OOBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY DIALOGUE
- To transform existing agricultural systems into effective agri-food systems
- To promote agroecology/environmentally sustainable farming
- To conduct a comparative analysis of the National Agricultural Policy 2018, National Agricultural Extension Policy 2020, and National Organic Agricultural Policy 2016.
- To foster effective collaboration and synergy among all stakeholders, including policymakers, farmers, national andinternational partner organizations, researchers, and civil society.
National Agricultural Policy: Diverse Perspectives, Implementation Challenges, and Pathways for transforming Agri-Food Systems
Recommendations from the Agroecology Coalition Bangladesh
- Review the National Agricultural Policy 2018 to eliminate inconsistencies and integrate agroecology principles and the agri-food system framework.
- Agricultural Inputs: Invest adequately in the organic fertilizer sector, aiming to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Support the formation of farmer-farmer and youth farmer organizations (Farmers’ Producer Organization-FPO or Farmers’ Producer Company) by establishing dedicated wings within the Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate legal registration and provide necessary assistance.
- Empower farmers and enhance their skills in adopting appropriate and farmer-friendly technologies, such as smartphone apps, sensors, and AI for crop disease diagnosis, irrigation planning, and weather forecasting.
- Invest in renewable energy-powered irrigation and cold storage facilities that enables transformative agricultural practice
- Establish “independent marketing systems” nationwide, centered around farmer organizations.
- Develop distinct course curricula and training programs for agricultural extension officers and farmers to accelerate the adoption of agroecology practices.
- Generate evidence through action research to further advance agroecology practices.
