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Assignment-2
GEO205
Agriculture and agro-ecological zones in Bangladesh
Submitted to:

Professor Dr. M. Nazrul Islam (Mzs)

Full Time Faculty
Lecturer
Environmental Science and Management (ESM)
North South University
 

Submitted by:

No Name ID
.
1. MD. Arfatul Islam 1620756030

Section: 1

Submission Date: 17th April, 2021

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Table of Contents:

Content Page Number

Introduction 2
Bangladesh Agriculture at a glance 3
Characteristics of Bangladesh Agriculture 3,4,5
Climate Induced hazards affect 5,6,7
agriculture
Sustainable growth of agriculture 7,8
Importance of agriculture in Bangladesh 9
Prospects of Agriculture 10
Challenges in Agriculture Sector 10,11
Bangladesh Agriculture Future direction 12
AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES 13
Lists of Agro-ecological zones 14-23

Conclusion 23

References 24
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Introduction:

Agriculture refers to all practices related to soil cultivation for crop production. Farming is a
cornerstone of Bangladesh's economy and development if agriculture can be a major factor in
Bangladesh's prosperity. In order to preserve the ecological equilibrium, agriculture and its sector
must be balanced and productive.

Agriculture in Bangladesh is one of the major economic industries, accounting for 14.23% of
national GDP, with 41% of workforce employed (BBS 2018). Bangladesh is also one of the
world's most populous countries (964 people per km2), measured at 142.3million, 75 percent of
which live in rural areas. The country also suffers from one of the lowest ratios of land-man in
the world (0.2 ha per person), which makes the attainment of food security very difficult.

As in many other developed economies, agriculture has historically been Bangladesh's largest
industry. In this sector, about 50% of the population works and about 70% of the people in
general depend on agriculture for their survival. A large part of the poor depends on agriculture
as the main source of revenue and employment. Indirect agricultural dependency is embodied in
jobs in agricultural services and rural enterprises. In the past 3 decades, though, the agricultural
industry's average growth has been around 3.2%, up from 7.5% in production and 6.2% in
services. Over the last two decades, the general total agricultural jobs has stood at about 70% –
compared to 12.4% in production and 23.5% in services. Agriculture as a share of the last
decade's GDP growth varied between 17.5% (2009) and 12.68%. (2019). In contrast, industry
share has slowly increased from 25.3% (2009) to 29.65% (2019) while services sector share has
remained nearly constant—53.2% in 2009.

The subsector grains, followed by fisheries and cattle, is responsible for 0% of agricultural
production. The contribution of agriculture to GDP in most developing countries in the transition
to a higher middle income status is seen to be a related pattern. This scenario also suggests the
potential for this sector to have major implications for rural wages, jobs and overall reduction of
poverty considering the sluggish or steady growth rate of the agriculture sector per se and the
lower share of agriculture in GDP.
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Bangladesh Agriculture at a glance:

 Total farm holding: 1,51,83,183 hectares

 Total area: 14.86 million hectares
 Forest: 2.599 million hectares
 Cultivable land: 8.52 million hectares
 Cultivable waste: 0.268 million hectares
 Current fallow land: 0.469 million hectares
 Cropping intensity: 191%
 Single cropped area: 2.236 million hectares
 Double cropped area: 4.107 million hectares
 Triple cropped area: 1.485 million hectares
 Net cropped area: 7.837 million hectares
 Total cropped area: 14.943 million hectares

Characteristics of Bangladesh Agriculture:

Though agriculture dominates the economy of Bangladesh, it is not as advanced as elsewhere in

advanced countries. It is correct that in terms of crop production, Bangladesh is still far behind.
Due to limited investments in agricultural fields, agricultural production could not be increased.
Below are major characteristics of farming in Bangladesh-

Primitive form of cultivation: farmers now use nearly all ages old equipment such as ploughs,
yokes, harrows, weak bulls, etc. to cultivate the land used in the ancients. Via new and science
machinery, other sources of electricity, tractors, chemicals, fertilizer etc, the developing
countries introduced fundamental improvements in agriculture. More progress is being made on
this issue in Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and the United States of America. In these
nations, the yield per acre is significantly higher than ours.
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Reduced Soil Fertility: the soil has a specific productivity or production capabilities as all other
components. Therefore, land productivity has to be increased by application of environmentally-
friendly manures to increase production potential and soil should be mixed. Since the
Bangladeshi farmers were unexpected in this respect, the fertility of the countryside in the
countryside began to decrease.

Limited holdings of land: Joint families increasingly disappear due to the rise in population,
which makes the big holding smaller. And wooden ploughs cannot be cultivated in such small
farms.

Fieldless farmers: rural poor people become landless every day because of economic pressures.
For their survival, these landless people grow crop-sharing land from the 'mahajans' village.
They are not interested in investing properly because they want land ownership; they are
unwilling to do their physical work in this country. Strong harvest is not likely for this cause.

