Agriculture Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Dr Md Abdur Razzaque on Thursday announced that Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in the production of rice, fish, meat, and eggs.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there has been a steady increase in crop production due to the government's farmer-friendly policies and now as a result, Bangladesh has eradicated its food deficit,” he said at the International Conference on Food Security in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
He further said that by 2025, half of the country's edible oil demand will be domestically produced, according to a press release issued on Thursday.
Stating that Bangladesh's agricultural success is a global example, the agriculture minister said the nation's agriculture is in a strong position, having developed the capability to thrive in various hostile environments.
However, expressing concern over a significant portion of locally produced food getting wasted or spoilt, he said: "We are actively working to reduce the wastage and loss."
"There is a need for international cooperation alongside regional collaboration for food security. Moreover, it is essential to emphasize the importance of technology and knowledge exchange between nations," he added.
In the two-day conference which began on Thursday and will conclude on Friday, agriculture ministers from nearly 20 countries in Central Asia and Europe, as well as representatives from various organizations, are participating.
The conference is going to address current food safety situations and measures among Asian member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
