Weather, New Technology and Instability in Foodgrain Production in Bangladesh
K.A.S. Murshid
Abstract
Instability in foodgrain production is generally attributed to weather variables, not an unreasonable assumption in the context of large, traditional agricultural systems. The diffusion of the new seed-fertilizer-water technology has introduced a new element to traditional agriculture. Its impact on instability to data has not been great. A higher rate of adoption and diffusion of this technology, however, is likely to generate further instability, so that it is important to recognize this potential hazard and attempt to remedy certain unresolved problems associated with it in Bangladesh, if costly adjustments are to be avoided.