Profit decrease Cultivable Property: The cultivable land is increasingly being reduced to the
growing population of the world for the allocation of small land. It was stated from the
September 2003 meeting of the Parliamentary Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture that
82,900 hectares of land (approximately 1 percent) were diminished annually. Overall cultivated
acres decreased between 2001-02 and 2006-07, from 35.07 million acres.

Livelihood culture: most Bangladesh farmers only cultivate livelihood crops; they were of little
commercial interest in seed production. The commercial attitude towards crop production is still
not popular.

Environment dependency: nature relies on agriculture in Bangladesh. The vagaries of nature

hamper agricultural cropping production every year. In Bangladesh, farming is a popular term
for a monsoon game. However, the recent introduction into agriculture of the scientific method
of cultivation. The most common applications include power tillers, irrigation technology,
organical and chemical fertilizer, insecticides, etc. This results in a significant variety in crop
production.

Fallow Land: The large eastern land is still fallow, and as such we do not obtain any return from
those areas in the districts of Mymensingh, Netrokona, Kishorganj, Silhet, Sunamganj etc. In
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certain circumstances, this is not even feasible for farming or pisi-culture. This is important in
order to restore and cultivate these lands.

Uneven Land: The natural composition of the Eastern 3 region, such as Mymensingh, Sylhet,
Chittagong and Dhaka, is slightly uneven and hence most of the land cannot be irrigated. The
rough ground can neither carry nor absorb water and thus is less than that per acre of land

Failure to sell farm products: the agricultural commodity has a comprehensive marketing
programme. Comprehensive steps to make farming an enterprise in villages have not been taken
yet.

Apart from that, there are some other characteristics of Bangladesh Agriculture like- Cropping
intensity 190%, Irrigated land: 56%, Surface Water: 21%, Groundwater: 79%, Land-man Ratio:
0.06 ha;

Climate Induced hazards affect agriculture:

Agriculture is the most fragile field, as its production depends completely on climatic factors like
temperature, precipitation, strength of light, radiation and the duration of sunshine. It is projected
that flood incidences, droughts, hot temperatures, storms, and floods would be more regular and
severe. In the future, intuition about salinity could be more acute because of rising seas.

Impact of Temperature on Crop Production: For their vegetative and reproductive growth per
plant has a temperature range. If the temperature drops below or the maximum cap is surpassed,
crop production will face restrictions. A study6 showed that Aman rice production dropped by
2.94, 53.06, and 17.28 tons respectively in the period of vegetational, reproductive, and ripening
at 10C. The potential for growing wheat and potato will be seriously hampered with the change
in temperature (by 20 C and 40 C. Production losses can be greater than 60% of the yields
achieved. 7 Higher temperatures also have a detrimental impact on the organic soil.

Impact of Rainfall on Crop Production of Bangladesh: One of the main climatic elements of
cultivation is the rainfall. When water is required for their growth and production, all plants are
essential steps. In addition, floods and water logging conditions can cause heavy rainfall that can
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also contribute to crop losses. Increases in plant, reproductive and maturing phases of 1 mm have
been observed to decrease Aman rice yield by 0.036, 0.230 and 0.292 tons respectively. Water
scarcity restricts crop production when the irrigation coverage of the Bangladesh Development
Corporation is just 56 percent (BADC).

Impact of Sea Level Rise on Crop Production: Agriculture has a three-fold effect on sea-level
rise, i.e. salinity, erosion and rising cyclone occurrence and damage depth. The combined results
of these three factors are reducing coastal farming production. Salt penetration would reduce
crop productivity by the absence of fresh water and land erosion due to the increased sea level.

The terminative energy and germination rate of some plants is also reduced with salinity. In
2003 rice was produced by 1,151 metric metric tons below the level of 1985, which represents a
loss of 69%. Rice production in a village in Satkhira was examined11. Out of the overall
reduction 77% was due to conversion of rice field into shrimp pond and 23% was because of
yield loss.

Impact of Flood on Crop Production: Flood has the most damaging effect on Bangladesh's
crop production. The flood in 1988 led to a 45% decrease in farm income. 14 Higher discharge
and poor irrigation capability will increase the prevalence of such catastrophic flooding within
the scenarios of climate change in tandem with improved backwater impacts. Long-term floods
will slow the plantation of Aman which would result in considerable losses of the possible
production of Aman, as seen during the 1998 floods. In the haor areas of the last few years, loss
of Boro rice from flash flooding has been a daily occurrence. Taking into account all the
immediate and inducing detrimental effects on agriculture of climate change, it can be concluded
that crop agriculture would be more vulnerable in Bangladesh in warmer world.

Impact of Cyclone on Crop Production: The development of crops is damaged by cyclones.

