Global volatility, odd climate posing threat to food security

Staff reporter :
Volatile global essential market as well as an odd climatic condition has been posing serious threat to the country’s food security.
Taking into account this condition, the government should enact its policies to raise productivity through appropriating sustainable farm methods, speakers at a national dialogue on Sunday said.
They also opined for reducing the huge gap between import and export of agricultural products by enhance productivity, mechanising agriculture and ensuring inputs like fertiliser, high yielding multi-stress tolerant crop varieties.
The comments were made at the national dialogue on ” Agricultural Production in an Odd Climatic Condition: Volatility in the Global Agricultural Commodity Market”, organised by Bangladesh Agricultural Reporters Forum (BAJF), held at the Krishibid Institution of Bangladesh Convention Hall in the city.
Agriculture minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said, farm sector needs capacity building for using new generation technologies.
“Capacity of utilising a budget is needed before enhance allocation”.
Dr Razzaque while talking on price volatility said: “Wheat price reached US $ 450 from $220 tonnes a year ago while potassium price has reached $1200 from $300 a tonne.
he said expenditure for edible oil fuelled up to $2.5 billion dollar as the country meets 90 per cent of its demand through import.
The government is managing the issue very seriously and there will be no shortage of food, he said.
“Rough weather is a challenge, still we are trying to enhance productivity in this climatic condition.
He said 570 combined harvesters are being used in the haor region to complete harvest in no time while 77 per cent harvest has been completed in Sunamganj.
Dr Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of Centre for Poilicy Dialogue, said Bangladesh’s food grains import worth around $10 billion while export in only around $1billion.
Most of the commodity price increased in international market and Bangladesh feels the heat of paying huge amount of dollar due to such tarde gap” said Mustafizur Rahman.
about 41 per cent of labor force is engaged in agriculture that giving return around 13 per cent of GDP.
“New generation technology is needed to increase productivity to boost export, ” Mustafizur said.
To do this a radical change in budget allocation for agricultural research will be needed” Mustafizur said.
FH Ansarey, President ACI Agribusiness said, “A developed variety seed needs 10 years to reach farmers.