Food security: Facing the hard truth

Anwar Iqbal

The prime responsibility of a benevolent state is to ensure an uninterrupted supply of safe and nutritious food to all citizens at all time. According to the Article15 (a) of the constitution of Bangladesh, the fundamental responsibility of the state is to ensure the basic necessities of food-needed for an active and healthy life by its population. Ensuring food security for all is one of the major challenges that Bangladesh faces today. Despite significant achievements in foodgrain production since independence in 1971, food availability, food security at national and household level remains a matter of major concern of the Government of Bangladesh.

Food is a basic human need and it's the government who shall have to ensure a dependable food security system for the nation. For a country like Bangladesh, this is crucial, since a large part of the income of the population has to be spent to procure food. The Government of Bangladesh's firm commitment to achieve food security for all is reflected in the development plans of the government. The goal of the first national food policy adopted in 1988, is to achieve food security for all people by increasing food production and attaining self-sufficiency. Bangladesh is a signatory of the 1996 World Food Summit ,GATT Uruguay Round Agreement in 1994 and as agreed in different Bangladesh Development Forum meetings, she is to develop a comprehensive food security policy for the country. Further, one of the MDGs set is to reduce the number of undernourished people to half by the year 2015. To achieve all these, concerted efforts required in the implementation of food security enhancing programs involving all concerned ministries and agencies. As obvious, attaining the targets will require addressing all aspects of food security namely, a) higher volume and greater efficiency in domestic food production b) timely and efficient food distribution mechanism with adequate infrastructure c) making food available and assistance to the food insecure; in particular during disaster and d) elevating the purchase power of the poor to enhance their access to food .

Food security and agriculture
Ensuring food security and agricultural development in Bangladesh is almost synonymous, as income and livelihood of the vast majority population directly or indirectly depends on agriculture. Pertinent to mention here the question of investment in agricultural research and development-as a matter of ensuring food security. Investment in research has been rewarding and has direct bearing on the productivity which ultimately influences availability and access to food. Bangladesh has made spectacular progress in increasing domestic production of foodgrains. The production has gone up; from 10 million ton in 1971 to over 34 million ton in the year 2008-09. This, to a large extent, helped in overcoming the constraints of insufficient national foodgrain availability.

During the year 2007-08, the world has seen an unprecedented food crisis. The prices of all food items went far beyond the capacity of the millions of poor consumers especially in the least developed countries like Bangladesh. Apprehending domestic crisis, major food grain producing countries of the world imposed ban on food export . It so happened that, even with money in hand, ready to pay premium price; there could not be required purchase of the food stuff. Agreed though, just producing enough does not mean or ensure food security, but that really an ideal option to feel secure and act rationally at a period of crisis. Ensuring food security for all

requires a concerted effort down from production, availability, distribution, enhancing purchase power and subsequent utilization of food by the households. It is to be noted here that, some smart countries of the world , namely China, India and Singapore have gone to the extent of leasing cultivable fallow land in African countries in order to produce the required agricultural commodities in particular food items. Bangladesh with its highly skilled professionals and experienced agricultural labour force may embark on such venture as a steps towards ensuring food security.

Road to food security
For the benefit of the readers, attempt is made to broadly define food security; which is ensuring all people at all times physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food in order to meet their dietary needs for an active, healthy and productive life. Essential elements of food security are availability of adequate food at the national level along with the access to required food at household and individual levels. Availability at the national level are functions of market operation, infrastructure, seasonal variation in domestic food production and efficiency of the market and the public food distribution system. While, availability of food at the household level depends on the household's capacity to produce or acquire food, and its availability at local markets.

It is to be appreciated that, availability of food in the market has nothing to do with the access. Access is related to income or purchasing power. Increase in income of the household means greater access to food and thus can positively influence food security at the household level. Poverty as is well agreed, a major determinant of chronic household food insecurity. The poor do not have adequate purchasing power to buy required food, even when food is available. Moreover, the poor are vulnerable to shocks, such as natural disasters and crop failure that cause transitory food insecurity. Increased food prices also results in transitory food insecurity of the poor as their real income goes down. The third element of food security is the utilization of food. A number of factors, such as health ,education, sanitation, safe water and public/household capacity and willingness to care for the vulnerable members regulates the utilization aspect. By now we could realize that, food security depends on many different factors. These elements as stated are interlinked and there is genuine interdependency among these. A delicate balance and appropriate attention for the purpose of efficiently managing the whole affair is required.

The food basket
Consumption of cereals (as is the case with majority of the Bangladeshi population) or animal protein (among high income group) alone can not ensure a balanced diet. The food basket of an individual should strike a balance and essentially need to be comprised of cereals, pulses, vegetables, fish, meat, fruits, oil, sugar, spice, salt, eggs, and safe water. Requires a concerted effort down from production, availability, distribution, enhancing purchase power and subsequent utilization of food by the households. It is to be noted here that, some smart countries of the world , namely China, India and Singapore have gone to the extent of leasing cultivable fallow land in African countries in order to produce the required agricultural commodities in particular food items. Bangladesh with its highly skilled professionals and experienced agricultural labour force may embark on such venture as a steps towards ensuring food security.