The key crop of 'amane' rice, accounting in 2007 for around 70 per cent of the annual production
in the areas most affected, was confirmed to be approaching harvest by the FAO/GIEWS Global
Watch (2007)16 at the time of the passage of cyclone SIDR. The Department of Farm Extension
of Bangladesh estimates that a loss of about 1.23 million tons in rice equivalent, with 535.707
tons in four districts seriously affected, 555.997 tons in 9 districts severely affected and 203.600
tonnes, in 17 districts in Bangladesh moderately affected.
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Impact of Drought on Crop Production Due to Climate Change: In the pre-monsoon and
post-monsoon cycles, drought affects Bangladesh mainly Bangladesh has suffered almost 20
conditions of drought in the last 50 years. Droughts only influenced monsoon crops during the
years 1981 and 1982. In the last few decades, drought conditions had caused rice production
deficit of 3.5 million tons during the northwest of Bangladesh in the 1990s. The losses would be
significantly higher if other losses are deemed in respect of crops like rabi, sugarcane, tobacco,
wheat etc, as well as perennial agricultural commodities like bamboo, betel nut, fruits such as
litchi, mango, jackfruit, bananas etc.

Sustainable growth of agriculture:

Bangladeshi farmers did not use organic fertilizer or pesticides prior to the start of the Green
Revolution in the 1960s. Although the farmers used their farms steadily with chemicals. Some
organisations began their operations with the effects of chemical farming (PROSHIKA,
CARITAS, and UBINIG etc.). It has began a project to minimize the usage of artificial fertilisers
and pesticides through Integrated Crop Management (ICM), and Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) projects. However, the wide range of sustainable development is still low. They currently
run some sustainable agriculture components of the SHABGE, LMP and Akti Bari Akti Khamar
initiative.

Sustainable agriculture combines four main goal:

1. Productivity

2. Environmental stability

3. Economic profitability

4. Social and economic equity

To continue sustainable agriculture growth government need to focus on this four goals.

Productivity is one of the most critical aspects of farm sustainability. Productivity implies
agricultural production capacity. The legal use of the soil, water, supplies for propagation,
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laboratories, fertilizer, and costs is involved. Land productivity of agriculture will have to be
increased by at least 50 per cent.

Second, sustainable agriculture interpretation focuses on specific forms of technologies, specific

solutions to minimize dependence on non-renewable or environmentally damaging inputs. That
include eco-farming, permaculture, bio-based, ecological, low-input, biodynamic,
environmentally conscious, farm-fresh and wide-ranging techniques. However, there is an
intense controversy on whether agricultural systems with these concepts really describe
themselves as "sustainable." Ecological: reduction of harmful environmental externalities and
health concerns.Improvement, utilization and conservation of urban ecosystem services. Recent
issues include greater awareness of favorable agricultural environmental externalities. 

Thirdly, the agricultural sustainability Economic viewpoints aim at assigning importance to

ecological assets and at providing economic research with a longer time frame. They also
emphasize subsidies that encourage resource scarcity or unequal competition with other
production processes.

Forth and more broadly, The equality of technological transition is highly worrying in social and
economic and political terms. On local level, farmers' interest, cooperative action, promotion of
local organisations, history and farming communities are involved in agriculture sustainability.
At the higher level, the concern is to facilitate strategies aimed at reducing poverty.

Finally, it should be noted that all System actors, including farmers, staff, policymakers,
analysts, retailers and customers, must fulfill the aim of sustainable agricultural production. They
each play their own role in strengthening the sustainability of agriculture. They make their own
special contribution. Agricultural sustainability must be addressed at agriculture, state and
regional levels. The following model is essential.
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Importance of agriculture in Bangladesh:

It's a farming country, Bangladesh. And the backbone of Bangladesh's economy too is
agriculture. The most striking feature of Bangladesh's economic life is a vast majority of
farming, as three out of all four people in the country are dedicated to farming. In the principal
processing sectors, agriculture supplies almost all the food grains in the countries consumed and
yields vast amounts of raw materials, such as cotton, jute, oilseeds, etc.

There are several points on view of the need for agricultural improvements. The situation of the
masses will be improved and their quality of living will be increased. It provides the population
of the world with sufficient food. No less significant are the impact of increased farming on the
industry. The increased buying power of rural masses would have a wide internal demand in
order to consume the home manufacturer's goods. Improving farming is bound to mean an
increased process mechanization, and massive factories to manufacture agricultural equipment
and machinery may be predicted to occur.

While agriculture is virtually the only domestic industry in Bangladesh, the results are not
satisfactory, and the average yield per acre of different crops is therefore much lower than in
better organized countries. The uncertainty of precipitation is one of the clear causes of low
productivity in Bangladesh. Other factors include flooding, grass storms, droughts and other
vagaries of the atmosphere, which have a damaging impact on crop plants, aside from the
deficiency and irregular dispersal. Irrigation provides a partial rainfall correction. Wild pigs,
rodents, locusts and other p are also the source of great harm.

In Bangladesh's overall economic growth, the agricultural sector play an important role.
According to the Quarterly Labor Force Survey 2015-16, the agriculture sector (crop, animal
husbandry, forestry and fishing) contributes 14.74% of the country's GDP, creating about 41% of
the labor force. In addition, agriculture is a source of a broad variety of customer demanded
markets, especially in the rural areas of agricultural commodities. So, understanding the
importance of agriculture our government should take necessary steps to improve different sector
of Agriculture.
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Prospects of Agriculture:

Bangladesh is one of the least developed countries in the world. The great majority of it’s people
depend on agriculture for earning their living. Despite planned eforts by the government to
increase agricultural productivity for more than three decades. So, the place where we see
prospect of agriculture are mentioned below:

 Modern technical know-how to reduce yield gaps is provided.

