Agriculture is Bangladesh’s primary economic sector. A large portion of the population depends on it for their livelihood, and it makes a significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
However, due to natural disasters and climate change, the agricultural sector is increasingly at risk. To address this, the government has undertaken various initiatives. It is employing different modern technologies to improve farmers’ financial and social conditions, diversify crop cultivation, and minimize the damage caused by natural calamities.
To enhance climate resilience, the government is expanding the use of modern technology at the grassroots level. In a bid to revolutionize agriculture, the government is working to make the sector more dynamic and sustainable by expanding drone use, satellite-based tools, and digital agricultural services. These technologies will help farmers assess land conditions, receive weather forecasts, and make timely and appropriate farming decisions. To this end, the Department of Agricultural Extension is implementing the “Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management Project (CSA-WMP),” which aims to make the agriculture sector more sustainable and climate-resilient.
The main goal of the project is to increase crop production and intensity in the project areas using modern and climate-resilient agricultural technologies. At the same time, the project aims to reduce water waste in irrigation and use it more efficiently, while also producing, storing, and distributing improved quality seeds of grains, pulses, and oil crops to farmers.
This project, running from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2026, is being implemented in 27 upazilas across 17 districts in eight divisions of the country. The total estimated cost of the project is Tk 1.06774 billion. Of this, the government of Bangladesh (GoB) is providing Tk 212.774 million, and the World Bank is contributing the remaining Tk 848 million. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on January 25, 2022.
According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Ministry of Planning, the project had achieved 68 percent physical progress and 47.33 percent financial progress as of March 2025. So far, nearly 30,000 farmers have directly benefited from the project, while another 51,000 farmers have indirectly gained knowledge and benefits by observing modern technologies and farming methods. Officials believe that successful implementation of this project will spark a significant revolution in the country’s agriculture sector.
Speaking to Banglanews, Project Director and agriculturist Khandaker Mohammad Rashed Iftekhar said that one of the goals of the project was to increase crop intensity by 2 percent. In reality, most upazilas have seen a 5 percent or more increase, which he considers a major success of the project.
He said four advanced agricultural drones were imported with assistance from the World Bank. A total of 15 drone pilots have already been trained through a 21-day course. These drones will be used for monitoring, fertilizing, and operations in remote hilly areas. Initially, drone usage will begin on a trial basis in two upazilas. By integrating drone technology into field supervision, incorporating digital tools in production and marketing systems, and training farmers, agriculture is being prepared for the future.
Agriculturist Khandaker Mohammad Rashed said that the project is implementing an integrated and multidimensional agricultural development model. This includes the creation of Farmer’s Climate Smart Schools, Farmer’s Climate Smart Clubs, Climate Smart Farmers, Climate Smart Agricultural Villages, commercial farmhouses, producer groups, and agricultural product collection centers—laying the foundation for a comprehensive and modern agricultural framework.
The project is designed to protect soil health, improve irrigation and drainage systems, deliver modern and data-driven agricultural services, ensure proper crop care, utilize information technology, save energy, and take into account various aspects of weather, climate, and the environment.
Additionally, under this project, producer groups are being formed around fruit orchards and solar pump-based farming. At the same time, sustainable production is being ensured through the formation of groups involved in producing high-value crops, seeds of grains, pulses, and oilseeds, saplings, and organic fertilizers. This will not only improve the agricultural marketing system but also ensure fair prices for farmers. Furthermore, the use of drone technology for field supervision and the integration of digital tools in farmhouses, production, and marketing systems will make agriculture more dynamic and modern.
To enhance the knowledge and skills of farmers and agricultural officials, the project includes targeted training programs on GIS, procurement, and information technology. These training initiatives are serving as vital tools for achieving the project’s objectives. Project Director Khandaker Mohammad Rashed Iftekhar also described the initiative as a complete implementation of “climate-smart agriculture.”
He noted that more technology-driven agricultural activities are being introduced at the field level under this project. These include water-efficient irrigation techniques like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), vermicompost production, solar irrigation systems, the use of rice transplanters, and cultivation of salt- and drought-tolerant crops. Already, 36 mini seedling polyhouses have been built, over 14,000 agricultural technology demonstrations conducted, and 2,850 agricultural machines distributed.
By utilizing climate-smart agricultural technology, the project is increasing agricultural production in its target areas while reducing the risks of climate change. Improving the socio-economic status of farmers and introducing various crop cultivation techniques are key goals of this initiative.
Among the notable benefits of the implemented project are: rice transplanting using rice transplanters; fruit orchards; cultivation of high-value crops; use of organic pesticides; vegetable cultivation on floating beds; vegetable cultivation using the Sorjan method; polynet houses; cool chambers; vermicompost chambers; buried pipe technology; poly mulching; AWD; ribbon pipes; solar irrigation; drip irrigation; and combined harvesters.
