Ensuring post-Covid food security the key
Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque yesterday said the country has continued its food production despite the extreme adverse conditions of the pandemic and natural disasters including cyclone and flood.
In this current fiscal, rice production has increased to about 3.87 lakh tonnes, he said.
The minister was speaking at a press briefing at his secretariat office on the occasion of World Food Day 2020. Agriculture Secretary Md Nasiruzzaman was also present at the event.
The minister said since the onset of coronavirus outbreak, the prime minister has instructed not to leave even an inch of land uncultivated in tackling the possible food crisis.
Like other countries, World Food Day 2020 will be celebrated in Bangladesh today at the joint initiative of the ministry and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The theme of this years is -- "Grow, nourish, sustain, together. Our actions are our future."
In the briefing, the minister said, "Even after the success in food production, we need to be aware of food and nutrition security in post-Covid Bangladesh."
"We must continue our initiative. With this target in mind, this time we are going to celebrate World Food Day," he said.
He said his ministry is working relentlessly to ensure food security during and post Covid-19 situation. Target of Aus and Aman paddy production has been increased.
Tk 10 will be given as subsidy against per kilogramme of boro paddy seeds to increase production in the coming season.
The minister said "nutrition gardens" have been set up with 1.40 lakh families in 4,397 unions at a cost of Tk 37.36 crore to ensure family nutrition security by bringing every inch of land under cultivation.
Besides, 100 new family nutrition gardens are being set up in each union to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The ministry has taken various programmes on the occasion of World Food Day 2020, including an international seminar today at a city hotel. The prime minister will attend the seminar as chief guest.
Comments