Alongside the food adulterators, farmers who use chemicals and pesticides in crop cultivation are hindering the food chain and environment of the country.
Discussants at a seminar titled “Organic Food: Consumers’ Health, Bio-diversity and Environment” made the remark yesterday. Therefore, despite having no food crisis, people of Bangladesh are under health risks, they said.
Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCTA) organised the seminar at the National Press Club with Vocta’s Chairman Muhammad Ali Zinnah in the chair. Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institutes’ post harvest organic specialist Dr M Nazim Uddin presented the keynote paper.
The panelists highlighted that the farmers who are using chemicals and insecticides are causing harm to the biodiversity. To resist such acts, the farmers, traders and consumers must be united.
At the same time, in a bid to ensure the supply of safe food for the people, everyone should work hard to popularise the non-chemical organic food farming system.
Former president of Japan Veterinary Association Dr Uemura Takashi, Dhaka University Professor Dr Helal Uddin Shekhar, Chief Scientist of Dhaka University’s Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences Dr Latiful Bari, and Vocta’s Executive Director Khalilur Rahman Sajal spoke among others.