Road to food security
For the benefit of the readers, attempt is made to broadly define food security; which is ensuring all people at all times physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food in order to meet their dietary needs for an active, healthy and productive life. Essential elements of food security are availability of adequate food at the national level along with the access to required food at household and individual levels. Availability at the national level are functions of market operation, infrastructure, seasonal variation in domestic food production and efficiency of the market and the public food distribution system. While, availability of food at the household level depends on the household's capacity to produce or acquire food, and its availability at local markets.

It is to be appreciated that, availability of food in the market has nothing to do with the access. Access is related to income or purchasing power. Increase in income of the household means greater access to food and thus can positively influence food security at the household level. Poverty as is well agreed, a major determinant of chronic household food insecurity. The poor do not have adequate purchasing power to buy required food, even when food is available. Moreover, the poor are vulnerable to shocks, such as natural disasters and crop failure that cause transitory food insecurity. Increased food prices also results in transitory food insecurity of the poor as their real income goes down. The third element of food security is the utilization of food. A number of factors, such as health ,education, sanitation, safe water and public/household capacity and willingness to care for the vulnerable members regulates the utilization aspect. By now we could realize that, food security depends on many different factors. These elements as stated are interlinked and there is genuine interdependency among these. A delicate balance and appropriate attention for the purpose of efficiently managing the whole affair is required.

The food basket
Consumption of cereals (as is the case with majority of the Bangladeshi population) or animal protein (among high income group) alone can not ensure a balanced diet. The food basket of an individual should strike a balance and essentially need to be comprised of cereals, pulses, vegetables, fish, meat, fruits, oil, sugar, spice, salt, eggs, and safe water.

Rice is the main staple food of the Bangladeshis, which comprises over 50% by weight and nearly 80% by calorie of the total diet. An investigation of the available data on food intake pattern of the population during 1991-2005 shows that, with the increase in food production, per capita income and thus livelihood pattern; per capita food intake in Bangladesh increased by 6.9%.Interestingly, the intake of cereals showed a declining trend (9.5%). The lower intake of cereals is accompanied by increased intakes of non-cereal food items, particularly meat, egg, potato, fruits and vegetables. The data indicates a positive transition towards dietary diversification. Because of this, though at a slow pace, the percent dietary energy supply from cereals to total calorie decreased in Bangladeshi diet from 79.6% in 1991/92 to 72.9% in 2005. This is a good sign both in terms of change in food habit as well as reducing current excessive pressure on rice the highly water demanding crop to grow. Potato and maize should also come up to share the cereal part of our food basket. Present and desirable food intake pattern is shown in Table-1.

Side by side , to have a clearer understanding on the situation, population dynamics, arable land and food grains demand-production situation upto the year 2015 is presented in Figure-1.

Modernizing rainfed farming
Although considerable progress has been made in irrigation coverage, but till now the share of rainfed farming in terms of coverage is still large. Further, not all the arable land in Bangladesh is suitable for irrigation. Rainfed farming in Bangladesh is characterised by frequent crop failures, low input use and thus low productivity. The majority of the areas are drought prone and vulnerability high due to erratic rainfall and inundation by the river system. Increasing productivity of rainfed farming is a high priority for enhancing the food security of the population living in those areas in particular and the country's total productivity as a whole.

Activities in this regard may be as under;
Development and promotion of flood and drought tolerant crop cultivars with associated production practices.
Motivation and practice of water harvesting technologies, and
Appropriate irrigation including supplemental technology to mitigate drought in rainfed areas.
Reduction of post-harvest losses

Bangladesh being land scare country; where food demand is increasing due to 1.48% population growth can't afford post harvest loss in agriculture which is quite substantial.Depending on the season, crop losses can be as high as 30% in boro and may go upto 60 % in case of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Crop losses are caused by pest and diseases, poor storage, preservation, processing and handling. Reducing the post harvest loss to the highest is an issue of vital concern in achieving food security and to maximise production benefit of the farmers. To minimise post harvest losses actions required among others are as follows;

Promotion of integrated pest and crop management program to increase crop production and minimise post-harvest losses.

Training of farmers on improved post-harvest technology especially on fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Credit support to the entrepreneurs for food processing, storage and preservation establishments.

Photo: Shafiq Islam/Driknews

Agricultural credit
As the majority of the farming households are resource-poor, with very little capacity to invest in agriculture, credit is considered as a fundamental tool for increasing agricultural productivity and production. In the recent years, support to farming community through formal credit has been streamlined both in terms of its management and targeting. To elevate production and farmers income, ease in credit receipt and utilization procedure needs further thought along with the followings;

Greater effective institutional system to ensure the availability of agricultural credit in time.