The rice transplanter is a machine for transplanting rice seedlings. Using this machine, a large number of seedlings can be transplanted in a short time with less labor. Uniform planting increases yield and reduces production costs, resulting in higher profits for farmers. In the upazilas covered under the project, rice seedlings are being transplanted using rice transplanters to further mechanize and modernize agriculture.
To promote commercial fruit cultivation, the project includes provisions for establishing a total of 1,800 orchards across various upazilas. Of these, 1,040 orchards have already been created. These orchards cultivate a variety of fruits including mango, lemon, jujube, dragon fruit, guava, and lychee. Many farmers, adopting fruit cultivation as a commercial production strategy, are now reaping financial benefits.
A total of 2,736 demonstrations are being conducted for high-value crops such as ginger, turmeric, garlic, onion, summer tomatoes, watermelon, and beans. These high-value crops (HVCs) fetch good prices in the market. Furthermore, the use of organic pesticides enhances the quality of these crops and increases their market demand. This results in higher income for farmers and encourages them to grow high-value crops over traditional rice cultivation.
Organic pesticides are environmentally friendly. As they contain no harmful chemicals, they help protect soil, water, and air from pollution. The use of organic pesticides improves soil health, enhances crop quality, and supports sustainable agricultural development.
Cultivating vegetables on floating beds allows for the year-round production of leafy greens by utilizing the natural resources of wetlands. Due to climate change, this method has gained popularity as a sustainable and effective farming technique in flood-prone and waterlogged areas. The project has initiated demonstrations of vegetable cultivation on 190 floating beds, which are expected to contribute significantly to farmers’ socio-economic development and national food security.
The project will also hold 180 demonstrations of vegetable and fruit cultivation using the Sorjan method. This technique is particularly suitable for flood-prone and waterlogged areas. In the Sorjan method, crops or vegetables are cultivated on elevated soil beds (sorjan), while the lower areas (patti) serve for drainage or fish farming. This approach reduces waterlogging, maintains soil fertility, and facilitates irrigation management.
Polynet houses provide a controlled and secure environment for seedling production. Under the project, 36 such houses, each measuring 524 square meters, have been constructed across 27 upazilas. These houses produce seedlings of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and high-value crops. They are equipped with advanced systems for water management, temperature control, and pest protection. Additionally, each site includes a demonstration area to support seedling sales. Depending on the type of seedlings produced, each polynet house is expected to generate an annual income of Tk 500,000 to Tk 1,000,000.
In subproject areas, cool chambers are being installed at the homes of progressive farmers, particularly for storing onions. The designs of these chambers are customized based on the practical conditions of each household.
Vermicompost technology is a climate-smart agricultural technology (CSAT) and a vital component of sustainable agriculture. The demonstrations aim to promote the use of this organic fertilizer, thereby reducing excessive use of chemical fertilizers and ensuring safe agriculture in subproject areas.
In total, 57 free Barind pipe irrigation systems are being installed across each subproject area. This system saves water by delivering it directly to crop fields through underground pipes.
Poly mulching involves covering soil with thin plastic sheets to retain moisture and control weeds. Emphasis is being placed on increasing the use of this technology during the cultivation of 2,736 high-value crop demonstrations in project areas.
A total of 1,520 Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation demonstrations will be set up in project upazilas. AWD is an effective irrigation technique in agriculture that is both cost-effective and accessible for poor farmers. This method can save 15 to 30 percent of water without affecting yield.
Ribbon pipes are used to transport water over long distances. This is a simple, cost-effective, and water-efficient method of irrigation. Water will be supplied via ribbon pipes at 228 locations within project areas.
A total of 57 solar-powered irrigation systems will be installed free of cost in 57 sites across 19 fertilizer project areas. This eco-friendly technology will enhance the use of renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, and lower irrigation costs.
Drip irrigation is considered the most efficient method of watering crops. It delivers water directly to the root zone with no waste, saving water and promoting better crop growth. A total of 57 drip irrigation systems will be installed free of cost across project areas. Under the integrated agricultural mechanization project, there is also a plan to provide 57 farmers with 57 combined harvesters at subsidized rates. This will enable farmers associated with farmhouses, as well as those in the surrounding areas, to harvest and thresh paddy at low cost.
The use of information and technology in agriculture modernization has expanded opportunities for field-level monitoring. This project will experimentally employ drone technology, GIS, remote sensing, and automated monitoring tools for observing crop conditions, collecting data, and analysis in the field. An integrated farm house management app will be developed for recording farm accounts, equipment use, monitoring activities, and storing various information. Additionally, some decision-making apps will be developed to assist farmers with calculations and farming decisions.
Through this project, changes will be brought to cultivation practices, quality will be improved at every stage of farming, and crop collection and marketing systems will be upgraded. As a result, farmers’ household income will increase, their purchasing power will improve, and their overall socio-economic condition will advance. Experts believe the knowledge and experience gained from this project will play a crucial role in shaping future sustainable agriculture policies. Furthermore, the project may serve as an effective model for achieving Bangladesh’s 2041 development goals.
MN/SMS
