Ensure food security for their survival

Dear readers, the COVID-19 pandemic has its biggest impact over people living across the world now, crippling the public health systems. It has not only affected people, but the world's most advanced economies as well. Progress of the deadly is taking toll on human lives. As a country Bangladesh heavily depends on RMG sector, remittance and of course the agriculture sector, where we need to focus more than ever.

However, Bangladesh must prepare to tackle the challenge in ensuring food security. To me, agriculture sector should get the highest priority among all the sectors since food is the centre point of our survival and agriculture is the most ancient profession which has helped people live for ages. I have been telling this in my programmes and articles since the outbreak of coronavirus in Bangladesh. For the past few weeks, it is truly appreciating that our Honourable Prime Minister has launched many initiatives including investments in the agriculture sector to tackle the challenge. To me, this sector has to be supported even more at the moment and then the health and RMG sector. If it is a case of supporting the sectors, at present we need to support the health and farming at the forefront.

We never thought this virus would fly far from China's Wuhan to the remote corners of the world. But, the reality is in front of us and we must face it with optimum awareness. Government had declared general holidays since March 26 and later extended it till May 5. However, we saw people around the country regarded it as a vacation and the social distancing is ignored. Till date, we are seeing people roaming outside their homes. And with true efforts from the doctors, law enforcers, armed forces and media, people are not just listening. I would like notice the department of agricultural extension (DAE) in reference to harvesting paddy, maintaining social distances, which I would like to call 'physical' distance. Naturally farmers harvest paddy maintaining a good distance. But, they can do it easily maintaining six feet distance. I request the farmers to keep distance of at least five rows during harvest. One farmer will need to harvest five rows and if there is 25 rows in a field, only five farmers can do this keeping the physical distance. DAE can work on this method and they should go for extensive training, new methodology and technology to better assist the farmers.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested the farmers not to keep their farmlands empty. It gives us a proper signal that we must grow diversified food, nutritious food and most importantly organic food. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina already issued a far-sighted 31-point directive in the wake of the novel coronavirus situation in the country where point 27 clearly mentions: the farmers will continue cultivation regularly and in this case government incentives will go on. So, I would stress for the input and crop damage assistance for the farmers. The crop insurance can work pretty well for the crop damage or loss. She additionally unveiled the government's plan to address the possible impact of coronavirus on the country's economy, declaring an allocation of Tk 72,750 crore (Approximately USD 8,564 million) under a set of stimulus packages. This really inspires us. She said of the allocation Tk 5,000 crore (Approximately USD 589 million) financial assistance to farmers in rural areas for boosting agricultural production.

A list of farmers should be properly chalked out so that they get the assistance. I have received news that people who are not involved with farming, meaning who are not farmers, are taking the support at this time of disaster. The affected farmers should get the support of seeds, fertilizers and other inputs along with other necessary needs. The price of the agricultural goods have fallen down but the price of the agricultural inputs is on the rise. The government must set a strong agency to monitor this or else there will be more haphazard. The seed price is going up; we also need to import fertilizers and particularly pesticides. Our agricultural bodies need to keep a good communication so that we can stay safe while having all the input support at the time of need.  

The uncertainty of coronavirus will probably lead us to some more challenges, especially the agricultural input production will probably be hindered. It would probably have a strike on fertilizers, veterinary medicines and other inputs. So the battle between demand and supply of inputs will be on the table. Now it's important to focus on organic fertilizers like vermicomposting. The food production must go smooth and we need to ensure that before anything else. New agricultural practices, short-duration crops, intake of low-carb and increasing the nutrition diet is a must.

We have a natural disaster coming up, that is the flood, which is going to cripple the haor areas if much assistance is not provided. We must ensure farmers harvest the Boro paddy before the flood comes. DAE should send harvester machines and all modern equipment to the haor areas of our country as we all know how important. Since the inception of Hridoye Mati O Manush, I have repeatedly mentioned that youth should get involved in farming in my programme titled Firey Chol Mati Taney (Returning to Roots). It is really praiseworthy of the Prime Minister that she has urged the youth to contribute to the sector in this time of need. I have been promoting rooftop farming for a long time and the honourable prime minister has also requested people to use their rooftops for production. As the lockdown progresses, both harvest and sowing time is at a precarious state and necessary stimulus, assistance should be on the field right away or else the post-harvest Boro productions, both main crops, fruits and vegetables will be at stake along with Aus and Aman paddy.

If we look at the world, USA President Donald Trump on Friday announced a USD 19 billion relief programme to help US farmers cope with the impact of the coronavirus, including USD 16 billion in direct payments to producers and mass purchases of meat, dairy, vegetables and other products. The agricultural labour force in the USA are the Mexicans and these people will need to play a vital role once again to keep the sector moving onward amid the crisis. In Germany, the government has allowed 60,000 labours to come to the country but they will have to be quarantined for 15 days under the supervision of their farm owners. In that case the farm-labourers from the northern districts who will travel to the haor areas for Boro harvest are also immigrants and they need be regarded the same way.  

It is not the right time to ponder on GDP growth, the prior concentration should be on the farming sector, the farmers, and the food. A global problem requires a global response. Food markets must function properly where the information on prices, production, consumption and stocks of food is available to the stakeholders. It will reduce uncertainty and allow producers, consumers, traders and processors to make well informed decisions which will naturally hold panic in global food markets. In a country like Bangladesh, there is no better option than informing farmers more and more on the coronavirus and how they can stay away from it. They should be alerted through media and all the other necessary means of communication.

Armed forces, police, doctors and media professionals along with different bodies of the government is really working hard to aware people in wiping out coronavirus out of the country. Ministry of food, agriculture and the social welfare can jointly come up with a mission with the help of the local administration to ensure that farmers' vegetables and crops are getting sold at a common place and at a fair price. Armed forces, local police and other authorities can assist the farmers to sell their products at a central point. The farmers will definitely need the support of transport and a selling place. Many farmers called me up and said their vegetables are getting ruined as they couldn't sell, so they are distributing among the poor farmers. It is a noble job for sure. A programme could be taken in hand by the government to ensure prices of goods. Also, if some of these products are given to the relief programmes, many other people will be benefited. We must work with solidarity to avoid the greatest humanitarian disaster. And, we must believe in the saying, 'United we stand, divided we fall.' And surely then, we will win the battle against coronavirus.