Cow dung, a traditional source of fertilizer, is being diverted to meet an acute shortage of fuel in rural areas. Drought is a frequent problem, but supplemental irrigation during the monsoon could alleviate it. Subsurface groundwater is available almost everywhere in the country. The spread of tubewells has increased more rapidly since the late 1980s when the import of agricultural machinery was liberalized. Flooding occurs annually, but causes serious damage only about once in every 10 yr.
Normal flooding is simply a part of the ecosystem and helps to maintain soil quality.
The flood-prone areas are ideally suited to boro rice. Soils in coastal areas are affected by salinity. Infrastructure is adequate for rice but inadequate for other agricultural commodities, especially perishables. The prices of both rice and nonrice crops fluctuate seasonally. Bangladesh is faced with the choice of whether to be fully self-sufficient in food grains or to maintain a slight deficit.