In Bangladesh, 52 million (5 crore 20 lakh) people face acute food security risks. This number has increased in 2020 in comparison to 2018. In this span of time, 1.2 million more people now face food security risks. These figures appeared in the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report, 'State of Food Security and Nutrition in the Asia and Pacific Region 2021' published on Thursday.
The report did not cover the 2021 situation. However, analysts said that the price of wheat, lentils, edible oil, sugar, meat, vegetable and other such commodities has increased in Bangladesh. The price of rice was already high from beforehand and so people's sufferings have been exacerbated. This is evident in the long lines of people queuing up in front of the government outlets where rice, flour, lentils, edible oil and sugar are sold at relatively lower cost.
Former agriculture secretary AMM Shawkat Ali told Prothom Alo, "It is being said that plenty of food is being produced in the country and there is no food crisis anywhere. But in actuality we rank second in the world in rice import." He said, there is need for an immediate objective review of the actual state of food security in the country. If not, malnutrition and food security risks will silently increase.
The state of Bangladesh
The FAO report mentioned the number of people and the percentage of population at food security risk from 2014 to 2020. It was noted that over the past few years, the number of people at risk has increased. From 2018 to 2020, a total of 31.9 per cent of the people were at food security risk, which is higher than what it was in 2017 to 2019.
The report also presented a comparative picture of the various countries in the Asia and Pacific region. This indicated that Bangladesh was ahead of Nepal in the case of percentage of population at risk, but is behind countries like Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand. Vietnam has fared well in this regard. Only 6 per cent of the people there are at food security risks.
Prothom Alo on Friday night contacted agriculture minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque and food secretary Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum for their comments on the state of food security in Bangladesh. The minister said he would read the report and then comment. The food secretary declined from immediate comment.
Covid to blame
Alongside the report on Asia and Pacific region food security and nutrition, FAO also published the 'State of Global Food and Agriculture 2021' report on Thursday. It said that in 2020 the number of people suffering from hunger around the world was approximately 720 million to 810 million (72 crore to 81 crore), which was about 160 million (16 crore) more than the previous year. Both the FAO reports basically blamed the Covid situation for this change in the state of food security. It was said that during the prevalence of coronavirus, the food production, supply and trade chains broke down. The people of rural and remote areas particularly faced hardship in getting food. With international trade in food products being hampered, the price of several food products shot up.
Referring to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the report on the state of global food security said that 370 million (37 crore) children who would get meals from schools, no longer receive this. As they do not get the equal amount of food from their families, their malnutrition has increased.
We learn from the reports of various international agencies about the deterioration in the state of food and nutrition during the corona pandemic due to a decrease in people's income. But in order to understand the present situation in Bangladesh, an overall evaluation by government and non-government organisations is required.Nazma Shaheen, Professor of Dhaka University's Institute of Food and Nutrition Science
State of health
The FAO report also highlighted various aspects pertaining to the health of women, children and adults. In most cases, the state of health in Bangladesh had been faring well in the past few years. Bangladesh is ahead of its neighbours, though lags behind in a few areas.
In the area of stunted growth in children under five years in Bangladesh, 35 per cent of the children had stunted growth in 2015. In 2020 this fell to 30 per cent. Bangladesh is ahead of India and Pakistan in this area. However, Bangladesh lags behind India, Myanmar and Nepal in child obesity. In Bangladesh, 2.1 per cent of the children are obese.
Weighing more than normal is also a kind of malnutrition. Generally children who consume less nutritious food gain more weight than normal and also suffer from various ailments. They get less fruit, fish, meat, milk and eggs to eat, but consume more carbs such as rice and wheat.
The FAO report said that 36.7 per cent of expectant mothers in Bangladesh suffered from anaemia. This has increased. Anaemia in women between the age of 15 and 49 has increased to an extent. Concerned persons say that when food prices increase in the country, this generally impacts women and children. Their share of food in the family is curbed and their nutrition status deteriorates.
Professor of Dhaka University's Institute of Food and Nutrition Science, Nazma Shaheen, told Prothom Alo, "We learn from the reports of various international agencies about the deterioration in the state of food and nutrition during the corona pandemic due to a decrease in people's income. But in order to understand the present situation in Bangladesh, an overall evaluation by government and non-government organisations is required. We need to carry out an objective evaluation to identify where and what intervention and assistance is required and to take action accordingly."
* This report appeared in the print and online edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten by Ayesha Kabir for the English edition.