PROSPECTS AND BARRIERS TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN BANGLADESH: A LITERATURE-BASED ANALYSIS

Md. Jahidul Amin

Text | Abstract | PDF

PROSPECTS AND BARRIERS TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN BANGLADESH: A LITERATURE-BASED ANALYSIS

Md. Jahidul Amin1, *

1 Faculty member, Department of Agriculture, Rabindra Maitree University, Kushtia, Bangladesh.

*Corresponding author: jahidulamin1963@gmail.com

A R T I C L E  I N F O

Article Type: Research

Received: 25 July 2025.

Accepted: 19 Sep 2025.

Published: 12 Oct 2025.

 

 

 A B S T R A C T

Organic farming presents a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture by emphasizing ecological balance, biodiversity conservation, and minimal use of synthetic inputs. In Bangladesh, where agriculture plays a critical role in the economy and employs over one-third of the population, the adoption of organic practices holds significant potential. This paper explores the opportunities and challenges of organic farming in the Bangladeshi context through a comprehensive review of existing literature, government reports, and international data sources. Bangladesh’s diverse agroecological zones, traditional farming knowledge, and increasing demand for chemical-free products provide a strong foundation for organic agriculture. Moreover, there is growing interest in organic exports, particularly in high-value crops like tea, spices, and fruits. However, several challenges hinder the expansion of organic farming, including the absence of a national organic policy, limited farmer awareness, lack of certification infrastructure, poor market access, and inadequate availability of organic inputs. The findings highlight the need for coordinated policy support, farmer training programs, certification and labeling mechanisms, and market development strategies. With proper intervention, organic farming can contribute to food security, environmental sustainability, and rural livelihoods. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to promote a structured and inclusive transition toward organic agriculture in Bangladesh.
Keywords:

Organic farming, sustainable agriculture, Bangladesh, policy, certification, market access, challenges.

REFERENCES

  1. Ahmed, S., Karim, M., & Chowdhury, A. (2022). Biodiversity and natural pest control in organic vegetable farming systems of Bangladesh. Journal of Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture, 10(3), 215–230.
  2. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). (2022). Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh. Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh.
  3. Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (BEPB). (2022). Export statistics of organic agricultural products. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  4. Bangladesh Organic Farmers’ Association. (2022). Consumer Demand Survey Report. Dhaka.
  5. Bari, M. A., Rahman, M. M., & Hossain, S. (2023). Organic farming development in Bangladesh: Current status and future prospects. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Science, 48(1), 45–62.
  6. BRAC. (2021). Rural Farmer Awareness Survey Report. Dhaka: BRAC Research and Evaluation Division.
  7. BRAC. (2021). Survey on smallholder adoption of organic and low-input farming in Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  8. FAO. (2021). Agroecological Practices in South Asia: Case Studies from Bangladesh. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  9. FAO. (2021). Organic agriculture in Bangladesh: Status, challenges and opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
  10. FiBL & IFOAM. (2022). The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2022. Bonn, Germany.
  11. Gattinger, A., Muller, A., Haeni, M., Skinner, C., Fliessbach, A., Buchmann, N., … & Niggli, U. (2012). Enhanced top soil carbon stocks under organic farming. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(44), 18226-18231.
  12. Hjelmar, U. (2011). Consumers’ purchase of organic food products. A matter of convenience and reflexive practices. Appetite, 56(2), 336-344.
  13. Hossain, M. A., et al. (2018). Environmental impact of pesticide use in Bangladesh: a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, 24723–24735.
  14. Hussain, M. I., et al. (2020). Climate change and agriculture in Bangladesh: impact and adaptation. Climatic Change, 162, 1-18.
  15. IFOAM. (2014). Principles of Organic Agriculture. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.
  16. Islam, M. M., & Kashem, M. A. (2019). Economic Viability of Organic Vegetable Farming in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Economics, 42(2), 19–32.
  17. Islam, S., & Wahid, M. (2021). Impact of organic farming on water quality in Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193, 537.
  18. Kabir, M. S., Mahedi, M., Pervez, A. K., Alam, M. J., & Shaili, S. J. (2025). Bibliometric analysis of “precision agriculture” in the Scopus database. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 25(3), 1087-1098.
  19. Mahedi, M., Shaili, S. J., Nurnobi, M., Sakil, A. R., & Rahman, A. (2025). Adoption Of Organic Farming Practices: A Comprehensive Review Of Trends, Determinants, And Challenges. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL RESEARCH, 8(1), 26-45.
  20. Mahedi, M., Shaili, S. J., & Shihab, A. R. (2024). Livelihood Diversification as a Reduce to Rural Vulnerability in Bangladesh: A Review. Development Research, 4(1), 32-43.
  21. Mahedi, M., Pervez, A. K. M. K., Rahman, S. M., Sheikh, M. M., & Shaili, S. J. (2025). Emerging Trends in Livelihood Diversification in Rural Communities: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 43(4), 162-177.
  22. Nandi, S., & Saha, B. (2019). Certification and market access of organic farmers in Bangladesh. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 17(3), 210-223.
  23. Ponisio, L. C., M’Gonigle, L. K., Mace, K. C., Palomino, J., de Valpine, P., & Kremen, C. (2015). Diversification practices reduce organic to conventional yield gap. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1799), 20141396.
  24. Rahman, M. M., & Hasan, M. (2020). Policy gaps and institutional challenges for organic farming development in Bangladesh. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 12(4), 200–215.
  25. Rahman, M. M., Hossain, M. A., Sultana, N., & Alam, M. S. (2020). Impact of Chemical Fertilizers on Soil Health and Crop Productivity in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, 45(1), 33–42.
  26. Rai, R., Ghimire, A., Karki, Y. K., Bhandari, H., & Sharma, R. (2020). Organic farming status and prospects in Nepal. Journal of Organic Systems, 15(1), 24–37.
  27. Reganold, J. P., & Wachter, J. M. (2016). Organic agriculture in the twenty-first century. Nature Plants, 2(2), 15221.
  28. Santos, P., Mesias, F. J., & Escribano, M. (2020). Organic food market development: A systematic review. Food Quality and Preference, 85, 103997.
  29. Seufert, V., Ramankutty, N., & Foley, J. A. (2012). Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture. Nature, 485(7397), 229–232.
  30. Sharma, P., Singh, R. K., Gupta, N., & Joshi, P. K. (2020). Farmer cooperatives and organic farming: Case studies from South Asia. Agricultural Economics Research Review, 33(1), 1–11.
  31. Sheikh, M. M., Riar, T. S., & Pervez, A. K. M. (2021). Integrated farming systems: A review of farmers friendly approaches. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 39(4), 88-99.
  32. Tripathi, A., Tiwari, S., Mishra, S., & Dubey, R. (2021). Organic farming in India: Status and future prospects. Journal of Cleaner Production, 320, 128879.
  33. Willer, H., & Lernoud, J. (2019). The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2019. FiBL & IFOAM Report, Frick, Switzerland.