Conservation Agriculture - the key to sustainable agricultural growth

Agriculture value added (annual % growth) in Bangladesh was last measured at 3.11 of 6.32 of total growth in 2012 (World Bank 2012). The rural economy constitutes a significant component of the national GDP, with agriculture accounting for 21 percent and the non-farm sector, which is also driven primarily by agriculture, for another 33 percent (World Bank 2011). Therefore, a question has already been asked about the sustainability of the growth of agriculture sector with loosing 1% of arable land per year (Mahbub 2003) and continuous degradation of soil fertility (Karim and Iqbal 2000). The answer is "Save and Grow" for sustainability. This book focuses on Conservation Agriculture (CA) as resource saving environmentally friendly crop production practice and equipment's. It includes minimum disturbance of soil, permanent soil cover and crop rotation and use of equipment's in the field. The book highlighting on awareness of the farmers, role of NGO's, development agencies, donors, the government policy and legislation's and institutional support for CA adoption for sustainable agriculture growth of Bangladesh.