Book of Abstracts
11th IFOAM
Scientific Conference
11-15 August 1996
Copenhagen, Denmark
Abstract front
page
Subject index
Athor index
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Symposia
Organic agriculture for Bangladesh S30
Ahmad, Q.K.1; Ericksen, Neil J.2; Kenny, Gavin J.2; Warrick, Richard A.2
1) Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, 33, Road 4, Dhanmondi R.A.,P.O. Box 5007 (New Market),
Dhaka-1205,Bangladesh; 2)Centre for Environmental and Resource Studies University of
Waikato, Private Bag 3105Hamilton, New Zealand |
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| Bangladesh is a highly vulnerable country. The
land area of 148 393 km2 supports a population of 122 million, which is expected to double
in the next 30 years. Around 84 percent are rural dwellers, the majority of whom struggle
for basic human needs. The country is a very low-lying deltaic country, which is subject
to severe flooding during the monsoon season, tropical cyclones and drought. Agriculture
is predominantly rice culture and land use is highly intensified. Over the last 40 years
traditional rice cultivars and agricultural practices have been replaced by HYVs and
associated fertilisers and pesticides. The immediate benefits of such practices were
higher yields and improved food self-sufficiency. However the long-term cost has been
declining soil quality, loss of local cultivars and declining yields. This situation is
compounded by the high population density, already intensive land use and vulnerability to
climate. This paper describes a programme that has been initiated to determine the
viability of organic and biodynamic farming for Bangladesh and to promote the adoption of
such practices. A preliminary workshop has already been held in Dhaka and a demonstration
unit has been established. |