This study assesses biophysical sustainability of conventional rice based
agriculture system in Bangladesh from key actors' perspectives focusing on agroenvironmental
aspects. Through conventional agricultural practices, in recent years
Bangladesh has become self-sufficient in rice, but it is argued that this has been at the cost of the environment: soil, water, and biodiversity. A major objective of the research was to understand the current agricultural practices of the rice farmers of Bangladesh, from the perspectives of the farmers as practitioners and experts from their professional perspectives: their views and the extent of their knowledge on environmental issues arising from intensive agricultural practices. These findings were used to assess the biophysical sustainability of intensive rice culture. A total of 231 farmers and 30 respondents from each of the three professional groups were surveyed. The government's agricultural policies in relation to the above issues were also analyzed to assess their suitability for purpose.
Surveys of farmers showed that they believe that yields of HYV rice have not
materially changed over the past ten years, despite a doubling of chemical fertilizer inputs, and a marked increase in pesticides inputs. Both farmers and the professional groups believe that soil fertility is declining, and that pollution of the environment is increasing. The water table is falling, and the availability of organic components and dung are also decreasing. Farmers and professional respondents agree that intensive agriculture as currently practised is unsustainable. However, despite being well aware of the detrimental effects of their practices, farmers feel unable to change due to the risk to their household food security.
The Government has policies for increasing crop production, but increasingly
these seem to be in conflict with both current intensive agricultural practices and more environmentally benign forms of crop production. All parties agree that a sustainable, low external input agricultural system is necessary, but there is uncertainty about how to achieve this.