogging. tolerant crop deepwater aman on basin.
Chuadanga, & calcareous tobacco, • Heavy, cracking, basin varieties. • Increase use of organic
Jhenaida, brown floodplain cotton,turmeric, clays which are difficult to • Lack of post- manure on loamy ridge
Magura, soils. garlic, onion, plough both when wet & harvest handling soils.
Jessore, • Mean annual mustard. dry. and marketing • Grow dainchya (sesbania
Satkhira, rainfall 1400- • Banana & • Poor materials for road techniques for sp) as a fuelwood crop.
Khulna. 1800 mm. mango are foundation, road surfacing, fruits. • Excavate/re-excavate old
• Temperature mainly cash embankment etc. because river, khals, & tanks.
max. 40º C, min. crops. of the plastic, shrink-swell • Use field leveling.
20º C. properties of soils • Expand cultivation of
• Mainly • Big land ownership. dryland cash crop.
shallowly • Undertake large-scale
flooded area but embankment project..
extensive
flooding occurs
due to heavy
rainfall.

Low Natore, Pabna, • Most areas have • Aus & aman • Widespread deep • Lack of quick- • Improve crop
Ganges Goalundo, a complex relief. paddy, HYV flooding near basin. maturing HYV aus management by dibble-
River Faridpur, • Calcareous dark boro, • Doughtiness of ridge and HYV aman sowing of aus paddy on
Floodplain grey floodplain capsularis jute, soils. varieties. ridge & transplanting aus
Gopalganj,
soils & calcareous potato, pulses, • Heavy clays remain wet • Dearth of drought and deepwater aman in
Madaripur, brown floodplain sugarcane, tolerant crop basin.
in rain but quickly dry
Magura, soils. tobacco, under sun which is not varieties. • Increase use of organic
Manikganj, • Mean annual cotton, spices, suitable for cultivation. • Need for low water manure on loamy ridge
Munshiganj, rainfall 1600-2000 mustard. • Limited surface & ground consuming cropping soils.
Dhaka, Narail, mm. water supply for irrigation patterns/crop • Grow new crops to
Khulna, • Temperature in some areas. varieties. prevent disease.
Kushtia, max. >40º C, • Sometimes shortage of • Lack of appropriate • Grow dainchya as a
Shariatpur, min. <20º C. surface water for jute low water fuelwood crop.
Bagerhat, retting. consuming method
Barisal. of jute retting

24
 Suggested
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
E
• Medium to • Widespread zinc, sulphur, • Expand cultivated land.
shallowly iron deficiency problem in • Excavate/re-excavate old
flooded area. topsoil. rivers, khals, and tanks.
• Ufra (nematode) disease • Promote the use of dug
of paddy is prominent. wells & hand pumps for
• Poor road supplementary irrigation.
communication. • Make regulations for flood
protection areas to
prevent the uncontrolled
spread of settlement and
industry onto valuable
agricultural land.

Lower Western part • Low floodplain • Deepwater • Heavy clay soils: sticky • Lack of appropriate • Increase use of fertilizers
Purnabhab of Naogaon, area. aman, & plastic when get wet. tillage method for & find out more efficient
a northern part • Calcareous dark traditional • Hard & cracking soils heavy clay/ hard & methods of applying
Floodplain of Chapai grey floodplain boro. when get dry. cracking soils them.
Nawabganj. soils & • Deep & rapid flooding • Dearth of low • Increase supplementary
calcareous area. temperature irrigation from bils, tanks
brown floodplain • Drought in pre-monsoon tolerant boro rice and wells.
soils. season. varieties. • Test t.aus in June on
• Mean annual • Relatively long cold • Lack of appropriate higher land & deepwater
rainfall 1270- winter delaying planting of low water aman after harvesting
1780 mm. boro paddy. consuming method boro paddy.
• Temperature • Poor road communication of jute retting • Improve external
max. 37º C, min. in rainy season. &internal road links.
11º C. • Remote from growth
• Moderately centres and urban
deeply flooded markets.
area. • Probably big (& often
absentee) land
ownership.

25
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
E d
Brahmaputra Old Sherpur, • Most areas have • Aus, local • Risk of early flooding & • Lack of quick- • Increase use of fertilizers&
-Jamuna Brahmaputra Jamalpur, broad ridges & boro, flash flood. maturing HYV aus organic manures and in
Floodplain Floodplain Tangail, basins. broadcast • Uncertain depth of and HYV aman more efficient ways.
Mymensingh, • Noncalcareous aman, jute, flooding from year to year. varieties. • Provide deeper ploughing
Netrakona, dark grey potato, • Heavy clay basin soil & • Dearth of drought to increase moisture
Kishoreganj, floodplain soils. wheat, droughty soil on ridge are tolerant crop holding capacity of soils.
Narsingdi, • Mean annual tobacco, difficult to cultivate. varieties. • Improve crop
Narayanganj. rainfall 2000- lentil, • Puddled topsoil & strong • Need for low water management by field
4000 mm. groundnut, ploughpan in soils used consuming cropping leveling, making field
• Temperature sugarcane & for t.aman, which prevent patterns/crop drains.
max. 40º C, vegetables. the cultivation of dryland varieties. • Transplant deepwater
min.15º C. crops. • Lack of appropriate aman on basin margin
• Shallowly • Sometimes shortage of low water soils (already practiced in
flooding area. surface water for jute consuming method some areas).
retting. of jute retting • Make raised cultivation
• Lack of awareness platforms for intensive
about inter-cropping cultivation of cash crops
with sugarcane. in flood prone areas.
• Lack of appropriate • Grow dainchya as a fuel
4c tillage method for wood crop.
removing • Provide more all-weather
ploughpan. roads.

