The ‘World Food Day-2010’ was observed across the country as elsewhere in the universe with various programmes on Saturday.
Both the Government and the non-government organizations arranged different programmes, including rally, fair and seminar, to mark the day.
The theme of this year’s observance is “United Against Hunger”, chosen to recognize the efforts made in the fight against world hunger at national, regional and international levels, sources said.
President M Zillur Rahman, in a message on the occasion, said Bangladesh is implementing various programmes to increase food production to meet the demand for food for its huge population.
He stressed the need for further strengthening of the integrated efforts to attain food security.
The President also said food is one of the basic needs of the people and the developing countries are conducting their activities in various ways to meet their demands for food.
In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the present Government has taken steps for raising output of agricultural products through reducing prices of all farm inputs, including fertilizer and seeds, and providing soft loans to farmers at low rate of interests.
The Premier also said, we have to effectively think about safe food. The Government will be able to create a food security chain through ensuring safe food. “For this we have to stand beside our courageous and industrious farmers to inspire them,” she added.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) organized a seminar titled ‘Unite Against Hunger’ marking the Day.
Speakers at the function said, every year 22 lakh newborns are being added to the population and that’s why the country needs to produce four lakh metric tons of additional food to feed these increasing population.
The country’s population is being increased at the rate of 1.41 per cent a year and at the same time, the cultivable land is being depleted with the rate of one per cent from the total land.
Quazi Akhter Hossain, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture attended the seminar as the chief guest while Dr Wais Kabir, Executive Chairman of the BARC was in the chair.
Dr Nazmul Hossain, Additional Secretary and Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Dr Sayeed Ali, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) were the special guests.
Meanwhile, Land Minister M Rezaul Karim Hira, speaking at a function in observance of the day at Jamalpur yesterday, said the Government is formulating land-zoning act soon to ensure proper utilization of land as well as to protect agricultural land for the national interest.
“We can check misuse of land after formulating the act,” he said
The Minister said the present government has taken various initiatives through inventing high yielding seeds as well as increasing subsidy for achieving self-sufficiency in food production.
Suchasoner Jonno Procharavijan (SUPRA) organized a human chain in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh to mark the day.
Speakers at the programme urged the Government to take necessary steps to increase food production.
National Garments Workers Federation demanded rationing system for the garments workers at a human chain programmee held at Muktangan in the city yesterday.
Federation president Amirul Haque Amin presided over the programme and others leader of the federation were present.
Bangladesh Landless Association president and general secretary ABM Mahbub Hossain Badal and Subal Sarker respectively issued a written statement marking the day.
In the statement, they urged the Government to take immediate steps to keep the prices of essential commodities under the purchasing capacity of the common people.
