Agriculture is no more dominating the country as farmer families comprise only 47 per cent of its total households, a new government census says.
The information was revealed from the report of Agriculture Census 2019, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Primary findings of the census were disclosed at a programme, organised by the BBS at its office in the city on Sunday.
Planning minister M A Mannan was present at the programme as chief guest.
According to the census, there are 16.5 million farmer households in Bangladesh, out of total 35.53 million.
Number of farm households witnessed 8.0 percentage point decline in last one decade as the percentage of farm households was 55 per cent in 2008.
Previously, such census was carried out in the country in 1977, 1983-84, 1996 and 2008.
The census report showed Barishal Division has highest percentage of farm households with 69.26 per cent in rural areas and 22 per cent in urban areas.
Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Nasiruzzaman, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md Raisul Alam Mandol, Statistics and Information Management Secretary Spurendra Nath Chakrabarty attended the programme as special guests.
Director general of BBS Md Tazul Islam chaired while project director of the Survey Jafar Ahmed Khan presented the key findings.