Active Eastern part of • This region has • Aus, deep • Shifting river channels, • Lack of quick- • Increase production of
Brahmaputra Kurigram, an irregular water aman, constantly eroding maturing HYV aus dry land crops.
and Jamuna Gaibandha, relief. jute, cheena, cultivated land & and HYV aman • Use more fertilizers on
Floodplain Bogra, • Local difference mustard, settlement. varieties. silty soil & more manure
Sirajganj & in elevation is pulses, • Irregular relief, complex • Lack of on sandy soil.
Pabna, western mainly 2-5 groundnut & soil patterns & changing management • Grow quick maturing
part of Sherpur, meters. sugarcane. soils. techniques for trees.
Jamalpur, • Noncalcareous • Uncertain land ownership bringing new alluvial • Construct flood shelters.
Tangail & grey floodplain & backward socio- soils quickly under • Promote different types of
Manikganj soils. economic condition. cultivation. economic activities.
• Poor communication. • Promote different
types of economic
activities.

26
 Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
. • Mean annual
rainfall 1500-
2500 mm.
• Temperature
max. 40º C, min.
20º C.
• Seasonally
flooded area.
Young Western part • This region has • Aus, aman, • Occasional high flood & • Lack of quick- • Increase use of fertilizers
Brahmaputr of Sherpur, a complex relief. jute, local late flood damaging maturing HYV aus & organic manures in
a and Jamalpur & • Noncalcareous boro, wheat, crops. and HYV aman more efficient ways.
Jamuna Tangail, grey floodplain barley, • Complex soil & irregular varieties. • Provide deeper ploughing
Manikganj, soils. cheena, relief patterns. • Lack of to facilitate root
Floodplain
Gazipur, • Mean annual maize, kaon, • Shifting channels of management penetration.
Mymensingh, rainfall 1500- mustard, river causes loss of land techniques for • Improve crop
Kishoreganj, 2500 mm. groundnut, by bank erosion, burial bringing new management by field
Narayanganj. • Temperature pulses, chilli, of older soils by alluvial soils leveling and making field
max. 40º C, min. sweet potato, possibly thick layer of quickly under drains.
15º C. summer raw new alluvium & cultivation. • Expand cultivation of cash
• Shallowly vegetables. silting up of drainage • Lack of crops.
flooding area. channels. appropriate quick • Provide additional
• Infeasibility of building growing woody
DTWs/STWs.
major irrigation/drainage plants varieties.
• Identify local schemes for
headworks on the river. • Lack of awareness
providing protection
about newly
against early floods &
developed crop
drainage.
varieties/cultural
practices.

27
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies
*
Surma- Eastern Habiganj, • 3-6 m local • Field crops • Occasional flash flood • Lack of • Increase use of fertilizers
Kushiara Surma- Moulvi Bazar, differences in include aus, destroys crops. submergence & in more efficient ways.
Floodplain Kusiyara Sunamganj, elevation. t.aman, local • Very heavy rainfall tolerant modern rice • Expand use of HYVs,
Floodplain Sylhet • Noncalcareous boro, mustard, hamper harvesting, varieties. t.aus and deepwater
grey floodplain potato, sweet drying and storage of • Dearth of aman.
soils. potato, pulses, crops. appropriate • Increase provision of field
• Mean annual vegetables, • Predominance of heavy technique for tillage drains for direct seeded
rainfall 4320- spices and soils prevents cultivation of heavy clay soils. crops.
5840 mm. fruit trees. of dryland. • Lack of quick- • Control pest/disease
• Temperature • Slow drainage of basin maturing HYV aus through proper
max. 33º C, centres. and HYV aman management.
min.12º C. • Poor road varieties.
• Identify schemes for flood
• Ridges are communication • Lack of awareness protection & drainage.
shallowly throughout the year. about newly
• Improve facilities for grain
4d flooded & basins • Remote from growth developed crop
drying, storage &
are deeply centres and urban varieties/cultural
marketing.
flooded in rainy markets. practices.
• Improve arrangements
season. • Much big (& often for providing &
• Surface water absentee) land rescheduling agricultural
utilized for dry ownership. loans.
season • Conflict between fishing • Provide more dry season
irrigation& & agricultural interests roads.
fishproduction. for use the water
remaining in haors after
rainy season.

Meghna Lower Chandpur, • The region has • Aus, aman, • Deep seasonal flooding. • Lack of • Increase use of
Floodplain Meghna Lakshmipur, slightly irregular jute, chilli, • Waterlogging due to submergence fertilizers& organic
River Noakhali. relief. potato, wheat, heavy rain. tolerant modern rice manures.
Floodplai • Noncalcareous kaon, mustard. • Riverbank erosion. varieties. • Improve crop
grey floodplain • Exposure to cyclones. • Dearth of salt management by field
n
soil. • Highly silty soil which tolerant crop leveling and making field
4e varieties drains.
• Mean annual are poorly aerated.
rainfall is 2000- • Slight topsoil salinity. • Lack of appropriate • Provide additional
3000 mm. • Presence of Ufra techniques and pumps/tube well for
• Temperature max. disease affecting paddy. crops for irrigation
>40º C, agricultural • Provide more off-farm

