FE Report

Industries Minister Dilip Barua said Monday the government has taken a raft of measures to ensure food security as recent experiences made it clear money alone cannot guarantee such protection.

"The country madly chased food two years ago. We have learnt lessons and are taking measurers in view of that experience," he said while addressing a gathering in the capital.

The minister was speaking at the roundtable styled 'Food Safety for Bangladesh' organised by Daffodil International University (DIU).

Speaking as chief guest, Mr Barua said the government is providing subsidy on food production as the output is much higher than the country can ask for.

"We have already learnt that money alone cannot guarantee food security, the result of which is bumper boro crops."

He said food security is a major challenge for a developing country like Bangladesh as the country's amount of cultivable land is very limited.

The minister said Bangladesh is now almost self-sufficient in cereal food production due to the government's agriculture-friendly policy.

"The price of non-urea has been cut drastically. Irrigation across the country has been ensured."

"Fertiliser has been made available for farmers, information and technological services have been expanded and arrangements to stock food in the warehouses and marketing have been strengthened," the industries minister said.

He, however, admitted that increasing food production is not enough for ensuring food security. "Food preservation, distribution and uninterrupted supply to consumers are also keys to food security."