Changing food habit and farming potential

Demand for plant-based foods has picked up during the coronavirus crisis as consumers try to eat more healthy foods, according to a report that quoted Switch food giant Nestle as saying. Our attention has also been drawn to a Financial Express report which said that Bangladesh is focusing on high value crops. In fact, the pandemic is going to change food habit and crop patterns in Bangladesh as people now love to take homemade, fresh foods.

So, this has offered renewed opportunities for Bangladeshi farmers. However, it will not be possible for them to tap the potential unless there is a central planning. The agriculture department needs to identify new areas of farming, divide agro-ecological zones and make estimate for cultivation of each crop.

Unless such farming is made profitable, neither farmers would be interested nor will it be sustainable. For example, the country can easily be self-sufficient in onion but farmers should be provided with fair price in case of higher production.They can also grow a variety of vegetables, crops and fruits if those are profitable.

Kawser Rahman

Muhammadpur, Dhaka

[email protected]