Originally published in bigd.bracu.ac.bd on 6 July 2020

The agriculture sector employs more than 38% of the total labour force in Bangladesh, making it the largest industry in the country in terms of employment. COVID-19 has left this sector particularly vulnerable; because of lockdown measures, farmers are simultaneously reeling from lower demand, higher cost, and shortage of inputs.

In order to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the farmers of Bangladesh, we have conducted a nationwide phone survey of more than 2,800 farmers to analyse the challenges they face, assess their losses, and recommend appropriate measures to support them.

Dr Narayan C. Das, Senior Research Fellow, BIGD will present the key findings of the study. Followed by the presentation, there will be a panel discussion and a Q&A session open to the participants.

Our honorable panelists include Prof. Dr. M. A. Sattar Mandal Emeritus Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics & Former Vice- Chancellor, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh; Sudhir Chandra Nath, Business Director-ACI Seed, Advanced Chemical Industries Limited; and Md. Nasiruzzaman, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, GoB.