A Country Scenarioes of Food Security and Governance in Bangladesh

Abstract

The Government of Bangladesh has identified food security as an important factor contributing to its socio-economic stabilization and development. Bangladesh has made a steady progress in the expansion of food production. But because of the increasing population pressure there has been an extensive use of land to meet the growing demand for food. Despite the growth in food production and its availability, food insecurity is still a major problem mainly because of the lack of purchasing power and thus of access to food, especially for the ultra poor community. This paper focuses on the availability of food as an essential element of the concept of food security and role of government to get food sufficiency. In addition to rice and wheat that constitute the staple food of Bangladesh, the paper deals with the production and availability issues of other major food commodities, such as potato, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits, and fisheries and livestock products. The food production of the country both rice and wheat, was 10.46 million metric tons in the 1971-72. Bangladesh attained self sufficiency in food production in 2010-2011 with a gross production of rice and wheat of 35.3 million metric tons which marginally met the country's requirement of 23.64 million metric tones for the population of 148.69 million, taking 453.6 g per capita per day requirement. Production of vegetables and fruits has increased, from 1.5 million tons and 1.46 million tons in 2001-02 to 7.19 million tons and 3.56 million tons in 2009-10 respectively. Fish production increase from 2.0 million tons in 2001-02 to 3.0 million tons in 2010-11. Livestock product (meat, milk and egg) has also increase 50% over that last ten years. Of these, domestic production is critical in ensuring food availability at both national and household levels. Government of Bangladesh is trying to integrate and address all the elements associated with food security to achieve touch the MDG setting for the country. However, in recent years, the Government is putting additional efforts to increase production of important food crops as well as fisheries and livestock.

Fuzzy-Likert scale based assessment of marketing risk faced by the hybrid rice growers of Bangladesh

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“…However, overall, the gross production of rice and wheat increased significantly during the period between 1971/72 and 2010/11 from 10.46 to 35.3 million metric tons. The country requires of 23.64 million of metric tons (MMT) rice and wheat for the total population [114].…”

“…In recent decades, the country has achieved substantial progress in enhancing food security; it has increased food production for socio-economic development [112][113][114]. However, still, one-third of the population remains living under the poverty line, especially in rural areas [115].…”

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“…Bangladesh is one of the least developed countries in the world with 30% of the total population of 153 million people living below the poverty line (Kashem and Faroque, 2011). Poverty and food security still remain major challenges that need to be addressed in the country.…”