Bangladesh Needs a “Blue–Green Revolution” to Achieve a Green Economy

Abstract

Bangladesh is the 7th most populous country in the world, covering an area of 144 000 km2 with a population of 164 million. population is constantly increasing in Bangladesh with 2.26 million more people being added each year (United Nations 2009). Bangladesh is also the most densely populated country (1142 per km2) in the world, ranking 11th in population density when small island countries and city-states are included. Despite sustained efforts by donors since independence (1971), Bangladesh remains one of the world’s least developed countries with 58% of its population classified as poor (Alkire and Santos 2010). Although per capita income has more than tripled from US$203 in 1975 to US$641 in 2010, it is still extremely low compared to the world average of US$8 985 (IMF 2010). The effects of climate change are a further threat to food security in Bangladesh as the country ranks first in terms of vulnerability to climate change (Harmeling 2010). Already one in four households, or 27% of the population (44 million), are undernourished (FAO 2010a). Despite progress in reducing child malnutrition in Bangladesh, it is still one of the highest in the world (Faruque et al. 2008; Bland 2009). Moreover, up to 77 million people in Bangladesh are being exposed to water contaminated by arsenic (Argos et al. 2010). We suggest that a “blue–green revolution” of fish farming in rice fields can offer a solution to these problems. Because of its fertile soil and available water resources, Bangladesh is ranked 4th and 6th in global rice and fish (aquaculture) production, respectively (FAO 2010b, c). Rice is the most important agricultural crop in Bangladesh with an annual production of 29 million tonnes a year (BRKB 2010), while annual fish production is 2.7 million tonnes (DOF 2010). The total area of rice fields in Bangladesh is about 10.14 million ha with an additional 2.83 million ha of inundated seasonal rice fields where water remains for about 4–6 months (BRKB 2010). The carrying capacities of these lands and waters are not fully utilized, but there exists tremendous scope for increasing food production and economic growth through a blue–green revolution.