PM Hasina calls for reducing food wastage

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon people to stop wasting of food as many countries in the world are going to face a famine-like situation.

“Wasting food has to be reduced. There’s a scarcity of food on one side of the world and heavy wasting on the other… there shouldn’t be any food wasting,” she said while addressing a programme marking the World Food Day 2021.

The programme was held at Hotel InterContinental on Saturday where the prime minister joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban.

Alongside boosting production in the agriculture sector, the prime minister said importance will have to be given on promoting agricultural products in the global market.

She said her government increased subsidies in the agricultural sector in 1996 though the then authorities of the World Bank opposed the decision.

The theme of this year’s is “Our actions are our future -- Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life”.

The premier also urged scientists to find out the way to reuse the waste food and conduct research in this regard.

She asked all to remain watchful so that Bangladesh never faces a food crisis and no one can hatch a conspiracy to push the country into a famine.

Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, said there will be no food scarcity in the country as her government has undertaken numerous development programmes and projects.

UNB Adds: Talking about various types of research-driven inventions that the Bangladeshi scientists achieved, including drought resilience and flood resilience rice for ensuring food security in the country, she said, “I think the scientists of Bangladesh are the best in the world.”

The Prime Minister said the government has introduced a land zoning system to protect arable lands of the country. “We’ll surely go for development but by preserving the arable lands,” she said.

Hasina mentioned that the government is taking various types of preparations so that the country does not lag behind in food production during the upcoming fourth industrial revolution.

“Our aim is to ensure food security along with nutrition. For that, we’ve given importance to protein production,” Hasina said.

Briefly describing the remarkable success in Bangladesh’s food production in the last 12 years, Hasina said Bangladesh will export food items to earn foreign exchange after fulfilling the local demand.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and Senior Secretary of Agriculture Minister Md Mesbahul Islam also spoke at the event.

A documentary on food production of the country was screened at the programme.

Hasina also unveiled a book titled ‘Agricultural Development in Bangladesh’ and a portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with a new variety of paddy ‘Bangabandhu Rice-100’ invented by BIRRI scientists.