Transcript Bangladesh basic facts

Bangladesh: Basic Facts
Presented by:
Syed Amdadul Huq
Research Director (a.i.), FPMU
22/02/10
Presentation to Cambodian
Food Security Team
Population:
Bangladesh is one of the top 10 highly populated countries of the
world (WDR 2009). Population is about 144.5 million (2008) and the
area is about 147570 square kilometers. Population growth in
Bangladesh is much higher compare to other South Asian countries.
It is also the highest dense country in South Asia (2007).
Annual Population growth in
percentage(%)
Number of Population per sq. km
1218
2.3
1.8
1.8
1.4
378
0.4
211
309
82
GDP and Per Capita Income:
It is revealed in WDR 2009 that
per capita income in
Bangladesh is low enough
with respect to regional context.
In last 5 years, average contribution
form Agriculture in Gross
Domestic Product (GDP)
was 21.89%, where highest
sub-sectoral contribution was
from Crop (57%) and lowest
was from Forest (8%).
Per capita income in US$
(2007)
$1,540
$950 $870
$540
$470
Fisheries
22%
Forest
8%
Livestock
13%
Sub-sectoral contribution to
Agricultural GDP
Crop
57%
Agriculture:
Bangladesh is predominantly an agricultural country where provision of
food security, improvement of the living standard and generation of
employment opportunities of the huge population of the country are
directly linked to the development of agriculture. Although Bangladesh is
an agro-based country, about 89% of total farm-holding is below 2.49
acres in size. According to Agriculture Sample Survey 2005, Farm
holdings by size class in Bangladesh are as follows:
Farm-holdings by size in Bangladesh
Medium
Farm
Holdings
10%
Marginal
Holdings
39%
Small Farm
Holdings
50%
Large
Farm
Holdings
1%
Major Challenges to Agriculture as well as overall development in Bangladesh:
A. Key Environmental Stresses :
Land and Soil : The annual loss of arable land stands at about 100 thousand ha per year due to nonagricultural use including extension of human settlements. Physical, chemical and biological properties
of soil are deteriorating due to a number of reasons including loss of micro
nutrient, salinity intrusion, lack of proper replenishment of plant nutrient etc.
Water: Water-related problems generally exist in Bangladesh: water scarcity during dry season , over
exploitation of ground water and salinity in coastal belts.
Disaster:
Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country . UNDP has identified Bangladesh
The most vulnerable country in the world to tropical cyclones and
The Sixth most vulnerable country to floods
Disasters have crucial implication for lives and livelihoods of huge numbers of population.
B. Adverse Impacts of Climate Change
Bangladesh is recognized by the world communities as one of the most vulnerable countries susceptible to
global warming and climate change. Different estimates suggest that
The effects of a 1 meter rise in sea-level would cause the loss of approximately 30,000 km2 (1/5th of
land area) to permanent inundation in Bangladesh.
 It would also enhance the frequency of severe tropical cyclones that have the potential to cause a storm
surge of 3-6 metres.
Subsequent erosion of the remaining coastline from sea-level rise and extreme events would contribute
to further land loss.
The most alarming prediction about the impacts of climate change in Bangladesh is that more
than 25 million people will become climate refugees and food insecure only due to sea level
rise in the coming decades.
Climate changes have multiple implications on rice production in Bangladesh.
•Scarcity of land for cultivation due to submergence of land area.
•Soil quality degradation due to salinity.
•Yield reduction due to changed crop duration and increased crop infestation.
Impacts of adverse climate change on agriculture already observed:
Irregular monsoon and very little rainfall in dry period
Increased frequency, intensity and recurrence of floods, cyclones.
Crop damage due to flash floods and monsoon floods
Crop failure due to drought
Salinity intrusion along the coast leading to redundancy of prevailing crop practices.
Thank
You