Food Security in Bangladesh: Concerns and Remedies

Mian Saiful Islam, psc

Military Officer, Bangladesh Army, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka

Abstract

Bangladesh is a densely populated nation where a significant proportion of people live below the poverty line. Yet it has garnered a great deal of international attention over the past decade due to its remarkable achievements in increasing agricultural productivity, achieving food self-sufficiency, and ensuring sustainable food security for its large population. The primary task for the government is to ensure food security. During the past decade, the government has launched free food distribution, food-friendly programs, open market sales, and test alleviation programs as part of its food security program. In addition, projects based on digital technology have been implemented to enhance the monitoring and data management capabilities of the Ministry of Food. As a result, food accessibility and usage have increased. But the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have generated a food crisis due to a lack of food accessibility, stability, and proper utilization. This study seeks to identify and assess the threats to food security in Bangladesh by identifying the significant challenges and promising areas for future development.

Keywords: Food Security, Bangladesh, COVID-19, Russian-Ukraine War and Food Security.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55875/jbga.bd.dec22.004

Read Pdf Here: Food Security in Bangladesh: Concerns and Remedies

References: 

Aborisade, B., & Bach, C. (2014). Assessing the pillars of sustainable food security. European International Journal of Science and Technology, 3(4), 117-125. Adriano, F. (2022, March 17). Why can Bangladesh feed its people? The Manila Times. Ahmed, R. (2022, July 9). Bangladesh Consolidates Position as One of World’s Top Fish Producers. Dhaka Tribune. https://www.dhakatribune.com/ bangladesh/2022/07/09/bangladesh-consolidates-position-as-one-of-worldstop-fish-producers Ananno, A. A., Masud, M. H., Chowdhury, S. A., Dabnichki, P., Ahmed, N., & Arefin, A. M. E. (2021). Sustainable food waste management model for Bangladesh. Sustainable Production and Consumption, Vol. 27, 35-51. Anas, A. Z. M. (2019, October 28). ADB Lauds Bangladesh for Self-Sufficiency in Rice Output. The Financial Express. https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/ economy/bangladesh/adb-lauds-bangladesh-for-self-sufficiency-in-riceoutput-1572258603. Bondemark, A. (2020). The relationship between accessibility and price: The case of Swedish food stores. Journal of Transport Geography, Vol. 82. Burgess, J. P. (2012). Introduction. In J. P. Burgess (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of New Security Studies, (pp.1-4). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Deb, U., Hossain, M., & Jones, S. (2009). Rethinking Food Security Strategy:Selfsufficiency or Self-reliance. UK Department for International Development. Dhaka Tribune (2022, October 16). Bangladesh, Brunei Agree on Energy Cooperation. https://www.dhakatribune.com/ foreign-affairs/2022/10/16/ bangladesh-brunei-agree-on-energy-cooperation. Diao, X., Dorosh, P. A., Smart, J., & Thurlow, J. (2022). Bangladesh: Impacts of the Ukraine and global crises on Poverty and Food Security. Global Crisis Country Brief. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https:// doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.135947 FAO (2017), Global Early Warning – Early Action Report on Food Security and Agriculture. January –March 2017. https://www.fao.org/3/i6790e/i6790e.pdf Fahim, S. M., Hossain, M. S., Sen, S., Das, S., Hosssain, M., Ahmed, T., … & Alam, S. (2021). Nutrition and Food Security in Bangladesh: Achievements, Challenges, and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 224(Supplement_7), S901-S909. Financial Times (2020, April 21). Warnings of unrest mount as coronavirus hits food availability. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/443b74f7-e9f2-412fb9d6-241168cc1710 Grainger, M. (2010). World summit on food security (UN FAO, Rome, 16–18 November 2009). Development in Practice, 20(6), 740-742 Hamilton, P. C. (2020, April 14). COVID-19 and food security in vulnerable countries. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Retrieved from https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?OriginalVersionID=2331 Howard, J. and Simmons, E. (2020, April 22). Covid-19 threatens global food security: What should the United States do? Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved from https://www.csis.org/analysis/covid-19- threatens-global-food-security-what-should-united-states-do Islam, M. S (2013, August 11). Food security and regional cooperation. The Financial Express. Retrived from https://www.academia.edu/4280936/Food_ Security_and_Regional_Cooperation Mahmud, I. (2019, June 6). Bangladesh Fifth Largest Wheat Importer. Prothom Alo. https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/Bangladesh-fifth-largest-wheat- importer Mahmud, I. (2022, December 13). Rice Import: Minister-Secretary Return Home without No Headway. Prothom Alo. https://en.prothomalo.com/business/ local/h657ap0ltn Mainuddin, M., & Kirby, M. (2015). National food security in Bangladesh to 2050. Food Security, 7(3). Mobarok, M. H., Thompson, W., & Skevas, T. (2021). COVID-19 and Policy Impacts on the Bangladesh Rice Market and Food Security. Sustainability, 13(11). Nath, N. C. (2015). Food Security of Bangladesh: Status, Challenges and Strategic Policy Options. Journal of Political Economy, 31(2). Neogi, M. G. (n.d.). The Food Crisis in Bangladesh. GAIN. Retrieved from https:// www.gainhealth.org/media/news/story-5-food-crisis-bangladesh Nicholson, L. (2020, April 10). Sign of the times: Mile-long line of cars outside California grocery giveaway. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters. com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-food-idUSKCN21R3N3 Omotayo, A. O., Aremu, B. R., & Alamu, O. P. (2016). Food utilization, nutrition, health and farming households’ income: A critical review of literature. Journal of Human Ecology, 56(1-2), 171-182. Pinstrup-Andersen, P. (2009). Food security: Definition and measurement. Food Security, 1(1), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-008-0002-y Prothom Alo (2022, October 11). Save Money, Produce Food to Face Tough Days Ahead: PM Hasina. https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/8s1dsw07o0 Prothom Alo (2022, October 11). Save Money, Produce Food to Face Tough Days Ahead: PM Hasina. https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/8s1dsw07o0. Roy, D., Sarker Dev, D., & Sheheli, S. (2019). Food security in Bangladesh: insight from available literature. Journal of Nutrition and Food Security, 4(1), 66-75. Shepherd, B. (2012). Thinking critically about food security. Security Dialogue, 43(3), 195–212. Smith, P. (1998). Food Security and Political Stability in the Asia-Pacific Region. Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, https://dkiapcss.edu/Publications/ Report_Food_Security_98.html. Sneyd, A., Legwegoh, A. F., Sneyd, L. Q. (2015). Food politics: perspectives on food security in Central Africa, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 33(1), 141-161. The Business Standard (2022, February 28). Vegetable Production Increased Sevenfold in Last 12 Years: Minister. https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/ vegetable-production-increased-sevenfold-last-12-years-minister-377887 The Daily Star (2022, December 14). Banks Asked to Levy Minimum LC Margin on Rice, Wheat Imports. https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/bangladeshbank-asked-levy-minimum-lc-margin-rice-wheat-imports-opening-letter-ofcredit-opening-lc-essential-commodity-import-3195991#:~:text=The%20 central%20bank%20has%20asked,market%20and%20ensure%20smooth%20 supply. The Guardian (2020, May 9). ‘Hundreds queue for food parcels in wealthy Geneva. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/09/foodparcels-handed-out-to-workers-in-geneva-impacted-by-covid-19 The Financial Express (2022, October 18). TCB Starts Selling Essential Items. https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/tcb-starts-selling-essentialitems-1666061234 The New Age (2022, October 13). PM urges all to use every inch of land for food cultivation. https://www.newagebd.net/article/183541/pm-urges-all-to-useevery-inch-of-land-for-food-cultivation The New Age (2023, January 3). Bangladesh to Import 1 Lakh Tonnes of Rice from India, Singapore. https://www.newagebd.net/article/190721/bangladesh-toimport-1-lakh-tonnes-of-rice-from-india-singapore WFP & UNICEF (2022). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2022. Wiggins, S., Slater, R. (2012). Food security. In J. P. Burgess (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of New Security Studies, (pp.132-143). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.