Impact of War: Food Insecurity and Humanity

 

The war in Russia- Ukraine has caused severe disruption to Bangladesh food supplies. Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, maize, and oilseeds, staples that are now suffering a war-triggered supply risk and fertilizer markets drive up prices, threaten supplies,low production and cause food insecurity. It is a great threat for humanity.

Bangladesh has six seasons variation, plenty of rainfall, clear sunshine, fertile land and laborious farmers so, we can go for crop production as per crop zoning with climate smart varieties of crops, good agricultural practices (GAP)  and suitable management practices.

Bangladesh’s Agriculture is gradually transforming from subsistence to commercial agriculture. As a result, products such as dragon fruit, avocado, orange, strawberry, coffee, cashew nut, mushroom, melon etc are being cultivated in our country and the government is establishing farmers mini cold storage to preserve seasonal vegetables and fruits for a better price. It will also address middle men. The Government of Bangladesh is giving subsidies for agricultural inputs to get more production to achieve food and nutrition security.

Bangladesh is a low-lying country hence most prone to the threat of rising sea levels due to global warming. This is a country of many natural disasters like floods, cyclones and famine. Because of these natural disasters, the poverty rate and undernutrition rate keeps on rising. Approximately 40 million of the population is undernourished and is food insecure.

Food Security Status and Our Steps:

Bangladesh ranks in the world, 3rd in Rice Production, 2nd in Jute production, 1st in Jute Export, 3rd in Vegetable Production, 3rd in Onion Production, 4th in Tea Production, 8th in Potato Production, 7th in Mango Production, 8th in Guava Production,28th in Fruit Production,1st in Crop Variety.

Imported foodgrains (rice, maize, and wheat), edible oil and oilseeds, raw cotton, milk and milk products, spices, sugar, pulses, onion,potato, tomatoes, apples, grapes,oranges,malta and coconut oil etc.

Climate change impacts agriculture such as salinity and early flash flood, submergence, cold wave, drought, cyclones and greenhouse gases emission etc. Which causes food insecurity Farmers of Bangladesh are using climate smart agricultural practices to transform agro-food systems towards green and climate resilient practices in Bangladesh. All service providers are providing timely advisory services regarding climate smart agriculture and Crop Management (ICM), and Integrated Farm Management (IFM) and on introducing a new variety of disease tolerant seeds and climate smart farming technologies. So, we are adopting climate change impact in agriculture such as salinity and early flash flooand on imparting knowledge to farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated, submergence, cold wave, drought to ensure our food security. Recently, several climate smart rice varieties were developed by the scientists. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) have developed many climate smart rice varieties. These are Salt-tolerant rice varieties: BRRI dhan 47, 53, 54, 55, 61, 67, 97 and 99 and BINA dhan 8, 10, 11, 23. Submergence-tolerant: BRRI dhan 51, 52 and 79; BINA dhan 10, 11,12, 23.Escaping Early Flash Flood: BRRI dhan 28, 45.Late T.aman varieties: BINA shail and others shail varieties. Drought-tolerant: BR 23, BRRI dhan 43, 55, 56, 57, 66, 71, 83.Cold Tolerant: BR18, BRRI dhan 36, 67, 69.Farmers are using these varieties along with sustainable management practices. Our government is giving subsidies to inputs and different incentives for successful crop production.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 revealed alarming statistics for Bangladesh- 11.9% of the population is undernourished, 23.6% of children under five are stunted. While Bangladesh has made gradual progress, improving its GHI score from 33.8 in 2000 to 19.4 in 2024.

There is a great gender discrepancy in health, education and income. For children under 2, the condition of acute and chronic malnutrition is alarming. Approximately 48.6 percent of children are affected by stunting and nearly half of them are under the age of 5 years. Women are suffering from iron and zinc deficiency. Also found deficiency in Vitamin A and Iodine.

Fortification can prevent micronutrient deficiencies by enhancing micronutrient content in foods through processing, plant breeding and improved soil fertility. Government and private sectors have taken initiatives of food fortification to address micronutrient malnutrition.

Nowadays doctors are prescribing these vitamins and minerals as medicine, so it’s an indicator foods are deficient in the above   vitamins and minerals in foods, so food fortification is needed for our nutrition security. Industrial fortification can prevent micronutrient deficiencies by enhancing micronutrient content in foods through processing. Bio fortification by plant breeding -Zn fortified rice varieties: BRRI dhan 62, BRRI dhan 64, BRRI dhan 72, BRRI dhan 74, BRRI dhan 84, BRRI dhan 100 BRRI dhan 102; BINA dhan 20.and BARI –Lentil 8. Improved soil fertility by applying balanced essential plant nutrients in soils and that nutrient can be taken up by the plants.

Impact of war for Bangladesh’s security food

The conflict has increased the prices of oil, wheat, and many other food grains in the Bangladesh market. 10% of the annual import and export of Bangladesh to America, China, or India is with Russia, and even less so with Ukraine.Disruptions in wheat, vegetable oil, and fertilizer markets drive up prices and threaten supplies. We have ensured our food, nutrition security and successful production with climate smart varieties and suitable management practices. We are using every inch of land for agricultural production. Government of Bangladesh is giving subsidies on agricultural inputs to produce more. Probably the most important is to ensure that each household has access to its own plot of land, and therefore to the means to produce its own subsistence needs without complete reliance on the market.  

Conclusion

We are addressing climate change impact and war in agriculture to ensure our food, nutrition security and successful production with climate smart varieties and suitable management practices. Food fortification program needed because peoples are facing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency (Zinc-Zn, Iron-Fe, Iodine, Thiamine (Vitamin B 1,), Folic Acid (Vitamin B 9), Biotin (Vitamin B 7),Cobalamin ( Vitamin-B 12)and Vitamin-A. Regarding bio fortifications, in our country scientists have developed many fortified crops varieties and another is industrial fortification, here business entrepreneur can play a vital role for food fortification. Experts have given opinions for government policy support to encourage different companies. We have to ensure safe and nutritious food for all at levels. Special emphasis has to be given to 1000 days of pregnant mothers and children. Industrial fortification can prevent micronutrient deficiencies by enhancing micronutrient content in foods through processing, plant breeding (Bio fortification) and improved soil fertility by applying balanced essential plant nutrients in soils. because plants are suffering from essential plant nutrient deficiency. 

I believe that if the concept of co-operative agricultural farms for the sake of the green revolution can be done in every farmer’s house in an inclusive manner, it will be a great opportunity to ensure safe food and nutritional security of the country. Improved management of all components of the farm (rice cultivation, rabi crop cultivation, homestead fruit and vegetable cultivation, poultry farming, cattle rearing, goat/sheep rearing and fish farming), ensuring optimum utilization of resources and total farm production will increase. The goals of the Zero Hunger initiative are to end hunger and make sure that enough nutritious foods are available to people. So, if Integrated Farm Management (IFM) can be done at every farmer’s house, zero hunger, safe food and nutritional security of the country will be ensured. Lastly, an appeal to the world’s leaders to please stop “WAR” and stand for humanity because we want peace.


Dr. Jagot Chand Malaker is former Additional Director, Department
of Agricultural Extension, 
Khamarbari, Dhaka -1215.