Focussing on agriculture and agro-commodities Muhammad Zamir Since my stint as Permanent Representative to FAO, while being Ambassador to Italy, I have been involved in keeping track of the steady evolution that has been taking place in agricultural practices not only in Bangladesh in particular but also within the developing world in general. The interest in agriculture and developments in this sector have assumed special importance over the past year because of the crisis that our country has been going through due to two successive floods, a cyclone and other factors that have affected our production of cereals and our agro-commodities. For various reasons, we have now become not only a net food importer but also reliant on procurement of huge quantities of fertilizer from abroad. There has, however, emerged within this matrix, a ray of hope for those associated with farming, pisciculture, horticulture and innovative agro-production in Bangladesh. Like in many other countries, we have had programmes for many decades in the radio that focussed on ways and means of undertaking improvements in agriculture. Meant for farmers, and those living in rural areas, these programmes were usually broadcast in the medium wave. There have also been attempts to share information with farmers through the state-run terrestrial Bangladesh TV. The pioneer in this television format was Shykh Seraj who aired 588 episodes of 'Mati O Manush' on BTV and underlined the close relationship that exists between the soil and those who make a living through it. With the advent of private television channels in the electronic media in Bangladesh, interest was intensified in matters pertaining to agriculture. It was felt that Bangladesh, an overwhelmingly rural country, needed to focus more on what was happening within the country's rural economy and the part it was playing in its economic development. Of the many attempts made in this context, one would have to specially single out the constructive role being played by Shykh Seraj and Channel-i. Their joint efforts have led to the production of different programmes, on a regular basis, that highlight advancements made and diversifications achieved within the agricultural economy of our country. This has necessitated serious research but each programme -- 'Hridoye Mati O Manush', Hridoye Mati O Manusher Daak' and 'Krishi Dibanishi' within these series -- have become mile posts for anyone interested in knowing what is happening in the rural hinterland of Bangladesh in non-traditional areas of agriculture. Presented on a hands-on basis, it has gained popularity at home among civil society leadership, local business community leaders at the village level and also among the expatriate Bangladeshis abroad (who regularly watch different private Bangladeshi TV Channels via satellite). They watch this programme carefully, to find out more about the usage of modern agricultural science and technology in the non-urban areas and their potential impact on agricultural commerce and associated market management. This, in turn, more often than not, persuades them to invest back home in their villages through remittances sent from their places of work. From that point of view, it would not be an overstatement to suggest that Shykh Seraj has become a popular icon and these programmes are having an indirect impact on economic activities, employment generation, poverty reduction, food security and human resources development in the village households of Bangladesh. His programmes encourage farmers to try out something different. It also tries to facilitate a positive relationship between government authorities, state institutions and small innovative entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. Problems of credit extension are also discussed so that easier solutions can be identified. What is important about the programme and its presenter is the facile manner in which he informs the audience of the ongoing changes in agriculture, the increase in productivity (land, labour, water etc.), how it is helping to achieve self-sufficiency, the rise and fall in the marginal farmer's profit and loss and how the grassroots level small-scale entrepreneur is taking advantage of new technology. It has been fascinating watching Shykh Seraj cover post-flood and post-cyclone developments, the revolution in potato cultivation, cassava production in Lalmonirhat, strawberry cultivation, the flower market at Jhikorgacha, Jessore, the beneficial side of using granule urea, the agricultural training regime prepared for the Imams, the need for farmers to have special health assistance (in view of their exposure to dangerous chemicals and pesticides) and to be informed of the important elements related to the agricultural industry in the budget, the pros and cons of salt-water shrimp farming, the benefit of papaya cultivation (whose demand has grown as the population has become more health conscious), dairy farming in Sirajganj, problems and possibilities for pisciculture and agriculture in the Haor region, more extensive guava and plum cultivation as cash crops, orange gardening in Moulvibazar, floating cultivation methods used in Gopalganj, cultivation of herbal medicinal plants in Kholabaria and mushrooms as a source of ready cash, rearing of poultry and rabbits, betel leaf cultivation in Kushtia, Chirata cultivation in Tangail and integrated crop management. The above are only some of the areas that his programmes have covered about Bangladesh. He has also at different times taken his audience to Japan and Vietnam to present significant developments taking place there. Another important initiative of Seraj has been the annual publication of a collection of essays on agriculture and evolving agricultural methods entitled as 'Janabhashya' (views of the people). Channel-i, on its part should initiate steps to publish a selection from these essays, translate them into English and make it available for circulation abroad for a wider audience. I am sure that such an effort will be received very well. I am writing today about this particular programme because many of the aspects covered by Seraj would be pertinent for the rest of this South Asian region. His practical, pragmatic advice needs to be replicated and made available for other farmers in the neighbouring countries. Other private television companies within the electronic media in Bangladesh should also seriously think of introducing similar programmes. The SAARC Secretariat, as an institution, should take the lead in convening and creating a task force where South Asian agricultural activists like Seraj can help not only in the exchange of experience and ideas but also identify ways and means that will eventually lead to a self-sufficient region in this food crisis ridden era. Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador who can be reached at mzamir@dhaka.net. (Editorial)