Potential of urban agriculture in Bangladesh

Photo: Star

In the near future, urban and semi-urban agriculture will be accepted and implemented as a major intervention in food security and social security programmes

By Syed Anwarul Haque
The writer is a former Professor of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University.
The Daily Star
May 27, 2011

Excerpt:

Floriculture is an important aspect of Dhaka daily life. Every day there are marriages, birthday parties, meetings etc. where flowers are essential to grace the occasion. Growing markets have also sprung up in different corners of the city to cater the needs of the city dwellers. It creates a lot of job opportunities for the hither unemployed people and brings money to improve their livelihood.

To meet the demand of the huge population of Dhaka, a vast quantity of fruits is needed. To meet the demand and earn money out of selling fruits, fruit plantations have developed in a small scale in the city as well as in the periphery in a scattered way.

Demand for fresh vegetables is increasing in Dhaka, a part of which can be met by growing vegetables in the city itself. Demand for poultry, meat and eggs is growing in the city. It is a lucrative business and brings good money for the people engaged in the business. Ample scope is there to further widen the poultry business in the city.

A part of the fish and shrimp requirements of Dhaka city and its restaurants could be met through their culture in Dhaka itself. Hotels in cities like Bangkok, Beijing, Seoul, etc. have mini fish ponds in the restaurants themselves to cater to the needs of the clients.

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