28
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
E d
• Mainly rehabilitation Employment opportunities.
moderately following natural • Make raised platforms for
deeply flooded. disasters. intensive cultivation.
• Construct flood & road
embankments.
• Provide more roads.
Middle Kishoregonj, • This region • Mainly deep • Early rise of flood water. • Absence of • Increase use of fertilizers
Meghna Brahmanbaria, includes chars. water aman, • Poor communication improved deep & organic manures.
River Comilla, • Noncalcareous aus, local (except by boat). water aman rice • Improve crop
Floodplain Chandpur, grey floodplain boro, t.aman, • Sandy soils & irregular varieties. management by field
Narsindhi, soil. jute, relief. • Lack of leveling and making field
• Mean annual groundnut, • Exposure to appropriate drains.
Narayanganj.
rainfall is 2200- chilli, mustard, cyclones and storm techniques and • Provide low-lift
2300 mm. wheat, surges. crops for pumps/tube well.
• Temperature khesari, sweet • River bank erosion along agricultural • Make raised platforms for
max. >40º C, potato. the channel. rehabilitation intensive cultivation.
min. <15º C. following natural • Construct flood & road
• Most of the disasters. embankments.
areas are • Provide more roads.
seasonally
deeply flooded.
Old Meghna Kishoregonj, • This region is • Aus, t.aman, • Moderately deep • Absence of • Increase use of fertilizers
Estuarine Habiganj, mainly low- lying HYV boro, seasonal flooding. improved deep & manures.
Floodplain Brahmanbaria, area. chilli, • Slow drainage after rainy water aman rice • Increase provision of field
Comilla, • Noncalcareous mustered, seasons. varieties. drains for direct seeded
Chandpur, dark grey wheat, • Very silty soils difficult to • Lack of appropriate crops.
floodplain soil. khesari, cultivate kharif dryland techniques and • Expand transplanted aus
Narsindhi,
• Mean annual potato, kaon, crops. crops for & aman.
Narayanganj, sesame.
rainfall is 2000- • Slight dry season soil agricultural • Expand cultivation of
Dhaka, rehabilitation
3000 mm. salinityand salinity in cash crops.
Sariatpur,
• Temperature deep groundwater in following natural • Control pest/disease
Madaripur,
max. >40º C, coastal region. disasters. through proper
Gopalganj,
Feni, min. <15º C. • High population density. management.

29
 Suggested
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
E Interventions/Policies
Noakhali, • Most of the • Lack of appropriate/ • Improve soil aeration by
Lakshimpur, areas are proper land use ploughing deeper.
Barisal, seasonally regulations to prevent • Provide additional
medium to industrial sprawl over pumps/tube well for
shallowly flood protected irrigation
flooded. agricultural land, as has • Provide more off-farm
happened in the DND employment
project area. opportunities.
• Improve road
communication

Haor Basin Sylhet Basin Habiganj, • 3-6 m difference • Mainly local • Early flash flood • Lack of • Increase & more efficient
Kishoreganj, in elevation boro paddy, destroys maturing boro, submergence use of fertilizers.
Moulvi Bazar, between river deepwater young aus & deepwater tolerant modern • Control
Netrakona, banks & basin. aman, t.aman, aman. rice varieties. pest/disease
Sunamganj, • Acid basin clays mustard etc. • Deep flooding prevents • Absence of through proper
soils. growing of aman. improved deep management.
Brahmanbaria
• Mean annual • Heavy rainfall hamper water aman rice • Identify schemes for flood
rainfall 4320- harvesting, drying and varieties. protection & drainage.
5840 mm. storage of crops. • Dearth of • Adapted new crops
5a • Temperature • Predominance of appropriate for variation.
max. 33º C, min. heavy clays prevents technique for • Make raised
12º C. cultivation of both wet & tillage of heavy seed/crop beds.
• Deeply flooded dryland crops. clay soils. • Provide control
area. • Slow drainage of basin structures on sloping
centres. river-bank soils.
• Mostly poor or non- • Improve road
existent road communication
communication. • Construct flood shelters.

30
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
E d
• Remote area from urban
communication.
• Much big (& often
absentee) land
ownership.
• Conflict between fishing
& agricultural interests
for use the water
remaining in haors after
rainy season.
Chalan Lower Atrai Natore, Pabna, • Low lying area. • Mainly HYV • Deep seasonal flooding. • Lack of • Use more fertilizers &
Beel Basin Sirajganj and • Calcareous dark boro paddy, • Early, rapid flooding by submergence manure.
small areas grey and brown • Deepwater flash flood. tolerant modern rice • Increase provision of field
extends to floodplain soils. aman, t.aman • Slow drainage after rainy varieties. drains.
• Mean annual and t.aus. season. • Dearth of • Expand cultivation of
Rajshahi and appropriate
rainfall 1200-1600 • Occasional drought in HYVs aus, aman, wheat &
Bogra. mm. technique for tillage mustard in suitable land.
the pre-monsoon.
• Temperature • Heavy clay soils which of heavy clay soils. Expand command areas
max. 35º C, min. are very difficult to • Absence of of existing irrigation
5b 11º C. cultivate. improved deep facilities by channel lining,
• Deeply flooded • Poor or non-existent water aman rice leveling fields.
area by heavy road communication. varieties. • Identify local schemes for
rainfall. • Remote from flood protection &
growth/urban centres. drainage.
• Much big (& often • Improve external &
absentee) land internal road links.
ownership.
Kaptai No AEZ Rangamati • Rainfall 2790 mm No AEZ included.
Lake included and small • Temperature
areas extends max. 33º C, min.
5c 13º C.
Khagrachhari.
• Water bodies.

