Food security
Security of food for the world population is a major concern, particularly for the developing countries. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious foods to meet their dietary needs to lead an active and healthy life. Different countries have adopted or are adopting strategies to combat food crisis. In Bangladesh, the government is also giving priority to this matter. They are pursuing people to change food habits and consume more potatoes with rice. The programme was taken considering two factors: bumper potato production and to protect people from the global food crisis. The UN has declared 2008 as the international year of the potatoes, and we rightly supported the notion by producing a huge quantity of potatoes. In 2007, Bangladesh produced more than 8 million tons of potatoes, with less than 30 percent storage capacity. Potatoes are a good source of carbohydrate and could be a good substitute for rice. But the price of potatoes is also going up like other commodities which will make it difficult for the low-income groups to consume it. To make the campaign “Think Potato, Grow Potato and Eat Potato” a success, the price of potatoes per kg should be, at least, 50 percent less than the price of rice. To offset the present food crisis, the government should take initiatives based on our resources by setting up cold storage and provide necessary facilities to the private entrepreneurs. It should explore the international market to export potatoes, so that farmers can get maximum return from their produce. It will also make potatoes available at lower prices during the lean period.
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