WAFSP gives Bangladesh Tk 367.50cr aid

12 July 2010, 18:00 PM

Unb, Dhaka

Bangladesh received Tk 367.50 crore assistance from the World Agriculture and Food Security Programme (WAFSP) this year, which is the highest among the Asian countries. “As Bangladesh is planning to invest money in food security programme, the country received Tk 367.50 crore assistance from WAFSP this year,” Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque said at the inaugural session of a workshop at a city hotel yesterday. National Food Policy Capability Strengthening Programme under the food and disaster management ministry organised the two-day workshop titled “Research in Support of Food Security Polices: Availability, Access and Nutrition Issues.” Addressing the inaugural session as chief guest, Abdur Razzaque said the investment plan of Bangladesh for food security is being added to the 6th Five-Year Plan. Apart from government funding for food security, funds would be procured from bilateral and other sources, he said. The food minister hoped that Bangladesh would be able to obtain more funds from international organisations to ensure food security of Bangladesh. He informed that there were detailed discussions on Bangladesh's investment plan for food security at the 'Food Security and Investment Forum for Asia and Pacific Region' held recently in Manila. “The development partners have shown keen interest to invest in this sector,” Razzaque said. Director General of Food Planning and Monitoring Unit Mirza Fazlul Karim presided over the session. FAO Country Representative Ad Spijkers, US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty, EU Representative Brian Forey, FAO Director Kostas Stamoulis and NFPCSP Chief Technical Adviser Ciro Fiorllo spoke at the function.