Sustainable Land Management: Policy Implication and Sectoral Achievement

Abstract

Present investigation deals with the "Sustainable Land Management: Policy Implication and Sectoral Achievement". It was conducted from the period of three years (July'2003 to June'2006) in the Barind tract (Nachole Upazila) and Chalan Beel area (Singra Upuzila). The Chalan Beel area lies between 24°35' to 24°70' North latitude and 89° 10' to 89°35 'East longitudes. The total area of Chalan Beel area is 368 sq km. Barind tract lies between 24°20' to 25°35'North latitudes and 88°20' to 89°30' East longitudes. Total area of Barind tract is about 7,770 sq km. The investigation was designed with land management system of Bangladesh and degradation due to inadequate existing polices and improper implementation of existing laws in Bangladesh. The present study has observed that there are many laws and government policies to manage the land of Bangladesh such as The Non Agricultural Tenancy Act'1949, The Land Revenue Act’s 949, The State Acquisition and Tenancy Act' 1951, The Tax Rules'1962, The Vested Property Act'1966, The Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance'1971, The Bangladesh Irrigation and Water Rate Ordinance'1983. Most of these laws were prepared during British and Pakistan periods. These ancient laws were prepared and enacted for their own interest and in ancient time. But now the scenario is changed. The formal Bengal province is now fully independent country. The land use pattern has been changed and population has been increased. Man land ratio has been decreased. The excessive land use and improper land use change are causing land degradation. The socio-economic problems are rising due to improper land management. The population is much more than the affording capacity of the area. The people need foods, shelter and others from the limited land. The farmers are trying to produce much food from the limited land resource. They are using chemical fertilizer, insecticides, HYV seeds and other harmful things in agricultural land without considering its consequences and future. Rut there are not laws and policies to stop or to reduce of these harmful activities. Even the existing laws and policies are encouraging them to use the harmful activities such as The Canals Act' 1864, The Irrigation Act'1876, The Destructive Insects and Pests Act'1914, The Agricultural and Sanitary Improvement Act'1920, The Tanks Improvement Act'1939, The Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance'1971, The Bangladesh Irrigation and Water Rate Ordinance' 1983. Though recent policies are emphasizing! To reduce those chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural land. But these policies and laws are not implemented properly. There are 24 agricultural laws and 7 policies passed by the government of Bangladesh to develop the agriculture……………………………