World Food Day has been observed at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and the FAO, with a colourful event at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium.

The discussion held to mark the day was chaired by Md Abu Zubair Hossain Bablu, additional secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture. Food Secretary Md Masudul Hasan was chief guest. Special guests were Abu Taher Muhammad Jaber, secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; Dia Sanou, the FAO's representative in Bangladesh; and Dr Valentine Achancho, IFAD's representative in Bangladesh.

The keynote paper was presented by Dr Khondaker Md Iftekharuddaula, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Bangladesh Agricultural University.

The chief guest stressed the importance of agricultural research for the country's food security. He called on agricultural university researchers, teachers and students, and everyone involved in agriculture, to work so that the results of agricultural research reach farmers.

In his address as chair, Additional Secretary Md Abu Zubair Hossain Bablu stressed mutual cooperation and said food production must continue while tackling the risks of climate change. "Our sea level is gradually rising, but silt is also forming new land. If we can use this land, there will be no crisis," he said.

He said globalisation had increased food demand and supply, and food security would be ensured if everyone worked together. Prizes were given at the event to the winners of a thematic poster-drawing competition on World Food Day.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.