For a long time, a shadow of uncertainty loomed over the eyes of the farmers—those whose chests are painted with the colors of the earth and whose toil in scorching sun and pouring rain builds the very existence of Bengal. Losing crops after battling the whims of nature, droughts, and floods was their daily reality. However, the tide of those tragic days turned through a visionary leader. Infusing modern science into once-traditional agriculture, five-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina rekindled the dreams of marginal farmers and brought an epoch-making, revolutionary shift to the production system.

She knew in her heart that feeding a rapidly growing population on limited land would never be possible through traditional methods. Driven by an indomitable desire to build a hunger-free and self-reliant Bangladesh, she made research her primary instrument. Upon taking office in 1996, she immediately allocated BDT 12 crore solely for agricultural research—a groundbreaking start to embracing science in the history of Bangladesh’s agriculture. There was no looking back. Between 2009 and 2020, through the dedicated efforts of agricultural scientists, 631 high-yielding crop varieties and 940 modern agricultural technologies were developed. As this blessing of science spread across fields, verdant Bengal found new life.

The revolutionary impact of agricultural research became evident in crop yields:

Crop Type 2006 (Lakh Metric Tons) 2018 (Lakh Metric Tons) Growth (%) Rice 265.30 362.79 36.74% Wheat 7.35 11.53 56.78% Maize 5.22 38.93 645.78% Vegetables 20.33 159.54 684.75%

When climate change disasters repeatedly threatened to devastate Bengal, the light of science became the farmer's shield. To combat severe adversities such as droughts, flash floods, and coastal salinity, 'BRRI Dhan' and nutrient-rich zinc rice were developed. In soils where no crops once grew due to saltwater intrusion, or in lands cracked by scorching drought, golden stalks of paddy now sway in the wind. Today, varieties developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) bring smiles of joy to farmers across 75% of the country's arable land.

Soil is not merely dust; it is a mother to the farmer. To preserve soil fertility and ensure proper care, mobile laboratories were dispatched to the winding dirt roads of rural villages. The historic opportunity to test field soil for just BDT 25 was delivered directly to the farmer's doorstep. This effort was driven by care and dedication to ensure the farmer's hard work would not go to waste.

Traversing dusty rural tracks, Bangladesh today stands self-sufficient in rice, vegetables, and fish. Weaving magic with science and uniting it with the unyielding willpower of the farmers, the name of five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will remain immortalized in history as the matchless steward of the farmer's identity, rights, and prosperity.

Author: Dr. Awlad Hossain, Politician and Political Analyst