World Food Day

News Desk: World Food Day today is Saturday (October 18). The day will be celebrated in Bangladesh as well as around the world with the joint initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The theme of this year's Food Day is, "Our work is our future - good nutrition in good production, and a better life in a better environment."

On the occasion of World Food Day, the President gave a separate message. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In his message, the President said, "The government is working relentlessly to realize the dream of the father of the nation to build a developed, happy and prosperous golden Bengal through rural and agricultural development." Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an agricultural soul. He called for an agrarian revolution in the reconstruction of independent countries. He assured the distribution of khas land among the farmers for the development of agriculture, supply of fertilizers, pesticides, improved seeds, irrigation and other agricultural inputs at subsidized prices.

Abdul Hamid thinks that the country has achieved self-sufficiency in granular food with the timely policies and steps of the government. Production of fruits and vegetables has increased many times. The capacity has been acquired to meet the demand of the country in the production of fish and meat produced in the inland water bodies of the country. The country's agricultural exports are increasing day by day. Development assistance is being provided in agricultural mechanization to make small and marginal agriculture profitable. He hoped that these initiatives of the government would further accelerate the agricultural production of the country as well as help in creating new jobs and entrepreneurs.

In her message, the Prime Minister said the government is working to ensure the nutritional security of the people. Today, Bangladesh is self-sufficient in the production of granular food, fish, meat and eggs and is on the verge of self-sufficiency in milk production due to the agri-friendly policies and activities adopted by our government.

According to the Prime Minister, Bangladesh is currently the second largest producer of jute and jackfruit in the world, the third largest producer of paddy and vegetables, the seventh largest producer of mango and potato, the eighth largest producer of guava, the third largest producer of inland open water and the fifth largest producer of closed water. At present, the total food grain production of the country has increased to 4 crore 53 lakh 43 thousand metric tons.

In the words of Sheikh Hasina, ‘Following the plans and activities of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bengali of all time, the present Awami League government has been taking and implementing various agri-friendly and pragmatic steps in agricultural development for the last 12 and a half years. Since the formation of the government in 2009, we have been adopting and implementing significant action plans including National Agriculture Policy-2018, Safe Food Act, Sustainable Development Goals, Delta Plan-2100 in the light of Vision-2041 with the highest consideration of agricultural development and welfare of farmers. In the development of agriculture, we provide financial assistance to farmers for fertilizer, diesel, electricity and mechanization of agriculture and agricultural incentives / agricultural rehabilitation, agricultural loans, distribution of agricultural inputs assistance cards, opening of bank accounts at Rs 10, introduction of e-agriculture Etc. have been arranged. We have increased the allocation for agricultural education and research, as a result of which subsistence agriculture is being transformed into commercial agriculture today.

In the message, the Prime Minister said 100 economic zones are being set up across the country. This will create massive employment including self-sufficiency in the supply of raw materials for agro-based industries. We are working to build the golden Bangladesh of the dream of the father of the nation. With the joint efforts of all, we will be able to establish Bangladesh in the world as a developed, prosperous and modern country. '

In a press briefing at the auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) at Farmgate in Dhaka on Friday, Agriculture Minister Dr. Md. Abdur Razzak proudly said, "The Ministry of Agriculture is taking timely steps and implementing them as per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to increase food production in Corona." As a result, the trend of food production in the country has continued and increased even during the Corona period. In the fiscal year 2020-21, the record amount of boro production has been more than 20 million tons, which is the highest in the history of the country. Compared to last year, the production of all crops has increased this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture has undertaken various programs to highlight the importance of World Food Day. There is an international seminar on this topic at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka this morning. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be the chief guest. During the seminar, he will unveil the book published by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and release 'Bangabandhu Paddy 100' invented by Bangladesh Paddy Research Institute (BRI). Besides, the Prime Minister will unveil the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made with 'Bangabandhu Dhan 100'.

The Ministry of Agriculture has taken several important steps to commemorate the Mujib Year. Among other activities of the day, a technical session will be held in the afternoon after the international seminar on what to do to address food security challenges. The chief guest will be the Minister of Agriculture. Renowned experts in agriculture and food from home and abroad will participate there.

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