Strong local govt needed to ensure food security

The seminar was held as part of WFP's ongoing efforts to improve collaboration with media in advocating for food security for the ultra-poor. Thirty local journalists from the region attended the seminar.

Md Saiful Islam, Additional Divisional Commissioner of Khulna inaugurated the seminar as chief guest.

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In his opening remarks, Islam termed media as a vital actor in disseminating development messages. Appreciating the role played by WFP in the region, ADC said, "through VGD (Vulnerable Group Development) and Nutrition for Education activities, WFP is contributing to minimise the vulnerability of the poor people and improve their quality of life, especially of women and children."

WFP is holding a series of media seminar to build partnership with the media for acting as advocates for the ultra-poor.

WFP Representative Douglas Casson Coutts called for concerted efforts in promoting food security and reducing vulnerability of the ultra-poor. " Journalists are important actors in the development process and they should be involved in determining the development agenda," said Coutts.

Gouranga Nandy, Staff Reporter of the Daily Janakantha presented the keynote paper on the role of media in promoting food security for the ultra-poor.

Participating journalists were briefed about WFP activities in the region and its programme implementation processes.

The participants representing local print and electronic media shared their perspectives, highlighted common challenges and emphasised the benefits of receiving more information from development agencies. They also visited WFP's VGD activities at Batiaghata upazila in Khulna where they interacted with the ultra-poor women beneficiaries and learned about the impact of such interventions.

WFP supports the government in implementing VGD programme, Bangladesh's largest food aid development programme that exclusively targets ultra-poor rural women countrywide.

Almost half the rural households in Bangladesh are food insecure. Forty-five per cent children under five are stunted, over 10 pc wasted and 30 pc of newborn babies are underweight, according to WFP.