Country yet to achieve food autarky: Minister
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
FE Report
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak Tuesday said the country has yet lagged behind in achieving self-sufficiency in food.
He made the comment at a seminar on 'SAARC Food Bank and the anticipation of hungry people' at National Press Club in the city. The seminar was organised jointly by EquityBD and Agriculture Reporters` Forum on the eve of the 4th meeting of SAARC Food Bank in Dhaka today (Wednesday).
The minister, who was speaking in the programme as the chief guest, said the country imported other foodstuffs except rice last year. Therefore, it cannot be said that the country is self-sufficient in food, he said.
But the government is trying to increase food production taking different initiatives, he said.
He, however, said, "food security is a must to reduce child mortality and malnutrition. SAARC Food Bank (SFB) can be helpful in this respect".
"The overall activities of SAARC is slow, yet it is helpful to achieve common goal in the region," he said referring to success stories of other regional alliances like EU.
Abdur Razzak said the government is determined to achieve self-sufficiency in food. That is why it is increasing allocation in agriculture sector and giving different facilities to farmers.
MK Anwar, former agriculture minister and BNP leader, expressed the opinion that SFB was important, but political willingness was needed to make it effective.
Speakers said that the SFB is not working for poor people or natural disaster-affected people.
They said they did not notice any contribution of SFB to the disaster-hit people after its establishment in 2007.
The speakers observed population growth is a great threat to food security. Therefore, it has to be controlled at any cost, they said.
Shawkat Momen Shajahan MP, journalist Rafiqul Islam Azad of New Nation and Salauddin Bablu of Inquilab, among others, spoke in the programme.
Ashraf Ali, president of Agriculture Reporters' Forum, presided over the programme while Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD moderated the programme.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak Tuesday said the country has yet lagged behind in achieving self-sufficiency in food.
He made the comment at a seminar on 'SAARC Food Bank and the anticipation of hungry people' at National Press Club in the city. The seminar was organised jointly by EquityBD and Agriculture Reporters` Forum on the eve of the 4th meeting of SAARC Food Bank in Dhaka today (Wednesday).
The minister, who was speaking in the programme as the chief guest, said the country imported other foodstuffs except rice last year. Therefore, it cannot be said that the country is self-sufficient in food, he said.
But the government is trying to increase food production taking different initiatives, he said.
He, however, said, "food security is a must to reduce child mortality and malnutrition. SAARC Food Bank (SFB) can be helpful in this respect".
"The overall activities of SAARC is slow, yet it is helpful to achieve common goal in the region," he said referring to success stories of other regional alliances like EU.
Abdur Razzak said the government is determined to achieve self-sufficiency in food. That is why it is increasing allocation in agriculture sector and giving different facilities to farmers.
MK Anwar, former agriculture minister and BNP leader, expressed the opinion that SFB was important, but political willingness was needed to make it effective.
Speakers said that the SFB is not working for poor people or natural disaster-affected people.
They said they did not notice any contribution of SFB to the disaster-hit people after its establishment in 2007.
The speakers observed population growth is a great threat to food security. Therefore, it has to be controlled at any cost, they said.
Shawkat Momen Shajahan MP, journalist Rafiqul Islam Azad of New Nation and Salauddin Bablu of Inquilab, among others, spoke in the programme.
Ashraf Ali, president of Agriculture Reporters' Forum, presided over the programme while Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD moderated the programme.