How can Bangladesh develop an integrated, climate-resilient, and sustainable food system?

 Bangladesh has made significant strides in food production since independence in 1971; however, challenges remain in achieving sustainable food security. The nation faces systemic hurdles including:

*Shrinking arable land due to urbanization

*Declining soil fertility from excessive agrochemical use

 *High post-harvest losses from poor management and inefficient market systems

* Frequent natural disasters damaging crops

*Widespread food contamination, particularly from unsafe pesticide use and chemical residues

food safety is a critical concern, with rising pesticide application leading to public health risks. Around 30-40% of vegetables contain high pesticide residues, and dangerous heavy metals contaminate foods in some regions. This situation contributes to long-term health problems such as cancer, kidney disease, and neurological disorders.

 Challenges

Lack of Coordination and Trust Between Farmers and Agricultural officials:

Farmers primarily rely on local pesticide dealers for advice rather than agricultural officers, resulting in excessive and inappropriate agrochemical use.

Low Farmer Awareness and Education: Critical gaps exist in knowledge about soil testing, balanced fertiliser use, and adherence to pre-harvest intervals necessary to reduce toxins.

Inadequate Government Oversight and Capacity: The Bangladesh Safe Food Authority currently lacks sufficient resources and manpower to effectively regulate and monitor the complex food market.

Environmental and Health Risks from Agrochemicals and Heavy Metals: Excessive use of pesticides and contamination by heavy metals threaten public health and environmental sustainability.

Recommendations

To safeguard food security and public health, Bangladesh must prioritize safe and sustainable food production through the following measures:

Strengthen Farmer-Official Partnerships

*Enhance the outreach and field presence of Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Agricultural Extension officials.

* Develop trust-building programs to position officials as the primary advisors over pesticide dealers.

Expand Farmer Education and Training

*Scale up training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), focusing o balanced fertiliser use, pest management, and food safety protocols including pre-harvest intervals.

*Promote soil testing services to enable nutrient-specific fertiliser application.

Enhance Regulatory Capacity and Market Monitoring

*Increase funding and manpower for the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority to improve enforcement against food adulteration and contamination.

*Implement stricter monitoring of pesticide residues and chemical contaminants in food products.

 Support and Scale Up GAP Certification Program

*Accelerate the five-year (2023-2028) GAP program targeting 10 lakh farmers and 300,000 hectares of farmland.

*Ensure sustained policy support to prevent program discontinuity and enable widespread adoption of safe farming practices.

Raise Public Awareness on Food Safety

Launch nationwide campaigns to educate consumers, traders, and farmers about the health risks of contaminated food and benefits of safe, sustainable agriculture.

Achieving safe, non-toxic, and environmentally sustainable food production in Bangladesh requires urgent, coordinated action. By fostering farmer-government collaboration, expanding education and training, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and scaling the GAP initiative, Bangladesh can ensure food security that protects public health and builds a resilient agricultural future.

Mostafa Shabuj, Journalist; 16 October, The Daily Star