Dhaka for increasing SAARC Food Bank stock
Thursday, 28 October 2010
FE Report
Bangladesh has proposed to increase the stock of the SAARC Food Bank to 0.4 million tonnes from 0.24 million tonnes decided earlier to ensure food security in the South Asian countries, which often face natural disasters causing food insecurity.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak made the proposal during the inaugural session of the 4th meeting of the bank's governing body at a city hotel Wednesday.
The minister said making a reserve of 0.24 million tonnes was decided when the food bank was established in 2008. India was supposed to contribute 0.15 million tonnes while Bangladesh agreed to contribute 40,000 tonnes.
"Today we proposed to raise its stock to 0.4 million tonnes. The bank's governing body will take decision regarding the matter later," Mr Razzak said, adding that they made the proposal as the region is the most vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquake, flood, cyclone, river erosion and draught.
He said leaders of the SAARC countries decided to form such a bank in 2008 to ensure food security in the region during emergency and production shortfalls.
"But unfortunately the move is yet to get reality even after two years. It should be immediately made functional. We need further cooperation among the SAARC countries to make it effectively operational," the minister stressed, saying that the bank could play a key role when the SAARC nations face food crisis.
The bank's food secretary Barun Deb Mitra headed the meeting.
Bangladesh has proposed to increase the stock of the SAARC Food Bank to 0.4 million tonnes from 0.24 million tonnes decided earlier to ensure food security in the South Asian countries, which often face natural disasters causing food insecurity.
Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak made the proposal during the inaugural session of the 4th meeting of the bank's governing body at a city hotel Wednesday.
The minister said making a reserve of 0.24 million tonnes was decided when the food bank was established in 2008. India was supposed to contribute 0.15 million tonnes while Bangladesh agreed to contribute 40,000 tonnes.
"Today we proposed to raise its stock to 0.4 million tonnes. The bank's governing body will take decision regarding the matter later," Mr Razzak said, adding that they made the proposal as the region is the most vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquake, flood, cyclone, river erosion and draught.
He said leaders of the SAARC countries decided to form such a bank in 2008 to ensure food security in the region during emergency and production shortfalls.
"But unfortunately the move is yet to get reality even after two years. It should be immediately made functional. We need further cooperation among the SAARC countries to make it effectively operational," the minister stressed, saying that the bank could play a key role when the SAARC nations face food crisis.
The bank's food secretary Barun Deb Mitra headed the meeting.