A competition took place in China in 2020, titled ‘Smart Agriculture Competition’ — China’s largest agrotech platform, Pinduoduo, and China Agricultural University battled this to grow strawberries. We can interpret the competition as digital vs. traditional farming. In this competition, the traditional methods produced an average of 2.3 kg of strawberries in six months. Can you guess how much the digitized process made? 6.86kg! Digitized farming produced almost 3 times more than traditional farming, thus winning the competition.
Now, several questions might come up in your mind. First, what makes this difference? Or, what are the measurements that digitized agriculture has taken to produce better than traditional ones? Second, can it also apply to Bangladesh if it is useful in China? Before digging deep, we must know Bangladesh has one of the largest populations in the world depending on agriculture, with 16.5 million farmers’ families directly related to the sector. Agriculture contributes to 40% of the national employment and almost 12% of the GDP (2022).
In addition, digitizing the agriculture sector might seem very tempting because it will bring farmers and large corporations together. And why not? The current entrepreneurs, start-ups, and corporations already claim to have financed billions of dollars to the local farmers and connected thousands of farmers to the digital era.
The businesses that claim to bring the ‘green revolution’ further glamorized term of taking Bangladesh to ‘Agriculture 4.0’ refers to the current agricultural revolution as a transformative wave sweeping across fields, promising to reshape the way farmers cultivate, manage, and sell their products by using digital tools like application and data analysis.
Digitizing the agricultural sector is a technological evolution and a crucial step toward connecting local farmers with the broader market. Professor ASM Golam Hafeez from the Department of Agricultural Finance and Banking at Bangladesh Agricultural University emphasizes the need for this connection, stating, “We have to connect the local farmers to the real market. We will see the fruits if we can do that using digital methods.”
Recent global trends in digital farming indicate a burgeoning opportunity for growth and efficiency. According to a report by GlobeNewswire, the digital agriculture market is expected to reach $34.13 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.86%.
We must do something like the Pinduoduo did with the traditional team to achieve this target or go beyond. So, what did they do differently was exactly our first question.
The Pinduoduo had a team of four scientists. At first, they were lagging behind the traditional farmers, But then scientists used technologies like internet-connected gadgets, data crunching, robots, and greenhouses. Quickly, they closed the gap.
They studied historical strawberry data and pictures, then used models for water, food, and greenhouse climate model to make smart choices. These scientists got way more strawberries by controlling moisture, nutrients, and temperature. Internet, computer hardware, smartphones, AI, blockchain, IoT, and other relevant technologies will be updated in the future. It thus will contribute to achieving the desired target as the Chinese tech-savvy team achieved it.
Of course, food security, SDG goals, and the betterment of the farmers and the country are easily achievable by adopting these technologies. However, it depends on whether Bangladesh has these technologies now available. If yes, then what is the scenario? That brings us to our second question: Is it applicable to Bangladesh?
According to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) till November 2022, 38.1% of urban households had internet access, 63.4% and 29.7% in rural areas. For computers and smartphones, it’s 25.6% and 70.2% in the urban areas and only 3.1% and 46.2% in rural areas.
This data reflects the inequality in using ICT/digital facilities in urban and rural areas. Many farmers are not familiar with digital technologies or are technologically literate, so this gap needs bridging to get the desired outcomes. Using mobile phones to obtain updates and learn about seed availability showcases a starting point, but there’s immense room for growth.
Echoing the fact, Professor ASM Golam Hafeez said, “The farmers I know are using mobile phones to get themselves updated. However, most of them are not familiar with the usage of apps. So, there is a chance of inequality because most of our farmers are not friendly with digital technologies or ways. Bridging this gap is crucial for creating an inclusive digital ecosystem in agriculture. Training programs and awareness campaigns will play a pivotal in introducing farmers to user-friendly digital tools that can enhance their productivity.”
Digital farming has immense possibilities in Bangladesh. It is not just about efficiency; it’s a gateway to sustainable practices. Precision agriculture, enabled by digital technologies, allows Bangladeshi farmers to optimize resources such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
This reduces environmental impact and enhances the economic viability of farming operations. In a country like Bangladesh, where agriculture is a major contributor to the economy, adopting sustainable practices can have far-reaching positive effects.
But what will happen if our farmers learn digital tools and get updated on everything they need to produce better crops in greater quantity? Does this solve the problem? Is it everything to produce more? What is the benefit to the farmers in that case?
“No development will be made if we don’t connect the farmers to the real market. A farmer from a village sells their vegetables for 20 takas. This becomes 60 to 80 or more in Dhaka. The digital revolution will be ensured if we connect farmers to the market where people can directly buy from them at a better price by cutting the middlemen in between. In that case, the farmers and the consumers will benefit,” said Professor Golam Hafeez.
All the country’s agrotech farms claim that as well. Their websites mentioned that they support the farmers in financing their projects, providing necessary training, and connecting them with the farm’s representative and the market. These farms inspire and motivate farmers to enlist in their companies and participate in the revolution. There is a budding interest in this sector as it is getting more popular and getting investments of billions of dollars.
Professor Golam Hafeez also raises a critical point about the motivations behind the push for digital farming. “Businessmen are opting for only profits; they are not concerned about the betterment of the farmers.” This assertion underscores the importance of ensuring that the digital transformation of agriculture is not driven solely by commercial interests but also by a genuine commitment to improving farmers’ livelihoods.
Recognizing the potential of digital agriculture, the Bangladeshi government has taken steps to promote its adoption. Initiatives such as subsidizing digital tools, providing training programs, and establishing digital agriculture support centers are underway.
17 departments and 45 services under the Ministry of Agriculture are already accessible through an integrated digital platform. The ministry states that more than 200 million people will benefit from this platform in connection with agricultural activities. All these services can be accessed by clicking on the Integrated Digital Service tab on the ministry’s website, moa.gov.bd or http://service.moa.gov.bd/portal/home.
Through this portal, agriculture-related services have been categorized based on type and nature. Services related to agriculture advice, licensing, and registration for farmers, producers, businessmen, importers, exporters, grants and subsidies, irrigation, crops, fertilizers, and pesticides can all be accessed digitally.
As Bangladesh stands at the crossroads of traditional agriculture and digital innovation, the future is promising and challenging. The digital wave offers an unprecedented opportunity to uplift the lives of farmers, enhance agricultural productivity, and contribute to sustainable practices. However, to realize these benefits, at least three primary things are necessary: first, to train the farmers; second, to help them produce more; and third, to connect the farmers to the consumers.
