The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar called upon the leaders of South Asian countries to formulate a concrete policy to ensure food security in the region.

They made their call at a seminar on "Food Security on the basis of food sovereignty" at the National Press Club yesterday. The Media Foundation for Trade and Development (MFTD) and Equity and Justice Working Group (EJWG) jointly organised the seminar. Md Shamsudduha of EJWG presented the keynote paper while Swapan Guha of the same organisation presided over the seminar.

In his keynote paper, Md Shamsudduha said that the SAARC countries would have to adopt a long-term strategic plan for SAARC food bank to ensure food sovereignty in the region. "For it the SAARC countries can extend cooperation in agricultural sector. Besides they should increase subsidy in this sector," he suggested.

He laid stresson strengthening the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) for proper preservation and distribution of seeds and other agricultural inputs to farmers.

Awami League (AL) Agriculture Affairs Secretary Dr Abdur Razzaqe said that the SAARC food bank should start food procurement on a width scale immediately to ensure food security in the region.

"The food sovereignty may suffer setback in Bangladesh due to dependency on import of foodgrains," he noted.

He called upon the Caretaker Government to chalk out a proper land use policy for saving the cultivable lands.

"We have been facing food crisis every year as we have failed to utilise our lands properly," he said and demanded increase allocation of fund for research activities in agriculture sector.

Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Agricultural Affairs Secretary of BNP called for strengthening BADC to ensure supply of the seeds, fertilisers and water to the farmers on time.

Golam Habib Dulal, former MP, former Ambassador of Bangladesh Dr Waliur Rahman, Rokeya Kabir, an NGO activist, Farhan Jahan of Action Aid, among others, addressed at the seminar.