Agricultural research is a specialized kind of research system that can be carried out using laboratory and field facilities as well as by interacting with farmers as critical informants for their betterment and raising their day-to-day level of livelihood. Agricultural research is based on crops, livestock, fisheries, forests, and the environment.
Until the 1970s, the primary focus was on cropbased research to meet the growing demand for food grains to feed the millions of people in the global context.
As such, it was known as cropping system research.
Since the 1980s, it has significantly shifted from cropping system to farming system research as a holistic approach encompassing all sectors of food production, such as crops, livestock, fisheries, and forests, including the environment.
What is the primary focus of agricultural research?
Agricultural research is a specialized system that uses both laboratory and field facilities, as well as interactions with farmers, to improve their livelihood and address day-to-day challenges. It encompasses various sectors like crops, livestock, fisheries, forests, and the environment.
How do the researchers anticipate the study’s findings on sustainable farming methods to be beneficial?
The research findings are expected to help identify the best farming methods for environmentally friendly, sustainable agricultural production systems. These insights will be valuable for policymakers at the national level, guiding them in making informed decisions about sustainable agricultural land uses.
How does agricultural research contribute to the betterment of farmers’ livelihoods?
Agricultural research provides critical insights and solutions to farmers, addressing their day-to-day challenges, enhancing productivity, and promoting sustainable practices, ultimately improving their overall livelihood.
Agricultural Research Examples
Here are two examples that demonstrate what agricultural research is:
Example #1
It is a long-felt demand in the agricultural sector to know the extent of participation of rural households in livestock production activities.
A student of Bangladesh Agricultural University designed a study to identify the type of livestock activities usually undertaken by rural farmers.
The study aimed to assess the labor contribution of males, females, children and paid workers to each identified activity.
Example #2
Farmers in Bangladesh usually follow traditional farming practices and depend mainly on chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides for higher yield without or with less application of organic fertilizers/compost/IPM. They usually apply excess dosage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides without understanding soil/plant requirements.
Thus it indicates the consequence of decreasing soil fertility status day by day, which already resulted in <2% organic matter content, whereas it should be maintained at least 5%.
Therefore, to overcome this situation and restore our soil’s plant nutrients, integrated nutrient and pest management through increased use of compost/organic fertilizers/IPM is a crucial need.
Considering this, a study on sustainable agriculture through organic farming and IPM practices in Dinajpur was conducted.
Keeping these issues in view, Uttam Kumar Mojumder and some of his colleagues (2013) designed a study to identify the state of food security and farming practices of small and marginal farmers’ communities to identify the sustainable farming system and suitable farming methods and to demonstrate and promote sustainable farming methods.
As the researchers speculate, the research findings will help to identify the best farming methods and their uses to achieve environmentally friendly, sustainable agricultural production systems.
The policymakers at the national level will get information about the assessment of organic farming, which will help them make suitable decisions concerning sustainable agricultural land uses.