Assessment of Agrochemical Consumption Trends, Crop Protection Pathways, and Cereal Yield Intensity in Bangladesh (2010–2024) A Regulatory and Agronomic Perspective

Sustainable intensification of cereal production is critical for food security in Bangladesh, given its high population density and limited arable land. This working paper examines national trends in cereal yield and pesticide use in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2024. I use published secondary data from the World Bank World Development Indicators and FAOSTAT, together with administrative records from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and the Bangladesh Crop Protection Association (BCPA). Cereal yield rose from 4,263 kg/ha in 2010 to 5,408 kg/ha in 2024, an increase of about 27%. Over the same period, pesticide application intensity, calculated per hectare of cropland, stayed within roughly 3.9 to 4.5 kg/ha. The analysis is descriptive. It does not claim that pesticide use or regulation caused the yield change, and it considers other drivers such as high-yielding variety adoption, irrigation expansion, and nutrient management. The paper also outlines the national pesticide regulatory framework, including technical dossier evaluation, toxicological review, and local bio-efficacy trials.