31
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies
Gopalganj/ Gopalganj- Gopalganj, • Peat soils & • Deepwater • Poor peat soils with low • Lack of • Leave peat soils under
Khulna Khulna Bils Jessore, noncalcareous aman, bearing capacity. submergence reeds (to provide
Peat Khulna, dark grey t.aman, aus, • Slow draining because tolerant modern rice thatching material).
Lands Narail, floodplain soils. HYV boro of heavy clays. varieties. • Improve cultural
Madaripur • Mean annual • Jute, • Deep flooding. • Dearth of practices, especially
rainfall 1780-2030 sesame, • Salinity in soil in some appropriate weeding.
mm. sugarcane, areas. technique for tillage • Cultivate t.aus &
• Temperature vegetables, • Lack of agricultural of heavy clay soils. deepwater aman on clay
max. 37º C, min. guava. research • Absence of soil.
11º C. experience/activities with improved deep • Increase use of fertilizers.
6 • Seasonally peat soils. water aman rice • Make embankment to
deeply flooded • Difficult communication varieties. protect boro from flooding.
area. system except by boat. • Lack of agricultural • Make canals to bring in
research silty river water so as to
experience/activi bury peat soils with
ties with peat soils. alluvium or use dredgers.
• Make raised beds for
cultivation of cash crops.

Sundarban Ganges Tidal Bagerhat, • Noncalcareous • T.aman, • Difficult communication • Dearth of salt • Improve tillage on basin
s Floodplain Khulna, grey floodplain khesari, chilli system except by boat. tolerant crop clays, or use stronger
Satkhira, soils & acid and coconut, • Dry season salinity of varieties. draught animal/power
Pirojpur, sulphate soils. palms. soils. • Lack of agricultural tillers.
Barguna, • Mean annual • Extremely acid soil research • Practice Integrated Crop
Jhalakati, rainfall 2030-2790 condition in pocket experience/activi Management (ICM)
Patuakhali, mm. areas. ties with extremely techniques to increase
Barisal. • Temperature • Heavy clay basin soil acid soils. crop production.
7a max. 37º C, min. difficult to plough. • Absence of • Expand command areas
11º C. • River bank erosion & appropriate & number of pumps.
• Tidally flooded flooding by early and late technique for tillage • Use traditional irrigation
area. heavy rainfall. of heavy clay soils. equipment.
• Exposure of cyclones • Make cross-dams in tidal
and storm surges. creeks to retain water
• Remote area. after high tide for
irrigation.

32
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies
• Big land ownership. • Lack of appropriate • Construct more cyclone
techniques and shelters and improve
crops for communication facilities.
agricultural
rehabilitation
following natural
disasters.
•

Chakaria Chittagong Cox's Bazar • Acid sulphate • T.aman, • Severe flash flood. • Lack of appropriate • Practice Integrated Crop
Sundarban Coastal Plain soils. broadcast • Exposure to saline technique for Management (ICM)
• Mean annual aus cyclonic storm surges. protection against techniques to increase
rainfall 2290-2790 • Coconut, • Soil salinity in dry flash floods. crop production.
mm. betel nut, season. • Dearth of salt • Expand cultivation of
• Temperature palms. • Burial of foot hill land tolerant crop HYVs aus, aman,
max. 33º C, min. with sand brought in by varieties. coconut, betel nut, betel
13º C. flash flood. • Lack of appropriate leaf, etc. on suitable land.
• Tidally flooded • River bank erosion, techniques and • Expand command areas
area. wash-out of road, crops for of existing irrigation.
embankment, bridges, agricultural • Provide improved spill-
land and settlements. rehabilitation ways so that dams are not
• Poor road following natural washed out.
7b communication. disasters. • Provide adequate
facilities and funds for
maintaining flood/coastal
embankments.
• Construct more cyclone
shelters.
• Improve domestic water
supplies.
• Provide more all-weather
roads.

33
 Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
Coastal Chittagong Feni, • Noncalcareous • T.aman, • Severe flash flood. • Lack of appropriate • Practice Integrated Crop
Plains Coastal Plain Chittagong, grey floodplain broadcast • Exposure of saline technique for Management (ICM)
Cox's Bazar soils (non- saline) aus cyclonic storm surges. protection against techniques to increase
• Mean annual • Coconut, • Soil salinity in dry flash floods. crop production.
rainfall 2290-2790 betel nut, season. • Dearth of salt • Expand cultivation of
mm. palms. • Burial of foot hill land tolerant crop HYVs aus, aman,
• Temperature with sand brought in by varieties. coconut, betel nut, betel
max. 34º C, flash flood. • Lack of appropriate leaf, etc. on suitable land.
min.12º C. • River bank erosion, techniques and • Expand command areas
• Shallowly flooded wash-out of road, crops for of existing irrigation.
area. embankment, bridges, agricultural • Provide improved spill-
land and settlements. rehabilitation ways so that dams are not
8a • Poor communication. following natural washed out.
disasters. • Provide adequate
facilities and funds for
maintaining flood/coastal
embankments.
• Construct more cyclone
shelters.
• Improve domestic water
supplies.
• Provide more all-weather
roads.
Offshore Chittagong Cox's Bazar, • Noncalcareous • T.aman, • Severe flash flood. • Lack of appropriate • Increase use of fertilizers
Islands Coastal Plain Barisal, Bhola, grey floodplain broadcast • Exposure of saline technique for and manures.
Lakshmipur, soils (non- saline) aus cyclonic storm surges. protection against • Expand cultivation of
Noakhali, • Mean annual • Coconut, • Soil salinity in dry severe flash floods. HYVs aus, aman,
Patuakhali rainfall 2290-2790 betel nut, season. • Dearth of salt coconut, betel nut, betel
mm. palms. • Hill’s soil degradation by tolerant crop leaf etc. on suitable land.
8b
• Temperature flash flood. varieties. • Expand command areas
max. 34º C, • River bank erosion • Lack of appropriate of existing irrigation.
min.12º C. washes out of road, techniques and crops • Provide improved spill-
• Shallowly flooded embankment, bridges, for agricultural ways to protect the dam.
area. land and settlements. rehabilitation following • Provide adequate facilities
• Poor communication. natural disasters. and funds for maintaining
flood/ coastal