 There is scope for hybrid expansion.
 Advanced technology growth prospects.
 Energy supplies in the agri-sector are steadily increasing.
 High-value crops have export potential.
 Scope for the diversification of agricultural products, for intensification and for adding value.
 Agriculture is capable of absorbing and generating revenue.
 Potentials for the proper use of hill/coastal areas like disadvantaged agro-ecological regions.

Challenges in Agriculture Sector:

Agriculture is Bangladesh's oldest and most famous occupation. The village is home to most of
the population of Bangladesh and most villagers (62 percent farm worker) are engaged in
agriculture. One of the key causes of widespread agricultural interest is that the land is very
productive and much of Bangladesh is straightforward. The Bangladeshi citizens are naturally
strong in agriculture as another item of importance. Agriculture is the other major contributor to
GDP. But Our Agro farm & industry face some challenges those are mentioned below:

Over Population- In fact Bangladesh produces a lot of agricultural products over population, but
we cannot enjoy the productivity of that production because of the population. Overcrowding in
this field is also a concern.
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Failure to do farm-work- The amount of farm work dropped from 14.5 million (1983-84) to
11.1 million (1996) 6. This is so many wealthy landowners in rural areas face this issue in the
peak season.

Production Without Land Further- The dilemma facing Bangladesh is now that land is used
for several other uses to raise production from land samestoch. And to fulfill the challenge, land
productivity must rise to 50%.

Excessive Fertility loss and land use- Since we have less land and more people, the country
gets so much pressure. In a single piece of land is further cultivated and is a loosing field of
fertility. In the other side the land is fragmented into several parts due to excessive populations,
which often reduce productivity.

Excessive Fertilizer & pesticides - More pesticides and fertilizers are used by farmers,
damaging the ecosystem and reducing their natural fertility. If this happens, the fertility of the
soil that is troubling will eventually lose. At the same time, we loose many fish, because the
pesticide mixed soil mixes with the river, canals and pond water.

Underground Water Level Loosing- We use and set deeper tube-pumping and forirrigation for
over the population. Also harmful agricultural activity can lead to a major natural disaster. This
means that our land falls, asunderground water supports healthy heights between the top of the
planet.

Agricultural poverty alleviation- Poverty alleviation and overall economic growth are a
prerequisite for ensuring adequate agricultural development while rural people already remain
below the poverty line.

Continuous deforestation- There are difficulties caused by continuous deforestation in

Bangladeshi coastline (Barsal, Noakhali and Chittagong coasts). The field of the farmers those
areas can easily now be destroyed by cyclone.
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Bangladesh Agriculture Future direction:

The scientists from home and abroad have worked for many years to develop suitable solutions
and many have already been developing in order to address the detrimental impact of global
warming on agricultural development. Because of the global warming, for example, the amount
of salinity in Bangladesh's coastal areas has increased and seriously affects most crops. In order
to alleviate this problems, 8 were developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
and 3 different types of salt-tolerant rice were developed by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear
Agriculture. In addition, BRRI has grown 7 rice varieties that tolerate drought. Both salt and
drought resistant variations of weed, maize and potato have been grown by The Bangladesh
Agricultural Research Institute. The Salt Tolerant Jute Sorte was established by Bangladesh Jute
Research Institute. Government and non-governmental organisations have undertaken
comprehensive projects, to apply these innovations to coastal producers, to keep up their
agricultural productivity and to develop it. The development of such plants in the coastal areas
has begun to grow as a result of these activities and hopefully further improve them.

Farmers know what plants must be cultivated so that their scarce capital will provide better
prices to them. Many farmers have chosen the cultivation and selling of these lucrative goods as
vegetables, fruit, flowers, fish, poultry and milk crops are produced more profitably than rice,
wheat, pulse and oilseed crops. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics carried out a household income
and spending survey in 2016-2017. Based on that as comparing between 2010 and 2016 with the
everyday intake of various foodstuffs, it can be found that there have been a substantial rise in
the consumption of fish, chicken, egg and beef, for egg it is 100%. Produced and consumed.

Farmland will begin to decline in the country in the future as new homes, bridges, businesses etc.
are built and built. In rice production, Bangladesh must continue its autonomy. With the present
high rice yields, its overall output can be substantially increased by appropriate agricultural
practices. Speaking of drying, salt and flood resistant varieties of various plants, scientists are
expected to continue to grow better varieties of different crop varieties in order to meet global
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warming as in the past. Besides research and expansion activities, In the future, the required
inputs for agriculture development will continue such as seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, agricultural
machinery and pesticides.

AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES:

An AEZ is a zone or area that has a particular combination of characteristics of physiography,

soil, hydrological and agro-climates. The addition of successive levels of knowledge on the
physical environment important for land use and for agricultural potential assessment has
established thirty agro-ecological regions as well as 88 sub-regions and 535 unities. The layers
are:

 Physiography (Land forms and soil parent materials)

 Soils
 Depth and duration of seasonal flooding
 Length of rainfed kharif and rabi growing periods
 Length of the pre-kharif period of unreliable rainfall
 Length of cool winter period
 Frequency of occurrence of extremely high (>40o C) summer temperatures.

There are five type of land level in Bangladesh such as:

Highland: Land above the average level of flooding

Medium highland: Land usually flooded in the flood season with a depth of around 90 cm

Medium Lowland: Land that is usually submerged in the flood season between 90 cm and 180
cm.

Lowland: Land that is submerged in the flood season between 180 cm and 300 cm deep

Very lowland: Land which is usually submerged in the flooding period deeper than 300 cm
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Lists of Agro-ecological zones:

Id Zones/Regions Sub Regions
1 Old Himalayan Piedmont a) North-central; b) Northern; c) Southern
Plain
2 Active Tista Floodplain Active Tista Floodplain
3 Tista Meander a) Central; b) Eastern; c) Lower Atrai Floodplain; d) Lower
Floodplain Little Jamuna Floodplain; e) North-eastern and Southern
North-western; f) Upper Little Jamuna and Middle Atrai
Floodplain
4 Karatoya-Bangali a) Northern and Central; b) South-western
Floodplain
5 Lower Atrai Basin Lower Atrai Basin
6 Lower Punarbhaba Lower Punarbhaba Floodplain
Floodplain
7 Active Brahmaputra- Active Brahmaputra-Jamuna Floodplain
Jamuna Floodplain
8 Young Brahmaputra and a) High Jamuna Floodplain; b) Upper Brahmaputra
Jamuna Floodplain Floodplain; c) Upper Brahmaputra-Jamuna Floodplain
9 Old Brahmaputra a) Bansi Valley; b) High; c) Low; d) Medium High; e)
Floodplain Medium Low
10 Active Ganges Floodplain Active Ganges Floodplain
11 High Ganges River a) Central and Southern; b) Ganges-Mahananda
Floodplain Floodplain; c) Northern
12 Low Ganges River a) Central; b) Eastern
Floodplain
13 Ganges Tidal Floodplain a) Khulna Sundarban; b) Nonsaline, calcareous;
c)Nonsaline, calcareous and non-calcareous; d)
Nonsaline, noncalcareous; e) Saline, Acid Sulphate Soils;
f) Saline, calcareous and noncalcareous; g) Saline,
noncalcareous
14 Gopalganj-Khulna Beels Beel centres
15 Arial Beel Arial Beel
16 Middle Meghna River Middle Meghna River Floodplain
Floodplain
17 Lower Meghna a) Calcareous, flood protected; b) Calcareous,
River Floodplain unembanked; c) Noncalcareous, flood protected; d)
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Noncalcareous, unembanked
18 Young Meghna Estuarine a) Nonsaline: Central Bhola; b) Nonsaline: Meghna
Floodplain Estuary Charland; c) Nonsaline: North Bhola; d) Saline:
Central Bhola; e) Saline: Noakhali, Hatiya and Meghna
Estuary; f) Saline: Sandwip and South Bhola
19 Old Meghna Estuarine a) Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra Project Area; b) High: Old
Floodplain Meghna Estuarine Floodplain; c) Low: Daudkandi-
Habiganj; d) Low: Dhaka- Shariatpur-Barisal; e) Low:
Eastern Kishoreganj; f) Low: Gopalganj Beels margins; g)
Low: Habiganj-North Brahmanbaria; h) Low: Titas
Floodplain; i) Medium Low; j) Very poorly drained:
Laksham-Begumganj
20 Eastern Surma-Kushiyara Eastern Surma-Kushiyara Floodplain
Floodplain
21 Sylhet Basin a) Central and Southern; b) Northern; c) Western
22 Northern and Eastern a) Northern and Eastern Basins; b) Northern and Eastern
Piedmont Plain Plains and Basins; c) North-western Plains and Basins; d)
South Sylhet Piedmont Plains
23 Chittagong Coastal Plain a) Beach Ridges, Mangrove Swamp and Mud Clay; b)
Mangrove Tidal Floodplain; c) Piedmont Plains and River
Floodplains; d) Young Tidal Floodplain
24 St Martin’s Coral Island St. Martin’s Coral Island
25 Level Barind Tract a) Highland and Medium Highland; b) Medium Lowland
and Lowland
26 High Barind Tract High Barind Tract
27 North-eastern Barind a) Mainly poorly drained; b) Mainly well drained; c)
Tract Mixed well drained and poorly drained
28 Madhupur Tract a) Mainly poorly drained level terrace; b) Mainly well
drained dissected terrace
29 Northern and Eastern a) Low hills and Piedmont Plains; b) Mainly high hill
Hills ranges; c) Mainly low hills

30. Akhaura Terrace Akhaura Terrace

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old Himalayan Piedmont plain (4,008 sq km) This distinctive area is formed by the (4,008 sq
km) in an old Tista alluvial fan from the foot of the himalayas. The relief pattern is dynamic. In
this area mostly deep, fast-permeable sandy loams and sandy clay loams.. In general, the
content of organic matter is higher than in other Bangladeshi floodplain soils. The soil's natural
fertility is moderate but supportive.

