The document discusses strategies to enhance food security in Bangladesh by increasing the incomes of small commercial farmers, who produce a significant portion of agricultural output. It emphasizes the need for public services such as agricultural education, research, and credit institutions to support these farmers. The document also highlights the importance of foreign assistance in strengthening agricultural universities and research systems to drive income growth and address irrigation challenges.

1. BANGLADESH FOOD SECURITY INVESTMENT FORUM 2010Strategies and Investment to Increase Income of the Small Commercial Farmer – and Thereby Increase Food SecurityJohn W. Mellor (John Mellor Associates, Inc.)26-27 May 2010

2. Definition – Small Commercial FarmerThe 40 percent of rural people who produce 80 percent of agricultural output.Does not include holdings so small that only part-time farmers, e.g. 0.25 hectares.2

3. Relation to Food SecurityThe food insecure earn income from employment in the rural nonfarm sectorThey produce non-tradeables – only salable locallyThe small commercial farmer generates the income that expands demand for what they produce.Thus, is it rising income of the small commercial farmer that is responsible for 80 to 90 percent of rural poverty reduction3

4. What is Required to Raise Incomes of the SCF?The core requirement is five sets of public services (government)Higher agricultural education to train myriad technical personsAgricultural researchExtension servicesSpecialized agricultural credit institutionsAnalysis and regulation of water resourcesPrivate sector – of course – but bottleneck is public4

5. What are the Priorities for Foreign Assistance for Food Security?Recognize that the core to food security is raising incomes of SCFMajor, sustained, technical assistance to agricultural universities. This drives all else – shortage of trained people = shortage of impactMajor sustained assistance to the agricultural research system – in agriculture, income growth is driven by improved biological technologyTechnical assistance in the specialized agricultural credit agencies tremendous amount learned over past 20 years need to spread thatIn-depth analyses of irrigation potentials and needs – serious problem on Bangladesh5