34
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
E d
embankments.
• Construct more cyclone
shelters.
• Improve domestic water
supplies.
• Provide more all weather
roads.
Young Barisal, Bhola, • Calcareous • Mainly • Dry season soil salinity • Dearth of salt • Improve soil & crop
Meghna Chandpur, alluvium t.aman, HYV problem. tolerant crop management by
Estuarine Feni, (saline). aman. • Lack of non-saline fresh varieties. better cultural
Floodplain Lakshmipur, • Mean annual • Pulses, chilli. surface/groundwater for • Lack of practices
Noakhali rainfall 2030- dry season irrigation. appropriate • Practice Integrated
2790 mm. • Very silty soils low in technique for Crop Management
• Temperature organic matter, which augmenting fresh (ICM) techniques to
max. 34º C, min. provides little structural water for dry increase crop
12º C. stability. season irrigation. production.
• Seasonally • Seasonal flooding in • Lack of • Promote dibble-sowing or
shallowly depressions which is appropriate transplanting of aus
flooded by rain mainly too deep for techniques and paddy to reduce damage
water. existing aman HYVs. crops for by salinity.
• Constant bank erosion & agricultural • Encourage early showing
new char formation, rehabilitation or mulching of dry land
which make it difficult to following natural crops to reduce damage
provide and maintain disasters. by salinity.
coastal embankments & • Lack of proper • Provide deeper
sluices. maintenance of ploughing to facilitate
• Highly cyclone prone coastal root penetration.
area & also most embankments & • Expand cultivation of
susceptible to high storm sluices. quick-maturing crops.
surges. • Build cross-dams in creeks
• Remoteness from urban to store fresh water for
markets and service irrigation use where rivers
centres, aggravated by become saline before the
poor communications end of pre- monsoon.
• Construct more cyclone
shelters, costal
embankment & polder
inside embankment.

35
 Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
Narikel St. Martin's Cox's Bazar • Calcareous • T.aman, • Relatively infertile soils • Lack of improved • Use large amounts of
Jinjira Coral Island alluvium (saline). coconut, betel with low moisture holding techniques for compost to increase soil
Coaral • Mean annual nut. capacity. cultivation/mana fertility and moisture
Island rainfall 2290-2790 • Lack of fresh water for gement of coconut holding capacity.
mm. irrigation. and betel nut. • Expand the area under
• Temperature • Exposure to cyclone & coconut & betel nut.
max. 33º C, min. storm surges. • Improve safe and reliable
8c communication with the
13º C. • Remoteness from urban
• Shallowly flooded markets. mainland.
by rain water or • Construct more cyclone
saline tidal water. shelters.

Meghna Young Barisal, Bhola, • Calcareous • Mainly • Soil salinity problem in • Dearth of salt • Practice Integrated Crop
Eastuarine Meghna Chandpur, alluvium (saline). t.aman, HYV dry season. tolerant crop Management (ICM)
Floodplain Estuarine Feni, • Mean annual aman. • Lack of fresh surface/ varieties. techniques to increase
Floodplain Lakshmipur, rainfall 2030-2790 • Pulses, chilli. groundwater for dry • Lack of appropriate crop production.
Noakhali, mm. season irrigation. technique for • Dibble-sowing or
• Temperature • Very silty soils with low augmenting fresh transplanting of aus
Barguna,
max. 34º C, min. organic matter, which water for dry paddy to reduce damage
Patuakhali,
12º C. provides little structural season irrigation. by salinity.
Chittagong.
8d • Seasonally stability. • Lack of appropriate • Encourage early showing
shallowly flooded • Seasonal flooding in techniques and or mulching of dry land
by rain water. depressions which is crops for agricultural crops to reduce damage
mainly too deep for rehabilitation by salinity.
existing aman HYVs. following natural • Provide deeper ploughing
• Constant bank erosion & disasters. to facilitate root
new char formation, which • Lack of proper penetration.
make it difficult to provide maintenance of • Expand cultivation of
and maintain coastal coastal quick-maturing crops.
embankments & sluices. embankments & • Build cross-dams in creeks
• Highly cyclone prone sluices. to store fresh water for
area & also most • Dearth of aman irrigation use where rivers
susceptible to high storm HYVs capable of become saline before the
surges. withstanding end of pre- monsoon.
• Remoteness & poor seasonal deep • Construct more cyclone
communication from flooding. shelters, costal
urban markets & service embankment & polder
centres inside embankment.