Active Tista Floodplain (830 sq km) The active tista, dharla and dudhkumar floodplains
comprise this area. It has complicated patterns of low ridges, mostly flat, depressions in the
intersection, river canals and cut-off canals. The field has unusual gray sand and silts shapes. All
of them are mildly acidic and in weatherable k-minerals parent alluvium is mild. In the area,
there are four general soil types. Low to medium in organic matter and soil fertility levels.

Tista Meander Floodplain (9,468 sq km) The Tista flood plain and atrai floodplain, small
jamuna, caratoya, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers occupy a large part of this area. Many regions
have broad ridges and near-level reservoirs. In the lower ground and parent-material-media in
weatherable minerals, there is a general trend of brown olive, quickly permeable, gloomy soils
on the floodplain ridges and gray or dark green, slowly permissible, thick silted loams and silty
clay soils. In the area there are eight general soil varieties. Low to medium fertility. In general,
soils are able to retain sufficient moisture

Karatoya-Bangali Floodplain (2,577 sq km) In terms of soil and physiography, this area is similar
to Tista Meander Floodplain and contains a Tista-Brahmaputra mixture of sediments. The
majority of places have flat, broad ridges and nearly low basins. The soils consist of gray silt
loam and silty clay loams on crusts and gray or medium gray clays in the reservoirs. In the area
there are five general soil varieties. Everything of the soil is mildly acidic. In cultivated strand
soils, organic matter content is usually poor and in basins moderate. The fertility is medium
overall

Lower Atrai Basin (851 sq km) This sector covers a low-lying area between the river Ganges
floodplain and the barind tract. It covers the beel region of Chalan. In this smooth, low-lying
basin land dark gray, thick, acidic clays are predominant. In the area, there are seven general
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soil types. Other essential nutrients are medium in organic matter and condition while the
amount of K (potassium) available is high. Soil fertility is moderate.

Lower Punarbhaba Floodplain (129 sq km) The wide area covers basins and beels divided by
low ridges of the floodplains. In this field hard clays dominate both ridge sites and basin, dark
brown, mottled red, very highly acidic. The condition is low to heavy for organic matter. The
level of general fertility of the high K-bearing minerals is medium. This AEZ includes the western
part of naogaon and the northern part of nawabganj districts.

Active Brahmaputra-Jamuna Floodplain (3,190 sq km) The area consists of the river
Brahmaputra-Jamuna river's belt of unstable alluvial soil, where land continually forms and
erodes as the river channels move. It has a broad and narrow ridge and depression intermittent
relief. Sandy and silent alluvial, rich in weatherable K minerals which react slightly alkaline,
occupies the field. The field is occupied by six general soil types. Poor status of organic matter
and low to medium state of fertility.

Young Brahmaputra and Jamuna Floodplain (5,924 sq km) The Brahmaputra sediment area
covers the city. It has a diverse relief with large and narrow crests, cross-cutting depressions
and partly complete cuts and basins. The field is covered by a permable slurry loam, which is
neutral in response to mildly acidic, to silty clay loam soils on the ridges and waterproof tones.
General forms of soil mostly contain gray floodplain soils. The content of organic matter in
reservoirs is limited to intermediate. N, P and S soils are poor but K and Zn status are fair. Soils
are poor.

Old Brahmaputra Floodplain (7,230 sq km) This location covers a wide area of sedimentary
areas of Brahmaputra, around 200 years ago the river moved to its current jamuna canal. There
are large ridges and basins in the area. Relief is erratic, especially near the river canals of the old
and the new. Silent loams are mostly soils in the field on the ridges and clay in the reservoirs.
Organic matter composition in the reservoirs is low to intermediate, with mildly acidic surfaces
but reacts neutrally to the subsoils. The overall degree of fertility is poor.
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Active Ganges Floodplain (3,334 sq km) In and adjacent river of ganges, this area occupies an
uneven alluvial field. The relief is erratic with broad and narrow cavities and depressions which
are disrupted by cuts and active channels. The field consists of complicated mixes of sandy
calcareous, silent and clay alluvium. Forms of general soil comprise mostly calcareous, alluvial
and calcareous brown soils in flood plains. Bio-based soils and slightly alkaline reactions. The
overall fertility level in N is medium but low.

High Ganges River Floodplain (13,205 sq km) ) the west of Ganges, mostly highland and
medium highland rivers, comprises this area. In most places, the broad and narrow ridges and
the depressions between the ridges are in complicated relief. Strong ridges are above natural
flood levels in the upper portions. The lower portions of the ridges and the edges of the basin
are overflowing seasonally. Groups of general soils include mostly calcareous dark gray
floodplain soils and calcareous brown floodplain soils. The content of organic material in the
dark gray soils on the brown edge is lower but higher. In reaction, the soils are very alkaline.
The overall degree of fertility is poor.

