Members of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers
and Commerce (FBCCI) standing committee on Agriculture, Agricultural
Processing and Agro-based Industries, at their first meeting, have called for
increasing local seed production to make the country’s food security
sustainable.
FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin addressed the meeting as the chief guest
held at the FBCCI office here today, said a press release.
He said food security is one of the most important issues for any country.
The country’s Agro-production kept its economy at a relatively better
position during the Covid-19 epidemic.
The government has taken various initiatives to turn agro-based industries
into export-oriented industries. Therefore, the FBCCI chief urged the private
sector entrepreneurs to come forward to invest in this sector.
He said that although Bangladeshi agricultural products are exported abroad
as there the buyers are mainly expatriate Bangladeshis.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multinational professional services network
of firms, has been appointed to conduct research in the London market to find
out why these products are not being sold in the mainstream market.
After receiving the research data, the FBCCI president hoped that it will be
possible to further increase the export of Bangladeshi agricultural products
in overseas markets.
“The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries are interested in
taking halal food from Bangladesh. Hence there is a lot of potential in this
sector,” the president informed.
Earlier, the Director In-Charge of the committee Dr. Ferdousi Begum said
huge import dependence of seeds is a risk to the food security of the
country. So, long-term investment required for achieving the capacity in seed
production.
She urged the government to invest more in this sector.
“Fifty four per cent of the labor force in agriculture is women. Equal pay
for this huge number of workers has not yet been ensured,” Co-chair of the
committee Tasfia Jashim said, adding that formal recognition of women’s
contribution to sustainable development in agriculture is important.
Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, senior vice-president of the FBCCI, assured that
the recommendations received at the standing committee meeting would be
conveyed to the concerned government officials for its implementation.
He also promised to support any assistance from the FBCCI for the development
of the agricultural sector.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee Md. Abul Hashem said a national
conference will be organised soon on the initiative of the standing
committee.
FBCCI Directors Bijoy Kumar Kejriwal and Harun or Rashid, Secretary General
Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, Co-Chairmen of the Standing Committee and other
members were present, among others, at the meeting.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)