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Editorial

Ensuring food security for all

Stand by Remal-hit farmers


Bangladeshpost
Published : 01 Jun 2024 10:00 PM

Farmers in the coastal region are facing huge financial losses and damage after heavy rains triggered by Cyclone Remal flooded fish farms and damaged croplands. Across the affected areas the agricultural sector suffered losses of over Tk 260 million, while the fishery sector's losses are estimated to be over Tk 280 million, according to sources.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday undertook an aerial visit to Mathbaria and Pathorghata areas of Patuakhali district and witnessed the super storm Remal-affected areas. She assured giving of all types of assistance to the affected people mostly farmers. 

The Russia-Ukraine war, the Palestine-Israel conflict, and the conflicting situation in the Middle East are having a rippling effect on the global supply chain, fuelling dramatic cost increases and product shortages around the world. War and conflict are also influencing the entire humanitarian system and could have a lasting impact on the ability of organisations to tackle emergencies worldwide.

Bangladesh has achieved self-sufficiency in food as the government has taken various effective initiatives during its four consecutive tenures.  Once Bangladesh faced severe food deficiency. Now the country has turned into a food surplus one through taking technology-based initiatives.

Despite enough rice stock, the government is scrutinising the stock and rice production to import rice to meet the demand of staple food item. Our country is also self-sufficient in fish, meat, egg and vegetable production. Bangladesh ranks second in the growth rate of fish production from inland open water. These successes in agriculture have come through continued policy support and incentives. Vegetables like potato, cauliflower, white gourd, bean, spinach, puin, pea and baby corn are largely produced in different districts of the country with broccoli, carrot, celery, capsicum and strawberry. The prospect of agro-processing enterprise is very bright in the country, as it produces surplus crops especially food-grains, fruits and vegetables.

Most of the districts have been producing adequate crops particularly rice, maize, wheat, fruits especially mango, banana, papaya and tomato and vegetables for the last couple of decades due to its suitable soil condition, topography and climate.  Therefore, government will have to ensure fair price for the farmers while everyone wants to buy products in cheaper price as nobody wants to feel the hardship of the growers.

Our farmers will have to make greater efforts at boosting food and agricultural production to keep Bangladesh free from any worldwide famine and economic recession. The growers will have to take more initiatives for the production and processing of food items in their respective areas. If so, we will be able to fulfil the local demand and also help other famine-hit countries.

Different international organisations predicted that the worldwide famine might hit and many developed countries are also facing economic recession now. To keep Bangladesh free from it every inch of our land should be cultivated. Besides, more steps should be taken to produce food items and processed food. The government has attached priority to the invention of different high-yielding varieties of crops to boost food production in the country.

The scientists will have to intensify their research for developing high-yielding varieties of crops as the country's economy largely depended on agriculture sector. Other business leaders, bankers, agronomists and researchers should also focus on the agricultural potentials of the country with special emphasis on value-added agro-processing opportunities and agro-based industries.

As agriculture sector is the pillar of Bangladesh economy we cannot think any alternative option but the agricultural economy for the country’s sustainable development. As the farmers are the heart of the country, the government must stand by the cyclone-hit farmers immediately.