A policy dialogue titled “Transitioning to Eco-Friendly Organic Agriculture by Reducing Dependence on Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides Without Lowering Crop Yields in Bangladesh” was held today under the initiative of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF). The discussion aimed to address the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides—an issue that continues to pose significant threats to soil fertility, environmental integrity and public health.
For decades, Bangladesh’s food production system has relied heavily on chemical inputs. The unchecked use of fertilizers and pesticides to boost yields has led to declining soil quality, environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity and serious health hazards for communities across the country.
Speaking as the chair of the event, PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlul Kader noted that farmers continue to overuse chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He emphasized the need for behavioral change among farmers and highlighted that agroecological organic farming does not reduce yields; in many cases, it enhances production. He added that a national roadmap is essential for scaling organic agriculture, stressing that such a transformation cannot be achieved overnight.
Agriculture Extension Department Director General SM Sohrab Uddin, attending as chief guest, said farmers once turned overwhelmingly to chemical fertilizers to boost production. He stated that organic agriculture is now indispensable for ensuring long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Special guest Dr. Begum Samia Sultana, Director General of the Soil Resource Development Institute, noted that farmers under PKSF’s partner organizations can now easily access soil testing services and obtain fertilizer recommendation cards from the institute’s nationwide laboratories.
The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Sheikh Tanvir Hossain, who stated that excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides over the past 50 years has pushed the soil and environment into a vulnerable state. In the last fiscal year, the government spent a total of Tk 24,000 crore on agricultural subsidies, 75 percent of which went toward chemical fertilizers.
He further highlighted that the environmental, social and health-related hidden costs within the food production system amount to nearly 13 percent of the country’s GDP. To address these challenges, he recommended revisiting the national agricultural policy, eliminating policy inconsistencies, formulating a comprehensive framework for organic agriculture and significantly increasing investment in organic fertilizer production.
The event was attended by faculty members from various agricultural universities, researchers involved in agricultural extension and representatives from private companies engaged in the agricultural sector.