Lower Ganges River Floodplain (7,968 sq km) The Ganges river low-lying area consists of the
eastern part of the floodplain. The region has a traditional meandering landscape with broad
ridges and reservoirs. Sunflowing loams and silty clay loams are soils of this area in the ridges,
and thick clay loam on lower grounds. The main types of soil include dark gray limestone and
brown calcareous floodplain. The contents of organic matter are minimal to intermediate for
reservoirs. The overall level of fertility is moderate.

Ganges Tidal Floodplain (17,066 sq km) It covers a vast area in the southwest of the nation of
Tidal Waterfield. Much of this area has smooth relief with broad salinity zones. Riverbanks are
usually one meter or less higher than the next basin floor. The main element of general soil
types is non-calcareous grey floodplain soil. Most of the topsolars are acidic and dry to alkaline
subsoils. Soils are alkaline in the sundarbans region. The overall fertility ratio is high and the
organic matter is low to high.

Gopalganj-Khulna Beels (2,247 sq km) The Ganges River Floodplain and the Ganges Coastal
Floodplain are locally situated across varied low-lying areas. Area soils are grey to dark gray,
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sour, thick clays are 25-100cm long, covered with peat or muck. General forms of soil mostly
include turf and non-calcareous dark gray floodplain soils. The material is low to heavy in
organic matter. The degree of fertility is average.

Arial Beel (144 km) This is a low-lying basin in the southern part of a former major dhaka
district between the Ganges and the dhaleshwari rivers. The low Atrai Basin and the Gopalganj-
Khulna Beels have a great deal in common. The land in this field is dark gray, thick acidic clay.
The main general soil type is non-calcareous dark gray floodplain. In the top subsoil organic
matter typically reaches 2%. The moisture potential available is basically limited. The overall
level of fertility is low to high.

Middle Meghna River Floodplain (1,555 sq km) This zone is an area on the frontier between
the larger Dhaka and comilla districts on an empty channel on the Brahmaputra river. The
district comprises areas of the old chars of the Brahmaputra river and the adjacent areas of the
mainland. The region soils are gray loam on the ridges and the basins are gray to medium gray
tones. A non-calcareous grey floodplain soil is dominant in general soil. Solidly acidic top-soils
and mildly acidic subsoils are very alkalin. The overall degree of fertility with low N and organic
matter is medium.

Lower Meghna River Floodplain (909 sq km) It covers the transition between the floodplain in
the center of the Meghna River and the young floodplain Meghna Estuarine. Silk loams cover
comparatively elevated areas and silty clay loams dominate the depression. soils are fairly
uniform. Non-calcareous dark grey soils are main components of general soil forms and soils
are calcareous grey soils. Mild acidic top soils and reactive subsoils are neutral. The overall
degree of fertility is medium to high, with low to medium organic matter and minerals that bear
K.

Young Meghna Estuarine Floodplain (9,269 sq km) In and adjacent to the Meghna estuary this
area is the young alluvial field. The main soil consists of olive gray, thick calcareous loam which
silky clay loams and are laminated in shallow or low profundity. The prevailing general types of
soil are calcareous alluvium and non-calcareous gray floodplain soils. The surface and subsoils
are slightly alkaline. The overall fertility in N and organic matter is medium but poor.
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Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain (7,740 sq km) This is a wide range, primarily lowland from
Surma-Kushiyara southern to the young Meghna estuarine floodplain northern rims. this is a
zone that covers the mainly lowland area. On highlands, silt loam soils and silty clay are
predominant in lowlands. The soils contain organic matter is mild. Middle acidic topsoils but
neutral subsoils react. Topsoils. The overall level of fertility is moderate.

Eastern Surma-Kushiyara Floodplain (4,622 sq km) The surma-kushiyara floodplain that is

created by sediment on rivers draining into Meghna catchment area from the hills occupys
relatively high areas of Surma-Kushiyara. In this zone gray, thick, silty clay loams are inhabited
on the banks of the basins and clays. Soil composition is moderate in organic matter. The
reaction of the soil varies between highly acidic and neutral.

Sylhet Basin (4,573 sq km) The area of surma-Kushiyara occupies the lower west side. Locally
intermittent relief is next to ponds. In the region, soils are gray, silty, clay loam and higher
section clay, which dries seasonally in the wet basins. The organic composition of the soils is
mild and the soil reaction is mostly acidic. Medium to high fertility levels.

Northern and Western Piedmont Plains (4,038 sq km) This is a discontinuous area that is
present at the foot of northern and eastern hills, as a small strip of land. There are alluvial fans
merging into flat, low-lying reservoirs from the base of the northern and eastern hills. The main
general varieties of soil in the region consist of gray piedmont soils and non-calcareous grey
floodplain soils. The surrounding grounds are clay loams, somewhat acidic to highly acidic. Low
to medium, overall fertility.