36
 Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
Sandy No AEZ Cox's Bazar • Mean annual
Beach/ included rainfall 2290-
Sand 2790 mm.
8e Dunes • Temperature No AEZ included.
max. 33º C, min.
13º C.
• Sandy soil.

Chittagong Chittagong Feni, • Non-calcareous • T.aman, • Severe flash flood. • Lack of appropriate • Practice Integrated Crop
Hills and Coastal Plain Chittagong, grey floodplain broadcast aus • Exposure of saline technique for Management (ICM)
The Cox's Bazar. soils (non- saline) • Coconut, betel cyclonic storm surges. protection against techniques to increase
CHTs • Mean annual nut, palms. • Soil salinity in dry severe flash floods. crop production.
rainfall 2290-2790 season. • Dearth of salt • Expand cultivation of
mm. • Burial of foot hill land tolerant crop HYVs of aus and aman,
• Temperature with sand brought in by varieties. coconut, betel nut, betel
max. 34º C, flash flood. • Lack of appropriate leaf etc. on suitable land.
9a min.12º C. techniques and
• River bank erosion, • Expand command areas
• Shallowly flooded wash-out of road, crops for of existing irrigation.
area. embankment, bridges, agricultural • Provide improved spill-
land and settlements. rehabilitation ways so that dams are not
• Poor communication. following natural washed out.
disasters • Provide adequate
facilities and funds for
maintaining flood/coastal
embankments.
• Construct more cyclone
shelters.
• Improve domestic water
supplies.
• Provide more all-weather
roads.

37
 Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
E d
Northern and Khagrachhari, • This region • Shifting jhum • Steep sloppy land. • Fertilizer • Grow dry land kharif
Eastern Hills Chittagong hill includes the cultivation is • Roads are difficult/ management for crops and early rabi
tracts, country’s hilly widely expensive to build steep hill soils. crops on hills with gentle
Bandarban, areas, which practiced. because of long, • Lack of improved slope.
Cox’s Bazar, occupy about • Scrub thicket, linear, hill ranges with jhum cultivation • Prevent run-off on sloping
Moulvi Bazar, 12% area of total grassland, steep slopes. techniques. lands for conservation of
Habiganj, country. bamboo, • Very strongly acid soils. • Lack of proper soils.
Mymensingh, • Yellow brown to rubber are • Fertilizer nitrogen is management • Make field drains to
Sunamganj, strong brown hilly grown locally. rapidly leached during techniques for protect waterlogging.
Comilla. soils. heavy monsoon rainfall. steep slopes. • Practice Integrated
• Mean annual • Area also exposed Crop Management
rainfall varies to cyclones. (ICM) techniques to
from 2000-5000 • Flash floods increase crop
mm. are prominent. production.
• Temperature • Risk of landslip erosion. • Identify local schemes for
max. exceed 40º • Remoteness of areas. improving flood
C & min. fall protection.
• Tribal land ownership or
below 20º C. • Develop a cadre of
illicit land ownership by
• Flash flooded but plains people. technical officials-
well drained area. preferably of hill origin
trained in hill farming
techniques, including
techniques for soil
conservation, tree crop
management and
afforestation.
• Construct terraces on
steep slopes to reduce
land slips.

38
 Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
Interventions/Policies
Sylhet Hills Akhaura Brahmanbaria, • Mainly broad, • Mainly aus, • Soils have low • Dearth of drought • Increase use of
Terrace Habiganj. level, upland t.aman, HYV moisture holding tolerant crop organic manures &
areas standing boro paddy capacity & low fertility. varieties. fertilizers.
3-6 m above & jackfruit. • Flash flood in valleys • Need for low water • Use mulching in terrace
broad piedmont & deep flood in lower consuming soils to reduce loss of
valleys. valleys. cropping nutrients by leaching,
• Deep red-brown • Groundwater patterns/crop run- off & volatilization.
terrace soils & contains large varieties. • Increase the thickness
grey piedmont amount of iron. • Lack of of brown terrace soils
soils. • Poor road submergence through deeper
• Mean annual communication tolerant modern ploughing to break up
rainfall varies because of poor rice varieties. the ploughpan.
from 2000-4000 materials for road • Dearth of • Improve maintenance of
mm in different foundation, road appropriate field bunds on soils used
9b places. surfacing, etc. due to technique for for transplanted paddy,
• Temperature plastic, properties of tillage of heavy together with use of
max. 40º C, min. clay soils clay soils. protected drainage
<20º C. • Small area & • Lack of outlets between fields.
• Valleys are isolated occurrence, appropriate • Dibble aus paddy
shallowly to making it difficult to technique for on terrace soils.
deeply flooded. provide specific removal of iron in • Construct road
research and irrigation water. cum embankment.
extension services. • Dearth of drought
tolerant crop
varieties.

