Bangladesh is an agricultural country. Although a large portion of the total population is engaged in agriculture, it is a sad reality that the main driving force of the country's economy - the farmers - still have no legal framework to ensure their professional protection. Their tireless journey begins with preparing the land for cultivation and continues through various stages, from sowing seeds to selling crops in the market. At every step, they face harassment, exploitation, and uncertainty.
As a result, many farmers, unable to repay loans or overcome the burden of debt and emotional distress, resort to suicide. The recent rise in such incidents highlights the fragile state of Bangladesh's agricultural system.
Opening a newspaper, one often encounters heartbreaking headlines such as "Farmer commits suicide due to debt." This is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of a deep-rooted crisis in our agricultural structure. From the supply of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, and agricultural machinery to harvesting and marketing, middlemen create instability due to inadequate monitoring and poor infrastructure. Consequently, farmers lose control over the crops they produce.
On the other hand, because of complex and lengthy credit procedures in banks, many farmers are forced to depend on informal loans with extremely high interest rates. As a result, numerous farmers leave the profession, and some, in extreme desperation, take their own lives.
According to agricultural land statistics in Bangladesh, from 2020 to 2023, cultivable land decreased at a comparative rate of 1%, which is the highest in the last decade. The total cultivable land stands at 3,62,29,000 acres (88.29 lakh hectares), while the total irrigated land is 79.44 lakh hectares, and fallow cultivable land is 4.52 lakh hectares. Per capita arable land is only 0.26 acres or 0.10 hectares. Each year, around 80,000 hectares of land are lost to non-agricultural use due to housing, road construction, and other developments - meaning nearly 219 hectares of arable land disappear every day. Agricultural land is being lost at an alarming rate of about 1% annually.
At this crucial stage, it is essential to establish an Agriculture Commission and enact a Right to Food Act to alleviate the suffering of farmers and prevent tragic incidents like suicides. The establishment of an Agriculture Commission would create a strong legal and policy framework to ensure the overall welfare and protection of farmers. It could play a vital role in recommending and implementing measures for transparency and accessibility in agricultural production, supply chains, pricing, control of middlemen, and institutional credit distribution. At the same time, the Right to Food Act would not only ensure national food security but also create a legal foundation for farmers to receive fair prices for their produce, guaranteeing their economic stability and a dignified life.
Only through these two legal measures can farmers gain professional protection, be freed from debt burdens and depression, and thus avoid resorting to suicide.
The writer is a Student, Government City College, Chattogram
