Resource information
Awami League's Election Manifesto
2008 appropriately recognizes the importance of ensuring
food security for all in Bangladesh. Food Security requires
increasing agricultural growth which in turn is a key factor
in reducing poverty in the country. Food security also
requires increasing agricultural production and protecting
consumers. Sustained production increases, in turn, require
technology-driven increases in the productivity of crops
(rice in particular), fisheries and livestock. This is
possible through interventions that improve: (i)
agricultural research and extension systems to generate and
disseminate high yielding varieties and location-specific
solutions to production constraints; (ii) timely access to
quality production inputs, especially seeds and fertilizer;
(iii) coverage, targeting, and administration of production
subsidies (especially fertilizer) in order to make them
efficient and fiscally sustainable; and (iv) irrigation and
drainage. Increasing the incomes of small and marginal
farmers requires promotion of commercial agriculture and
agri-business opportunities through: (a) value chain
development and value-addition to selected agricultural
commodities; (b) improvements in market infrastructure; (c)
supporting the development of farmer groups and producer
organizations and link them with value chains and markets;
and (d) facilitating private sector investment in
agri-business development, demand-driven research and
extension systems, and rural finance through public-private
partnerships. Food safety nets are needed to protect poor
and vulnerable consumers but their coverage, targeting, and
administration need to be improved. All these interventions
will require a right blend of public policies, resources,
and participation of public and private sector, and
increased technical and administrative capacity of the
institutions responsible for agriculture extension,
research, food procurement, water management, and safety net management.
