The role of minor cereals in food and nutrition security in Bangladesh: constraints to sustainable production

Md. Rafiqul Islam (), Md. Abiar Rahman, Asif Reza Anik, Jiban Krishna Biswas, Shahrina Akhtar, Md. Nasir Uddin and Sharif Ahmed
Additional contact information
Md. Rafiqul Islam: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
Md. Abiar Rahman: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
Asif Reza Anik: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
Jiban Krishna Biswas: Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, BARC Campus
Shahrina Akhtar: Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, BARC Campus
Md. Nasir Uddin: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Sharif Ahmed: International Rice Research Institute

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, No 2, 1160 pages

Abstract: Abstract Minor cereals are becoming increasingly important for global food security because of their high nutritional value and their tolerance to environmental stresses. In adverse agrosystems, these crops are often more promising than the major cereals. Considering the climate change effect on a number of major cereals, minor cereals are becoming popular in Asian countries. In Bangladesh, minor cereals have been cultivated on a small-scale for a long time, but limited information is available on their growth, yield, and the possibility of expanding the cultivated area. This study evaluated the status and potential of minor cereals using secondary data, GIS mapping, and structured survey questionnaires. Currently, minor cereals are grown on around 4813 ha of land. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) alone accounts for 63.0% of the area cultivated, followed by proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) 28.2%, barley (Hordeum vulgare) 7.5%, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) 0.6%, and oats (Avena sativa) 0.6%. The current yield of minor cereals is low, around 2.0 t ha−1. The crops are mostly grown on marginal lands formed by river siltation, locally called char lands. Minor cereal farmers take advantage of the low production costs, including inputs, relatively simple cultural practices, and minimal risks of crop loss from natural hazards to grow minor cereals. Mainly low yield levels and lack of high-yielding varieties and production technologies limit large-scale cultivation of minor cereals. Strengthening research to develop high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of minor cereals and improved agronomic management methods and raising farmers’ awareness about their nutritional value and economic benefits will be needed to ensure their sustainable production and extension.

Keywords: Climate change; Food security; Production potential; Unfavourable environment; Minor cereals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-023-01364-6 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:15:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s12571-023-01364-6

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... ulture/journal/12571

DOI: 10.1007/s12571-023-01364-6

Access Statistics for this article

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food is currently edited by R.N. Strange

More articles in Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food from Springer, The International Society for Plant Pathology
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().