Dhaka:Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid emphasized that merely increasing food production is insufficient; the focus must also be on providing safe, nutritious, and quality food to meet people's health and nutritional needs.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister spoke at an event marking World Food Day-2026, held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in Farmgate. He highlighted the significance of maintaining food quality and nutritional value amid the global food crisis.
The minister noted that the younger generation's dietary preferences are shifting globally, with a growing interest in vegetables and fruits alongside traditional staples like rice. He emphasized the need to adapt agricultural production plans to enhance the supply of nutritious food.
Addressing the issue of pesticide and heavy metal usage in agriculture, Rashid warned that excessive pesticide application in pursuit of higher yields increases the risk of food contamination, posing severe public health risks. He called for raising farmer awareness and reinforcing safe food production systems.
Aminur Rashid also mentioned government efforts to ensure fair prices for farmers' produce and the development of an information-based strategy to manage agricultural output according to seasonal demand.
The event was chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Selim Khan, with Dr. Khandaker Iftekharuddula, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of the Plant Breeding Division of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, presenting the keynote paper.