39
 Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops Key Constrains Technology Gaps
E d
Northern and Khagrachhari, • This region • Shifting jhum • Steep sloppy land. • Fertilizer • Grow dry land kharif
Eastern Hills Chittagong hill includes the cultivation is • Roads are management for crops and early rabi
tracts, country’s hilly widely difficult/expensive to steep hill soils. crops on hills with gentle
Bandarban, areas, which practiced. build because of long, • Lack of improved slope.
Cox’s Bazar, occupy about • Scrub thicket, linear, hill ranges with jhum cultivation • Prevent run-off on sloping
Moulvi Bazar, 12% area of total grassland, steep slopes. techniques. lands for conservation of
Habiganj, country. bamboo, • Very strongly acid soils. • Lack of proper soils.
Mymensingh, • Yellow brown to rubber are • Fertilizer nitrogen is management • Make field drains to
Sunamganj, strong brown hilly grown rapidly leached during techniques for protect waterlogging.
Comilla. soils. locally. heavy monsoon rainfall. steep slopes. • Practice Integrated
• Mean annual • Area also exposed Crop Management
rainfall varies to cyclones. (ICM) techniques to
from 2000-5000 • Flash floods increase crop
mm. are prominent. production.
• Temperature • Risk of landslip erosion. • Identify local schemes for
max. exceed 40º improving flood
• Remoteness of areas.
C & min. fall protection.
• Tribal land ownership or
below 20º C. • Develop a cadre of
illicit land ownership by
• Flash flooded but technical officials-
plains people.
well drained area. preferably of hill origin
trained in hill farming
techniques, including
techniques for soil
conservation, tree crop
management and
afforestation.
• Construct terraces on
steep slopes to reduce
land slips.
Northern and Sherpur, • A dominant soil • Mainly t.aus, • Flash flood occurs on all • Dearth of drought • Increase use of fertilizers
Eastern Netrokona, characteristic is t.aman, HYV land type. tolerant crop & manures.
Piedmont Sunamganj, grey piedmont boro, • Early & deep floods varieties. • Increase the thickness of
Sylhet, soils. deepwater hamper the harvesting, • Lack of short brown terrace soils
Moulvi Bazar, • Mean annual aman. paddy drying & storage of duration HYV aus through deeper
Habiganj, rainfall varies crops. and aman ploughing to break up the
Brahmanbaria, from 2000-5000 • Difficult to control flash varieties. plough pan.

40
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
E d
Comilla. mm in different flood because of the • Absence of management by land
places. huge volumes of water improved deep leveling and making
• Temperature & sediments. water aman rice drains to remove
max. exceed 40º • Compact, low moisture varieties. excess water quickly.
C & min. fall holding topsoil restricts • Lack of • Improve facilities for
below 15º C. the cultivation of dryland appropriate grain drying, storage
• Regions are crops. technique for & marketing.
shallowly to • Uncertain water protection
moderately resources for against flash
deeply flooded. expansion of irrigation. floods.
• Poor road facilities &
remote area.

Lalmai Lalmai Feni, Comilla • Brown hill soil.

Tiperah Tiperah Hills • Mean annual
Hills rainfall varies
from 2030-2290
mm. No AEZ included.
• Temperature
max. 33º C &
min. 10º C.

Northern and Khagrachhari, • This region • Shifting jhum • Steep sloppy land. • Fertilizer • Grow dry land kharif
Eastern Hills Chittagong hill includes the cultivation is • Roads are difficult/ management for crops and early rabi
tracts, country’s hilly widely expensive to build steep hill soils. crops on some hills with
9c Bandarban, areas, which practiced. because of long, • Lack of improved gentle slope.
Cox’s Bazar, occupy about • Scrub thicket, linear, hill ranges with jhum cultivation • Prevent run-off on sloping
MoulviMoulvi 12% area of total grassland, steep slopes. techniques. lands for conservation of
Bazar, country. bamboo, • Very strongly acid soils. • Lack of proper soils.
Habiganj, • Brown hill soils. rubber are • Fertilizer nitrogen is management • Introduce the field drains
Mymensingh, • Mean annual grown locally. rapidly leached during techniques for system to protect water
Sunamganj, rainfall varies heavy monsoon rainfall. steep slopes logging.
Comilla. from 2000-5000 • Area also exposed • Practice Integrated
mm. to cyclones. Crop Management
• Temperature • Flash floods (ICM) techniques to
max. exceed 40º are prominent. increase crop
production.

41
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggeste
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
E d
C & min. fall • Risk of landslip erosion. • Identify local schemes
below 20º C. • Remoteness of areas. for improving flood
• Flash flooded • Tribal land ownership or protection.
but well drained illicit land ownership by • Develop a cadre of
area. plains people. technical officials-
preferably of hill origin
trained in hill farming
techniques, including
techniques for soil
conservation, tree
crop management
and afforestation.
• Construct terraces on
steep slopes to reduce
land slips.
Saline Tidal Ganges Tidal Bagerhat, • Noncalcareous • T.aman, • Difficult • Dearth of salt • Improve tillage on basin
Floodplain Floodplain Barguna, floodplain soils khesari, chilli communications, except tolerant crop clays, or use stronger
Khulna, (saline), and coconut, by boat. varieties. draught animal/power
Patuakhali, Noncalcareous palms. • Dry season salinity of • Lack of tillers.
Pirojpur, & calcareous soils. appropriate • Practice Integrated
Satkhira grey floodplain • Extremely acid soil technique for Crop Management
soils. condition. augmenting fresh (ICM) techniques to
• Mean annual • Heavy clay basin soil water for dry increase crop
rainfall 1780- which difficult to season irrigation. production.
2030 mm. plough. • Lack of • Expand command areas &
10 • River bank erosion & appropriate number of pumps.
• Temperature
max. 37º C, min. flooding by early and techniques and • Use traditional irrigation
11º C. late heavy rainfall. crops for equipment.
• Exposure of cyclones agricultural • Make cross-dams in tidal
• Medium to high
and storm surges. rehabilitation creeks to retain water
tidally flooded
• Remote area. following natural after high tide for
area.
• Big land ownership. disasters. irrigation.
• Lack of proper • Construct more cyclone
maintenance of shelters and improve
coastal communication facilities.
embankments &
sluices.

