Holistic approach needed to ensure land security, says Anisul Islam

Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud said on Sunday a holistic approach should be taken to ensure land security in the country considering the climate change impacts, aiming to sustain its food production, reports UNB.

"We're having drought, flood, poor flow of water, salinity intrusion, storm and cyclone. All these are barriers against the increase of food production," he said at a workshop in the city in the morning.

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in association with the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) and the Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka organised the workshop on 'Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation: Sustaining Rice Production in Bangladesh' at the Spectra Convention Centre,Gulshan.

Speaking as the chief guest, Anisul Islam Mahmud said experts predict that one-third land of Bangladesh will go under seawater by 2050 due to sea level rise.

"It's a question of our food production…it's a question of transformation of people," the Water Resources Minister said, adding that it is not only a matter of food security but also of land security as the country is experiencing gradual shrinking of land.

About the proposed Ganges Barrage, Anisul Islam said about US$ 4 billion is needed to construct the barrage, which will help the country increase food production and cut salinity intrusion in the coastal region.