Stewardship in agriculture: A path to sustainable development in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the 33rd largest economy and the 8th most populated country in the world. The country is gradually transforming into an industrialised nation, with manufacturing playing a leading role; however, agriculture still remains a significant contributor. The sector creates 45.4% of employment, whereas industry generates 17.9%, and the service sector employs 37.6%. 

This means a large number of people are engaged in the agricultural sector, contributing greatly to the economy and supplying food for the nation. The people engaged in agriculture need proper safety and security to protect their health and maintain a decent livelihood. However, these important issues mostly remain unattended in policy discussions.

Stewardship is a life cycle approach from the discovery and development of new active ingredients to their use and the final disposal of any waste. Considering the importance of agriculture, stewardship for its sustainability is vital and should be included in our policies. Farmers who toil to grow food for us through their hard labour must also be able to lead healthy lives. We need to create awareness among farmers and those who support them. Integrated training and awareness are required to understand the processes involved in nurturing crops at every stage. 

Moreover, stewardship not only protects human health but is also beneficial for protecting the environment, making agriculture sustainable in the long term. It ensures responsible management of water, land, animals, and biodiversity while promoting safe livelihoods for farmers.

Several countries excelling in agriculture have implemented stewardship programs. As a first step, they prohibit the disposal of empty pesticide bottles and packets on cropland. The Philippines is one example that has initiated this practice. Through proper stewardship, the entire use of pesticides—from procurement to application—can be made less hazardous, keeping both people and the planet safe.

Stewardship has various components, such as product stewardship, pollinator safety stewardship, biodiversity safety stewardship, aquatic stewardship, and medical stewardship. Product stewardship focuses on ethically managing the entire lifecycle of pesticides. It creates awareness about the proper use of pesticides among farmers, professional sprayers, dealers, retailers, private and public officials, and students of agricultural universities. 

While working with pesticides, everyone involved must wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Farmers, who are often unaccustomed to taking safety precautions, need to be educated about protecting themselves by using protective gear such as gowns during spraying.

Secondly, pollination and biodiversity safety stewardship are of utmost importance. Almost 87% of agricultural products consumed worldwide result from cross-pollination, with bees contributing about 80% of this process. Ensuring regular visits by honeybees and protecting them from predators like ants is crucial for maintaining crop production.

Medical stewardship, or life-care stewardship, addresses pesticide poisoning incidents, which are often mishandled due to a lack of timely intervention and expertise. Understanding pesticide types and their treatment protocols is essential. Medical stewardship provides guidelines for treatment, emphasising the need for toxicologists or doctors with specialised knowledge. Raising awareness about medical stewardship is important and can be included in educational curricula. Establishing a national poisoning information centre is also necessary for disseminating updated information.

Medical stewardship is also known as antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), which promotes the responsible use of antimicrobials in agriculture and animal care to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Seed care stewardship ensures the safe management of seeds and the maintenance of their quality. Aquatic stewardship, on the other hand, focuses on protecting water bodies and maintaining a clean and hazard-free water ecosystem.

Stewardship practices can enhance soil health, reduce erosion, conserve water, and promote sustainable agricultural production. These practices ensure food security through the safe, judicious, and responsible use of agricultural inputs. They also improve farmer livelihoods by increasing yields and reducing costs.

Safe food production is possible if pre-harvest intervals (PHI)—the gap between pesticide application and crop harvesting—are strictly observed. In Bangladesh, due to knowledge gaps, crops are often harvested immediately after pesticide application, posing serious risks to human health and the people collecting the crops. The PHI varies depending on the pesticide type, and proper knowledge dissemination is essential. When PHI is maintained, pesticide residues in crops can be minimised. Ensuring farmers' health through safe handling practices and mitigating operational exposure must be prioritised.

Stewardship can help maintain soil health, reduce erosion by maximising water infiltration, and improve nutrient cycling. It also promotes the judicious use of agricultural inputs, conserves biodiversity, and protects water resources. By following proper compliance protocols, stewardship can boost agricultural exports. Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, and 12 are closely linked to agricultural stewardship.

Bangladesh is aware of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and policies have been developed to support this initiative. GAP ensures compliance with PHI and Maximum Residual Limits (MRL). The country has the Pesticide Act of 2018 and the Pesticide Rules of 1985, which are under revision. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and the Plant Protection Wing are actively working on these revisions. Stewardship should be incorporated into the revised act and rules to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

Currently, 750 companies supply inputs to the agricultural sector in Bangladesh. They are responsible for promoting stewardship to protect farmers' health and safety while safeguarding the country's land and soil. These companies must adopt stewardship practices and create awareness among farmers. Adhering to stewardship policies should be mandatory for businesses seeking licenses to sell agricultural inputs.

As Bangladesh transitions from its least developed country (LDC) status, policies addressing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and trade-related technical barriers (TBT) will become more significant. Encouraging investment in agriculture, processing, and food exports will require a greater focus on traceability and GAP compliance. Stewardship must be included, at a minimum, in the pesticide policy currently under finalisation. Awareness programs and dialogues should be organised by relevant associations, investors, and stakeholders closely working with farmers.

Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of BUILD-a Public Private Dialogue Platform, works for the private sector

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.