UNB, Dhaka
The country’s food security is increasingly at risk with nearly 69,000 hectares of agricultural land lost annually to rapid industrialisation, unplanned urbanisation and an increase in rural settlements, according to a recent study.
The study revealed that the annual loss of agricultural land in Bangladesh was 13,412 hectares during the period 1976-2000 and it reached 68,760 hectares annually in 2010. More than 30,000 hectares of land was converted to urban settlement annually during 2000-2010.
During the same period, the urban and industrial land area also increased significantly with over 40,000 hectares of additional land used for urbanisation and industrialisation.
Nazmul Hasan, a principal investigator of the Soil Resource Development Institute under the agricultural ministry conducted the study entitled “Trends in availability of agricultural land in Bangladesh”.
The study was carried out with financial support from the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme. The programme is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the ministry of food, with financial support from the European Union and USAID.
The results of the study show that the area under agriculture was 9.76m hectares in 1976, 9.44m hectares in 2000 and 8.75m hectares in 2010.
Availability of agricultural land reduced annually by 0.1% during the 1976-2000 period and 0.49% between 2000-2010. On the other hand, land area dedicated to rural settlements increased annually by 0.16% and 0.21% during the 1976-2000 and 2000-2010 periods respectively.
Land area devoted to urban settlement and industrial uses also increased by 0.01% and 0.03% during the 1976-2000 and 2000-2010 periods respectively.
Forested land has decreased by 0.08% annually from 1976-2000 and 0.07% annually from 2000-2010. The land area of mangrove forests increased between 1976-2000 however, because of mangrove plantations along the coast. But it decreased from 2000-2010, as previously mangrove forested areas were brought under shrimp and salt cultivation and also used for ship breaking yards.
At a regional level the study revealed that the annual loss of agricultural land in Dhaka Division between 2000-2010 was 0.65% while forested land decreased by 3.17% during the same period. The area of rural settlements, urban and industrial areas, and riverside lands increased by 4.78%, 8.75% and 9.81% respectively between 2000-2010.
In Chittagong Division, agricultural land shrank by 1.32% and mangrove forested areas decreased by 4.18% between 2000-2010. The area of rural settlements increased by 0.37% annually since 2000. The growth in land area dedicated to urbanisation and industrialisation was 5.72% from 2000-2012.
The study showed that loss of agricultural land in Rajshahi Division was 0.31% and 1.11% annually between 1976-2000 and 2000-2010 respectively. The area dedicated to rural settlements, and to urban and industrial use, increased by 3.69% and 7.41% respectively between 2000-2010.
In Khulna Division, loss of agricultural land occurred between 1976-2000 and 2000-2010 at the annual rates of 0.03% and 0.66% respectively. Land area for rural settlements and urban and industrial use increased by 4.31% and 8.94% annually between 2000-2010.
Agricultural land decreased in Barisal Division by 0.12% and 0.08% annually during the 1976-2000 and 2000-2010 periods respectively. Land area for rural settlements increased by 2.47% between 1976-2000 while it decreased by 0.41% annually from 2000-2010.
In Sylhet Division, agricultural land decreased by 0.5% annually from 1976-2000, but it increased by 0.10% annually between 2000-2010 as forested lands have been brought under agriculture, the study says.