Nurul Alam Masud, Secretary of the Bangladesh Food Security Network -KHANI on Deepto Krishi about Bangladesh’s food security and agriculture.
While agricultural production in Bangladesh has increased, critical questions remain: Is this production actually reaching consumers? Are people able to afford it? And is it sufficient to ensure their food security? The reality is stark—around 44 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy and balanced diet. Rising food inflation and a decline in real wages for 42 consecutive months mean that household incomes are failing to keep pace with soaring expenses. As a result, people’s access to food has become increasingly limited.
Farmers, who grow the crops, are also not receiving fair prices. Structural challenges in the value chain force them to sell at low prices, while consumers end up paying more for the very same products. A significant share of Bangladesh’s poor depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. With no alternative sources of income, many continue farming, yet evidence shows that this is driving them deeper into poverty—leaving them without income security or social protection.
The young generation envisions a new Bangladesh, but the country has failed to engage them in agriculture. There is no agricultural reform commission, nor a framework to generate new employment opportunities in the sector. Although employment reform is under discussion nationally, there is still no clear roadmap that sets targets for how much employment should come from agriculture. Such a roadmap could inspire young people and contribute to sustainable growth.
The government should also introduce incentive policies that encourage young people to invest in and engage with agriculture. As the largest private sector in Bangladesh, agriculture deserves much greater policy attention.
Finally, recognizing food as a fundamental right has become urgent. While many countries worldwide have enshrined the right to food in their constitutions and passed food rights legislation, Bangladesh has yet to do so. To safeguard citizens’ rights and dignity, the government must specifically include vulnerable groups under a ration card system.
Video Credit : Dipto TV
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দীপ্ত কৃষিতে বাংলাদেশের খাদ্য নিরাপত্তা ও কৃষি বিষয়ে কথা বলেছেন বাংলাদেশ খাদ্য নিরাপত্তা নেটওয়ার্ক- খানি এর সম্পাদক জনাব নুরুল আলম মাসুদ [ Nurul Alam Masud ]