Chittagong Coastal Plain (3,720 sq km) The plain land in the larger Chittagong district and the
eastern part of feni district is occupied in this area. It is an integral unit of pymontes, rivers,
tides and estuarines. High salinity during the dry season is the main concern for these soils
(October to May). The primary gray silt loams and stubborn clay loam soils. In the mangrove
coastal floodplains, acid sulphate soils are present. The soil is of modest overall fertility, but N
and K are restrictive. The content of organic matter is low to minimal.
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St Martin's Island (8 sq km) The whole St Martin's Island, in the far south of the world, is
occupied by this tiny but distinctive region. The landscape is surrounded by sandy beaches, very
mildly ondulating ancient beach ridges and cross-ridge depressions. Both old and young coral
beach sands are created completely. The only general soil formation in the region is calcareous
alluvium. With poor moisture capability, the overall fertility level is low.

Level Barind Tract (8 sq km) Madhupur clay develops this area. The countryside is almost flat.
The main soils include a gray, silent, ploughpaned topsoil. The main components of the area's
overall soil compositions are shallow-grey terrass soil and deep-gray terrace soils. The soil is
light-acid-to-acidic in reaction, and its moisture ability is poor. The status of organic matter is
very poor and most of the nutrients available are limited.

High Barind Tract (16 sq km) The south-west portion of the Barind Tract, where the Madhupur
Clay underlying had been raised and carved into deep valleys, is included. The soils include
puddled silt loam, silty clay loam, mottled plastic loam in the tops and pore silt in different
depths. The deep gray terrace and gray valley floors are important parts of the area's general
soil forms. The state of general fertility is low, organically low.

North Eastern Barind Tract (1,079 sq km) This field covers a number of discontinuous areas at
the Barind Tract northeast margins. It is made of silty or loamy top-soil and terrestrial loams. In
reaction, the soils are highly acidic. The soils have low organic matter. Fertility is bad overall.

Madhupur Tract (4,244 sq km) This is a diverse area of Madhupur's clay relief and soils. The
countryside consists of highlands, dissected or broad terraces, associated with wide or shallow
deeper valleys. In the field of deep red brown patio, shallow red brown patios and acid basin
clay are the most important of the eleven general forms of soil. Soils are dark gray, thick clays in
the valleys. In response to poor organic matter status, low humidity and low fertility level, they
are highly acidic.

Northern and Eastern Hills (18,171 sq km) This region covers the hills of the world. Support is
difficult. Hills are dissected to various degrees through bricks. Slopes are usually very steep and
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few low hills have flat peaks. The prevalent general soil condition of the region is brown hill
soils. The overall content of organic matter and fertility is minimal.

Akhaura Terrace (113 sq km) The eastern boundary of brahmanbaria, and the southwest corner
of habiganj district are occupied by this tiny region. High brown clay is the predominant soils in
the uppland. Silent mud to clay cover the soils of the Valley. The main components of the
region's general soil forms are deep brown terrace soils, gray piedmont soils and acid basin
clays. The overall fertility and status of organic matter is minimal. In reaction, the soils are
highly acidic.

Conclusion:

Agriculture is a determining factor in Bangladesh's food security and slow economic growth. It is
the biggest economic sector supplying about 30% of GDP in the country and employs over 60%
of the total workforce. This sector's success has a huge effect on key macroeconomic priorities
such as the generation of jobs, poverty alleviation, creation of human resources and food
security.

The Government remains committed to fulfilling the country's food needs, and grain production
has significantly increased in recent years. There are also facets of the challenges of agriculture.
For sustainable agricultural production, thus, the ways to meet the challenges should be
systematic, global and participatory.
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References:

1. “Agroecological Zone - Banglapedia.” Banglapedia,

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Agroecological_Zone. Accessed 17 Apr. 2021.
2. Unknown. “Sociology.Com: What Are the Characteristics of Agriculture in Bangladesh?”
Sociology.Com, 10AD, http://socialscienc.blogspot.com/2015/06/what-are-characteristics-of-
agriculture.html.
3. Unknown. “Sociology.Com: What Are the Characteristics of Agriculture in Bangladesh?”
Sociology.Com, 10AD, http://socialscienc.blogspot.com/2015/06/what-are-characteristics-of-
agriculture.html.
4. Hossain, Mahabub. “Agricultural Development in Bangladesh : A Historical Perspective.”
The Bangladesh Development Studies, vol. 12, no. 4, Bangladesh Institute of Development
Studies, pp. 29–57, doi:10.2307/40795208. Accessed 17 Apr. 2021.
5. “(PDF) CHALLENGES IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN BANGLADESH | Al-Hasan
Bappy - Academia.Edu.” Academia.Edu - Share Research,
https://www.academia.edu/13550095/CHALLENGES_IN_AGRICULTURAL_SECTOR_IN
_BANGLADESH. Accessed 17 Apr. 2021.
6. “Bangladesh : The Importance Of Agriculture In Bangladesh | Bartleby.” Homework Help
and Textbook Solutions | Bartleby, https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Bangladesh-The-
Importance-Of-Agriculture-In-Bangladesh-F3FXCP4RUS6. Accessed 17 Apr. 2021.