Govt making strides to make country self-reliant in food, nutrition: Razzaque

Govt making strides to make country self-reliant in food, nutrition: Razzaque

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Thursday said the government is making its all-out strides to make the country self-reliant in food and nutrition.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government is working to ensure safe and nutritious food for all as per its electoral pledge,” he told the inaugural ceremony of a three-day National Fruits Fair-2022 on the premises of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) at Khamarbari in the capital.
Razzaque said: “An adult needs to take 200 gram fruits per day can take only on an average 55-60 gram fruits but now an adult here can take only 55-60 gram fruits per day”.
“We will have to raise the ratio to 200 gram. It is challenging to ensure 200 gram fruits for every one of 17 crore people. The government is working to make the country self-reliant in food and nutrition,” he said.
He hoped the government would be able to make a revolution in fruit production as like as it did in rice production.
Noting that indigenous food will never be extinct, the agriculture minister said germplasm of native fruits are being conserved.
Later, he joined a seminar arranged on the occasion of National Fruits Fair in KIB auditorium here. Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam chaired it while Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Executive Chairman Sheikh Md Bakhtiar, Agriculture Extension Department Director General Benajir Alam also spoke on the occasion.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute CSO Babul Chandra Sarker presented the keynote paper in the seminar.
He said 78 types of fruits are being cultivated in country but 60 percent of total produced fruits are mangoes, bananas and jackfruits. The fruit fair will continue till June 18 from 9am to 9pm every day with the theme “Yearlong fruit cultivation brings both money and nutrition”. It will remain open for all. Visitors will be able to buy chemical-free fruits. Some 67 government and private institutions are taking part in the fair. Earlier, the minister laid foundation stone of “Mrittika Bhaban” of Soil Resource Development Institute on Khamarbari road.