Dhaka:Food Minister Afroza Khanam has called for support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to bolster Bangladesh's food security and nutrition systems, highlighting the challenges posed by climate change on grain storage.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister expressed concerns over the increasing difficulty of storing food grains for extended periods without compromising quality due to climatic adversities. The risk of spoilage is notably higher when grains are stored for more than six months. Her appeal came during a meeting with FAO Representative Jiaoqun Shi and Assistant Representative (Programme) Imanun Nabi Khan at her office.
During the meeting, the FAO delegation briefed Minister Khanam on the organization's ongoing activities in Bangladesh. In response, she requested detailed information on how the FAO could assist in ensuring food security and safety, particularly through technical assistance and technological knowledge exchange.
Minister Khanam urged the FAO to collaborate closely with Bangladesh to safeguard the nutrition of marginalized groups, including women and children, who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. She emphasized the importance of strengthening the country's food security system through technical support, research, and experience exchange provided by the FAO.
The minister also inquired about any existing FAO programmes in Bangladesh aimed at protecting the nutrition and food security of vulnerable groups and asked about future initiatives. She stressed the need for special programmes focused on women and children and requested the FAO to share modern storage technologies and methods for long-term grain stockpiling.
Highlighting Bangladesh's large population relative to its land area, Minister Khanam underscored the critical importance of ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious food. She discussed potential technical and research-based cooperation that the FAO could offer in this regard.
Furthermore, Minister Khanam expressed her hopes for FAO's support in conducting research to assess the nutritional effectiveness of fortified rice and its impact on public health. FAO Representative Jiaoqun Shi conveyed the organization's willingness to work closely with Bangladesh, sharing its expertise and implementing ongoing programmes to ensure food security and safety for the country's population.