To ensure household level food security , access to credit to all agricultural farmers (landless, marginal and small) with minimal or zero mortage needs to be introduced.

Safe and quality food supply
Mere supply and consumption of food can't ensure a healthy and productive nation. Food quality and safety are an important concern in present Bangladesh. Marketing of adulterated food are rampant since market inspection and enforcement of the existing laws to ensure safety standards are not done in a regular manner. Bangladesh as a member of the World Trade Organisation

(WTO) and the Codex Alimentarius is to ensure supply of safe and quality food. Necessary regulations and appropriate prohibition mechanism to control indiscriminate use of harmful additives, colouring materials, preservatives or toxic elements in food production and marketing chain to be established. At present there are several private initiatives to produce and market safe food and because of increasing awareness a class of consumer has been created who are ready to buy even at higher price. Government through strengthening the BSTI in collaboration with the different agencies working in this field need to create an enabling environment for concerted effort in order to get the best within shortest possible time.

Research and development in agriculture
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) comprising 11 national agricultural research institutes with Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) as the apex coordinating body has made laudable strides during the past three decades. The resultant output has contributed much to the development and transfer of technology yielding higher productivity and food security of the country. There is however, nothing to be complacent as much more challenges have emerged and needs to be addressed with priority. Future challenge of increased food production could be achieved through introduction of modem biotechnology and increased investment in agricultural technology generation and transfer. Technologies developed by the NARS are disseminated to the users through the extension agencies and NGOs.To address the future demand-supply situation of higher food need, increasing thrust shall have to be given on R&D in genetic engineering, wider use of ICT, arresting degradation of soil and water, improved management techniques for higher production as well for environmental sustainability and post harvest loss minimization etc. To attain all these will require ;

Enhanced investment in agricultural research and modernization of the agricultural extension services.

Fixing research priority through consultative process and development of the vision document say, for the year 2030 and beyond.

Long-term agro-ecological characteristic based production planning

Higher investment in consumptive use of water along with irrigation water use efficiency.

Rural electrification, use of renewable energy in agriculture, mechanization and market infrastructure development

Human resource development for agricultural research and their retention with provision of incentives.
The climate change picture in front

The global as well as the Bangladesh climate is changing. The changes are likely to take place more rapidly over the next few decades, as per model generated predictions.Bangladesh has been ranked number one to be worst hit by the adverse effect of global warming induced climate change. Operationalization of climate risk management and mainstreaming adaptation in development are the crying need of the time. Climate resilient development planning by integrating climate concerns in activities is urgent and very much important.

As we could see, too much water in the monsoon period already affecting the livelihood and food security. Climate change scenario projections show mean monthly rainfall may significantly change over normal. Monsoon rainfall may increase by 11% by 2030 and 27% by 2070. Also, the average surface temperature will increase by 1.3 and 2.6 degree celcius by the year 2030 and 2070 respectively. Under climate change scenario projections, already low rainfall in the dry season will be further diminished, while winter and pre-monsoon temperatures will rise significantly. Implication of these climate change scenarios is that neraly18 percent of the present shallowly flooded area will be under higher flooding while on average 15 percent of new areas will be at risk to inundation. The frequency of a catastrophic flood (affecting over two-third of the country) would increase under climate change scenarios(already there are records of such incidents during the last two decades).This is equally true for cyclones and storm surges as well as drought. Because of the rise in winter temperature many different crops now suitable, like wheat may turn unsuitable or yield will fall drastically. All these events will adversely affect the total production and thus the food security of the country.

Conclusion
Food production is the most important part of the agricultural production system of Bangladesh and basically it regulates the food security. To meet the increasing food demand of the population, agricultural production need to be increased at a much faster rate. This must take place in the shrinking land resource base through crop intensification, vertical expansion of yield ,commercialization of agriculture, narrowing yield gap and sound management with adequate arrangement to preserve the environment. Ensuring food security to all people at all times is/should be a major concern for any government 'of the people, by the people and for the people'. For Bangladesh, elevation of nutritional standard is one major areas of priority and importance. At a point where , the land resource base is declining or degrading and population pressure increasing; cautious scientific and technological interventions need to be undertaken. From the experience of 2007-8 unavailability of food at the global market, there is not much alternative to achieving highest domestic production together with maintaining an adequate buffer stock. The concept of leasing land in foreign countries to grow crops and bring the output back for own use at the time of need could be a viable option. For food and nutritional security, as a way towards building a healthy nation with productive manpower, supply of safe and quality food at the consumer level needs serious attention. With the global warming induced climate change, Bangladesh, as will be worst hit needs to be well prepared in advance to tackle the upcoming predicted reality.

The writer is a Former Member-Director of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and currently working an an Expert in the World Bank funded National Agricultural Technology Project, BARC component.