Abstract

Author:
Md Mehedi Hasan Emon, Avishek Nath, Saleh Ahmed Jalal Siam, Ahnaf Tahmid Abtahy

Doi: 10.26480/egnes.01.2024.01.09

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

This qualitative research investigates the nuanced relationship between agro-based prosperity and environmental sustainability, focusing on Bangladesh’s agricultural sector. The study aims to identify, analyze, and provide insights into the significant environmental challenges associated with agricultural practices, while also considering the implications of these challenges. The research adopts a qualitative approach, involving in-depth interviews with a diverse cohort of participants, which included 50 individuals representing farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, and NGO representatives. The qualitative data collected from these participants were subjected to thematic analysis and rigorous examination. The research uncovers a consensus among participants regarding critical environmental challenges linked to agriculture in Bangladesh. Participants frequently cited land degradation, soil erosion, salinization, and the loss of arable land due to improper land management as paramount challenges. Additionally, the transition from traditional to modern crop varieties, often practiced through monoculture farming, emerged as a significant driver of biodiversity loss. Climate change and extreme weather events, including floods and cyclones, were noted as crucial challenges impacting agricultural productivity and food security. While the research provides valuable qualitative insights, it acknowledges limitations related to the scope and generalizability. The findings are context-specific to Bangladesh, and future studies could incorporate quantitative data for broader validation. Moreover, the research underscores the need for further exploration into complementary strategies that combine qualitative and quantitative approaches. The research offers practical insights for policymakers, advocating for environmentally responsible agricultural policies and interventions to address the identified challenges. These include promoting sustainable farming practices, stricter policy enforcement, and increased accessibility to policies, particularly for small-scale farmers in remote areas. This research has social implications by safeguarding rural livelihoods and promoting public awareness about sustainable consumption. The findings advocate for the adoption of environmentally responsible practices among both farmers and consumers. This research contributes original qualitative insights to the academic discourse on the environmental impact of agriculture. It enriches the understanding of the intricate relationship between economic prosperity and environmental conservation in Bangladesh and beyond. The primary limitation of this research is its qualitative nature, and future studies could explore a quantitative dimension to augment the findings.