BANGLADESH

World Food Day today

The World Food Day-2022 will be observed in the country today as elsewhere in the world in a befitting manner.

This year’s theme of the day is ‘Leave no one behind. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life’ or ‘Kauke Poshchatey Rekhey Noy-Valo Uthpadoney Uttom Pushti, Surokkhito Poribesh Abong Unnoto Jibon’.

The Agriculture Ministry and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will jointly observe the day.

President M Abul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day.

In his message, President Abul Hamid said agriculture is one of the main drivers of poverty reduction and economic development in Bangladesh.

Highlighting the role of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in agriculture sector of the country, he said Bangabandhu called for agriculture revolution in rebuilding the country.

Bangabandhu ensured distribution of khas land, fertilisers, pesticides, improved seeds and other agriculture outputs among the farmers, the head of the state recalled.

Following this, the country has achieved self-sufficiency in food grains as a result of the adoption of appropriate policies and measures by the government, he said, adding that along with crops, enormous success has been achieved in animal-protein sector.

If agricultural production is increased alongside controlling inflation, it will be possible to earn foreign exchange by exporting food products at high prices to the world market, he said.

He stressed the need for continuing relentless efforts of all concerned for developing and expanding new nutrient-rich crop varieties and appropriate technologies in order to sustain food and nutritional security.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in continuation of the plans and programmes taken by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League government has been taking and implementing various agriculture-friendly and realistic initiatives for the development of agriculture for last 13.5 years.

Taking the development of agriculture and farmers’ welfare into the highest consideration, a number of work plans and initiatives, including the National Agriculture Policy-2018, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-2030, Delta Plan-2100 and the Food Safety Act, have been taken by the government, the premier said.

Initiatives were also taken to ensure distribution of agriculture based loans, opening of bank accounts with Taka 10 and innovation of climate tolerant varieties and technologies, Sheikh Hasina said.

“We have increased allocation further in agriculture research and education,” she added.

“We have constructed the Padma Bridge with our own funding to establish uninterrupted, cost-effective and speedy communication between 21 districts of the South-Western region with the capital,” she continued.

Through this bridge, the quality of farmer’s life of the region will improve, she added.

She hoped that a happy, prosperous and developed Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu can be built by 2041 with the participation of the government as well as everyone by meeting the nutritional needs through ensuring safe food and eliminating hunger and poverty.

Both the president and the premier wished overall success of all programmes taken on the occasion of ‘World Food Day-2022’.

To mark the day, the Agriculture Ministry has taken elaborate programmes.
The main programme of the day will be held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here at 10am on October 17.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to join the programme virtually as the chief guest.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque will preside over the function.
Besides, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture Begum Matia Chowdhury and Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangladesh Robert Douglas Simpson will attend the programme as special guests.

Later, technical session/seminar will be held at the same venue at 12noon.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin will join it as the chief guest.

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