Bangladesh’s food security faces a growing challenge: shortages of skilled human resources in agriculture. As part of the government’s endeavours to address this issue, the Ministry of Agriculture has proposed a hefty investment of Tk649.65 crore to establish three new agricultural training institutes.

This initiative aims to bridge the gap by producing a new generation of diploma-holding agriculturists equipped with the knowledge and expertise to modernise the nation’s agricultural sector.
The agriculture ministry submitted a project proposal titled “Establishment of three agriculture training institutes (ATIs) at Madhupur, Matlab North, and Feni Sadar upazilas” for approval of the Planning Commission. The five-year project, slated for completion by December 2028, will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) of the commission has recently reviewed the project and sent it back to the ministry for further revision. Once revised, the project will be presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

The initiative aims to establish three modern agricultural training institutes in strategically selected regions of the country. It focuses on developing human resources in modern agricultural education and training management to enhance food security and socio-economic conditions.

Through a four-year diploma programme, the project aims to produce skilled agriculturists who can find employment opportunities in various technical agriculture sectors, including government, semi-government, and private institutions.

Moreover, it aligns with Bangladesh’s efforts to meet the growing demand for agricultural technicians domestically and internationally, particularly in regions like Africa and the Middle East.
Badal Chandra Biswas, the director general of the Agriculture Extension Department, told the Daily Sun that the PEC meeting for the project was held last week. The Planning Commission proposed certain amendments here.

“Initially, the project included provisions for training farmers, but the Planning Commission deemed it unnecessary due to existing farmer training projects. Additionally, the commission suggested constructing a multi-storey building instead of separate buildings in different locations,” he said.

Biswas said that they would soon revise the plan and resubmit it to the Planning Commission.
The primary objective of the scheme is to produce agriculturists through a four-year diploma programme in agriculture, he said, adding that graduates will have job opportunities in technical agriculture sectors within government, semi-government, or various institutions.

“Currently, there are 18 agricultural training institutes (ATIs), and these three proposed institutions will supplement them. Admission will be open annually, with two semesters of teaching offered per year. With an average of 200 admission opportunities per institution, approximately 600 students can be admitted annually in new three institutes,” he informed.

Speaking to the Daily Sun, Md Rezaul Karim, acting director of the Planning, Project Implementation, and ICT Wing at the Directorate of Agricultural Extension, said, “The project aims to establish three agricultural institutes where agriculturists will be trained through a four-year Diploma in Agriculture program. Graduates will be eligible for employment as agricultural officers in various government and private organisations.”

In Bangladesh, 18 established agricultural training institutes provide official agriculture diploma programmes, admitting approximately 38,500 students annually. Moreover, 162 private institutes offer diploma courses in agriculture.

According to a Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) report, 0.81% of the total population aged five years and above engage in technical education.
The number of individuals with diploma qualifications has risen from 0.71% in 2011 to 0.81% presently, totalling around 3.69 lakh diploma certificate holders in the country.
Decline in agricultural population

Presently, general education dominates, accounting for 89.26% of the population aged five and above, followed by religious education at 7.19%, and other forms of education at 2.74%, according to the BBS.
However, the hum of industries now drowns out the clinking of hoes – agriculture, once the backbone of the country’s economy, is now at a crossroad.

While the economy, as a whole, has developed over the years, agriculture’s contribution to GDP has shrunk dramatically, leading to job losses and sparking fears of potential food shortages.
With more people leaving farming and imports on the rise, concrete steps aimed at revitalising the sector should be a priority, according to industry insiders.

The agricultural sector’s contribution to the GDP has gradually declined from 3.42% in FY2019-20 to 3.37% in FY2022-23, the BBS report said.
Over a decade, the percentage of citizens engaged in agriculture has witnessed a notable decrease – dropping from 47.03% in 2011 to 37.91% in 2022.

Meanwhile, the number of farmers in the country has decreased by 15.80 lakh in a single year, with concerns that this decline may continue due to factors such as mechanisation in agriculture and climate change.

However, agricultural experts say while the number of traditional farmers is decreasing, there is an increase in skilled individuals engaging in commercial agriculture.
Economic development

Taking to the Daily Sun, Dr Zahid Hussain, former lead economist at the World Bank’s Dhaka office, said, “Agriculture is a significant contributor to Bangladesh’s economy, providing employment to a number portion of the population through the skilled manpower and contributing a substantial share to the GDP.”

“We are lagging behind in creating quality teachers rather than establishing training institutions. We should emphasise training teachers to be skilled in delivering quality education and practical skills to students.”
He added, “By investing in the agriculture sector, the overall economic output can be increased, leading to higher income levels and improved living standards for farmers and rural communities.”