Some years ago the World Food Programme warned us that the earth was losing its natural ability to produce food due to a combination of reasons ranging from over cultivation to squeezing farming space. The worst hit has been the food grain crop with rice prices saddled up to unprecedented highs even as a temporary glut hits the scene. Countries seeking cheaper grains are running from pillar to post and the traditional exporters are having to raise prices after meeting their own market needs.
Coffee plantations are being shorn of space leaving the prospect of a shortage of popular coffee brands being available in the future and the assault on the mangrove and rain forests are cutting deep in to the heart of biodiversity.
It all is due to unplanned clearance of the rain and mangrove forests for wood resource as well as clearing space for housing and business projects. With controls weak in South America and Africa there’s little by way of the law to prevent indiscriminate use of such pristine lands. There’s a double whammy in that without these wood resources and housing, the wheels of economy don’t turn. That’s understandable and a proportionate ratio can be harvested. The provision is that a similar ratio needs to be planted in replacement, but that no one seems to care about.
Bangladesh is losing out fast by way of ecology and heritage. The classic old building structures are having to give way to new monstrosities while green fields and crop fields are being ruthlessly taken over for businesses or offices. And this in spite of the prime minister’s urging not to carve up food-growing land for development. That itself is an enigma. Food crop grows virtually anywhere in the country. Whatever barren land is usually cut off from roads and passable land or located in difficult to reach areas thereby not attractive to businesses. It falls on the government to ensure protection of cropland and making barren land accessible whether for housing or business concerns.
As it is organically grown food is becoming harder and harder to come by. Multiple cropping using harsh fertiliser is reducing crop fertility further and unless cleaner land is identified and allowed rest Mother Earth will become tired till she drops. Who do we blame, then? Multiple cropping may have its utility but it deprives the soil of much needed rest. And when chemical fertiliser is added to the mix, the tired soil loses the freshness of its natural nutrient that enables fresh organic crop. We are dependent on genetically modified crop as it is and the last thing we need is losing organic food altogether.
*Mahmudur Rahman is a communication expert. He can be reached at [email protected]