42
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggest
SI B AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
E ed
11 Major No AEZ
Rivers included.
Coastal Ganges Tidal Bagerhat, • Noncalcareous • T.aman, • Difficult communities • Dearth of salt • Improve tillage on basin
Marine Floodplain Khulna, grey floodplain khesari, chilli except by boat. tolerant crop clays, or use stronger
Water Satkhira, soils & acid and coconut, • Dry season salinity varieties. draught animal/power
Pirojpur, sulphate soils. palms. of soils. • Lack of appropriate tillers.
Barguna • Mean annual • Extremely acid soil technique for • Practice Integrated Crop
rainfall 2030- condition. augmenting fresh Management (ICM)
2790 mm. • Heavy clay basin water for dry season techniques to increase
• Temperature soil which difficult to irrigation. crop production.
max. 37º C, min. plough. • Lack of appropriate • Expand command areas &
11º C. • River bank erosion & techniques and number of pumps.
• Tidally flooded flooding by early and crops for agricultural • Use traditional irrigation
area. late heavy rainfall. rehabilitation equipment.
• Exposure of following natural • Make cross-dams in tidal
cyclones and storm disasters. creeks to retain water after
surges. • Lack of proper high tide for irrigation.
• Remote area. maintenance of • Construct more cyclone
• Big land ownership. coastal shelters and improve
embankments & communication facilities.
sluices.

Young Barisal, Bhola, • Calcareous • Mainly • Dry season soil salinity. • Dearth of salt • Improve soil & crop
Meghna Chandpur, alluvium t.aman, HYV • Lack of fresh tolerant crop management by better
Estuarine Feni, (saline). aman. surface/ground water varieties. cultural practices
Floodplain Lakshmipur, • Mean annual • Pulses, chilli. for dry season • Lack of appropriate • Practice Integrated Crop
12 Noakhali. rainfall 2030-2790 irrigation. technique for Management (ICM)
mm. • Very silty soils low in augmenting fresh techniques to increase
organic matter, which water for dry season crop production.
provides little structural irrigation
stability.

43
 Key Constrains Technology Gaps Suggested
SI BEZ AEZ District Name Key Characters Major Crops
Interventions/Policies
• Temperature • Seasonal flooding in • Lack of appropriate • Promote dibble-sowing or
max. 34º C, min. depressions which is techniques and transplanting of aus
12º C. mainly too deep for crops for paddy to reduce damage
• Seasonally existing aman HYVs. agricultural by salinity.
shallowly • Constant bank erosion & rehabilitation • Encourage early showing
flooded by rain new char formation, following natural or mulching of dry land to
water. which make it difficult to disasters. reduce damage by
2790 mm. provide and maintain • Lack of proper salinity.
• Temperature coastal embankments & maintenance of • Provide deeper
max. 34º C, min. sluices. coastal ploughing to facilitate
12º C. • Highly cyclone prone embankments & root penetration.
• Seasonally area & also most sluices. • Expand cultivation of
shallowly susceptible to high storm quick-maturing crops.
flooded by rain surges. • Build cross-dams in
water. • Remoteness from creeks to store fresh
urban markets and water for irrigation use
service centres, where rivers become
aggravated by poor saline before the end of
communications. pre- monsoon.
• Construct more cyclone
shelters, costal
embankment & polder
inside embankment.

Note:
Besides these AEZ specific suggested interventions/policies, the following are general policies for all agro-ecological regions:
• Create awareness among the farmers on new/available technologies for coping with unfavorable conditions/disasters.
• Conduct socio-economic surveys to identify actual constraints on development and ways to remove then in different agroecological regions
• Undertake regular and timely maintenance programme for protection of river bank erosion along the channel.
• Develop post-harvest handling and marketing techniques/facilities for fruits, vegetables and other perishable crops.
• Make quality planting materials (seeds and saplings) of cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables easily available.
• Activate ATC and NATCC for obtaining problems identified at field level and feedback on research.

44
 References

1. Agricultural Services Innovation and Reform Project (ASIRP), 2003. Agricultural

Extension in Bangladesh, Department of Agricultural Extension

2. DAE Strategic Plan, 1999-2002 and 2002-2006. Department of Agricultural

Extension, Khamarbari, Dhaka

3. Extension Operation Manual for NATP, 2008, BARC/World Bank

4. New Agricultural Extension Policy, 1996. Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the

People’s Republic of Bangladesh

5. National Fisheries Policy, 1998. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of

the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

7. National Livestock Policy, 2007. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of

the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

7. National Agricultural Policy, 1999. Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s

Republic of Bangladesh

8. National Agricultural Policy, 2010 (Draft). Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the

People’s Republic of Bangladesh

9. Plan of Action on National Agriculture Policy, 2004. Ministry of Agriculture,

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

10. Revitalizing the Agricultural Technology System in Bangladesh : Bangladesh

Development Series, The World Bank, 2005.

11. Study of the Implementation Status and Effectiveness of New Agricultural Extension
Policy for Technology Adoption. Z. Karim et al. ……..

12. Strategy for Implementing the New Agricultural Extension Policy, 1997. Ministry of
Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

45
Na
ational Agriicultural Exxtenssion Policy
P
(NAAEP)

Govvernme
ent of the
e People’s Rep public o
of Bangladesh
Ministtry of Ag
griculturre (MOAA)
1996
(Reevised in April 2012)