In the West, organic food is all the rage, though in Bangladesh, the consumption of organic food is still only one per cent. The reason for this are various: firstly, people are not aware that vegetables, fruits and other items grown without using chemicals are better for overall health. And for this, the masses cannot be blamed because only about a decade ago, food shortage was a reality in Bangladesh. In such circumstances, eating to survive preceded all concerns. However, with the country achieving self-sufficiency in rice production and regular bumper growth of essential vegetables, the focus now should be on growing food that is healthy.
In the capital’s supermarkets, organic food is being sold though this is more of a preference for the affluent since the prices are comparatively higher. This is because many organic fertilisers are not easy to obtain plus the number of farms selling organic produce is still relatively low. In such a situation, it’s the government which needs to trigger an organic food revolution. Starting from the individual farmers to the farms, incentives can be provided plus organic fertiliser.
In this regard, some private enterprises can step forward and manufacture chemical free organic fertiliser which will be affordable and widely available. Since the price cannot be slashed for all items, the approach can be to take two or three items that are consumed by all sections and bring down their rates first. If the banks start to provide organic farm loans on easy conditions then many new entrepreneurs in and outside the city will feel encouraged. In recent times, the usage of chemicals to grow faster and make items look bigger has become a major trend, and even in the kitchen markets, ‘what looks better usually sells better’ belief works all the time.
Understandably, many of the food that people buy are grown on too much chemical which begins to take the toll later in life with a variety of complications from cancer to respiratory ailments to a wide range of cognitive deficiencies. These downsides have to be publicised at all markets along with the advantages of organic food.
A countrywide government step aided by specialists can bring organic food production into the mainstream.
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Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.