Title: Population and agricultural land use: towards a sustainable food production system in Bangladesh.

POPLINE Document Number: 075288

Author(s):

Mahtab FU
Karim Z

Source citation:

AMBIO, 1992 Feb;21(1):50-5.

Abstract:

Bangladesh's capacity to provide enough food for its growing population will be stringently tested after 2010, unless technology and better social organization can increase agricultural productivity and there is more effective control of population growth. Regeneration of agricultural resources should be accomplished with environmentally sound practices. Family planning (FP) programs need to promote public awareness of the population problem and greater knowledge about FP methods and level of desired family size. Increases in FP services are needed. Improvements in maternal and child health services when effectuated will lead to declines in infant mortality. Multisectoral programs particularly women's activities are required as well as increases in basic education. Political commitment and greater local participation will be instrumental. Research effort should consider improving rice cultivars with high photosynthetic efficiency. Genetic improvements in bird and animal populations are needed. Commercially based intensive farming is not viable with the number of small landholdings. Bangladesh is the 8th most populous country in the world and has a population density of 800 persons/sq km. The population is expected to double in 35 years. The expected climatic changes would place densely populated delta areas under water. In order to understand in greater detail the carrying capacity of bangladesh, the following topics are presented: population growth trends, the implications, agroecological resources, environmental vulnerability, the impact of global warming, agricultural land use (crops, biomass crisis, livestock, and fisheries), sustainability of the food production system based on food requirements, food demand, and food production potential. The needs for feeding an additional 60 million people are for an expanded grain output of 50-60% at constant demand and 90-100% at increasing demand. Other food items will have to increase at an even higher rate. Access to resources is required to increase production. Food production growth is possible with increasing cropping intensity, introducing new crops, increasing land under cultivation with new irrigation, and narrowing the yield gap through improving soil fertility, drought management, and improvements in farmer's knowledge of proper variety selection, tillage, plant spacing, pest control, and timely harvesting.

Keywords:

Bangladesh
Critique
Food Supply
Population Growth
Population Control
Family Planning Programs
Land Supply
Resource Allocation
Rural Population
Agricultural Development
Global Warming
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Natural Resources
Environment
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Population Policy
Social Policy
Policy
Family Planning
Programs
Organization and Administration
Financial Activities
Economic Factors
Population Characteristics
Rural Development
Climate