Food security
Agriculture experts at the inaugural ceremony of a five-day fruit tree fair held on Gangachara upazila parishad premises recently have stressed on adopting the latest technologies to further boost production of fruits to ensure food security, meet nourishment and alleviate poverty. Fish and vegetable production in the country is quite satisfactory but there is setback in rice production. The upward trend of rice price has exposed the people of fixed income group to hardships. High price of rice has also not benefited the farmers either. A section of middlemen are reaping the benefits.
The vulnerable condition in food security in the country must be overcome at any cost. The government should take up the food security issue seriously. Maximum priority should be given to increasing agro-production for food security. Measures should be taken considering the population explosion and the shrinkage of arable lands. Untiring efforts by farmers and others concerned and the modern method of food cultivation may contribute to food production.
It is heartening that Bangladesh has made some meaningful efforts to minimise the adverse impact of climate change. Apart from government initiatives, all stakeholders, including environmentalists, conscious people and NGOs should put in their utmost efforts to increase food production. Each person should be imbued with the zeal to produce more food to feed the growing population.
The government should identify the problems facing the farmers and try to solve those with due emphasis. Many farmers have to borrow money from moneylenders at high rate of interest. As a result, the cost of production of rice goes up. What is disappointing for the growers is that they do not get the due price of their produced
rice.
The government should do everything possible for the improvement of the farmers condition. Farmers should be provided with bank loans on easy terms and conditions. Besides, they should be supplied with agricultural inputs like improved seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. They should also be imparted training on the modern method of cultivation.
It seems that there are some problems related to food grain management system. Those should be identified and solved. If needed, a thorough overhaul should be done to set things in order. Problems facing the rice mill owners and the supply and transportation networks should also be identified and addressed properly. There should be proper coordination among various departments for streamlining the food sector.
