The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a workshop here on Monday laid emphasis on intensifying efforts for raising food production at local level to cope with current food shortage as food security worldwide remains far from being granted to each and every one.

They called for making a sound policy based on clear analysis and research to reinforce an enabling environment for sustainable food security in the country. Ad Spijkers, FAO Representative here said, Bangladesh through commensurate and sustained actions in both the short, medium term and long term can guarantee the sustainability of food grain as all five factors of good agriculture remain positive for the country.

The workshop was held to review the preliminary findings of the research works conducted on a broad ranges of issues relating to food security and food policy under National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP).

On the first day of the two-day workshop, as many as 10 research studies conducted by academic institutions and other research organisations were presented on various aspects of food security and policy issues ranging from land use pattern and agriculture extension policy to food security in coastal region were placed, while 12 more studies would be shared today.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) AKM Abdul Awal Mazumder attended the workshop as the Chief Guest.

Head of the Delegation of European Commission Stefan Frowein, Deputy Mission Director of USAID Carey N Gordon, Chief Technical Adviser of NFPCSP Ciro Fiorillo, MoFDM Research Director Nikhil R Roy spoke among others on the occasion while Director General of FPMU unit MoFDM Shafiqul Islam was in the chair.

Clarifying his observation FOA Representative Ad Spijkers said lands, water, labour, seeds and fertiliser are most important components for agriculture and except fertilizer and high yield seeds, all other elements are available in Bangladesh.

Referring to the government efforts to meet up the fertilizer shortage, he said, purchases of high yielding seeds from China are also very sign for Bangladesh.

Additional Secretary Abdul Awal Mazumder said, the government of Bangladesh has given utmost importance to agricultural production as diversified as possible taking lesson from highly volatile global food market and in the context of global warning that food and food price situations are unlikely to improve in the coming years.