Advocacy Papers On Food Security and Nutrition

ADVOCACY PAPERS ON
FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

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UPR STAKEHOLDERS REPORT ON RIGHT TO FOOD IN BANGLADESH
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THEMATIC PAPER ON POST MDGs FRAMEWORK ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION
OXFAM IN BANGLADESH
ADVOCACY PAPERS ON
2012-13
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OXFAM IN BANGLADESH
ADVOCACY PAPERS ON
2012-13
!
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OXFAM IN BANGLADESH
Message from Country Director
Hunger and food insecurity form the most serious consequence of poverty. This has multiplying
effects on other basic rights such as, education, health, etc. The latest FAO statistics illustrate
that approximately 842 million people in the world do not eat enough to be healthy. In other
words one in every eight people on earth goes to bed hungry. Despite the international
community and the state governments having recognized the right to food as a fundamental
human right years ago way back in 1948 through Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the
right based approach is yet to be reflected well in policy frameworks relating to food security
and poverty reduction.

Oxfam campaigns against the unjust system in the world which is characterized by an unequal
power structure and unjust resource distribution. It advocates for right based policy frameworks
creating the space for people to participate in the policy and programme formulation processes
that affects their life and livelihoods.
In Bangladesh Oxfam advocates for adopting a right based approach to food security related
interventions. We also advocate to gain legal recognition of right to food so as to 1) ensure
access to remedy and 2) strengthen the accountability mechanism governing the
implementation of policies and programmes on food security. It engages with relevant national
and international forum to draw policy makers attention to its advocacy calls.
In 2012, Oxfam in conjunction with CSRL (Oxfam supported campaign for sustainable rural
livelihoods) prepared a stakeholders report on right to food in Bangladesh to be submitted to
OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) in the time for Bangladeshs
universal periodic review by the UN Human Rights Council in 2013.
In 2013, Oxfam and its local campaign partners engaged in civil society initiatives led by the
People Forum on MDGs (PFM) to influence the Post 2015 framework development. In that
process, Oxfam led on the preparation of thematic position paper on Post MDGs framework on
Right to Food and Nutrition as one of nine thematic papers developed for the purpose. This
paper was sent to the Bangladesh Government for consideration while developing
Governments position on Post MDGs framework.
I hope the publication of these two advocacy papers namely, Stakeholders Report on Right
to Food in Bangladesh and Looking Beyond MDGs 2015: Food Security and Nutrition
will widen the scope of disseminating the key policy recommendations on food security and
nutrition issues. The compilation will also help to understand the food security context of
Bangladesh.
Snehal V. Soneji
Country Director
Oxfam in Bangladesh
ADVOCACY PAPERS ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION 2012-13
OXFAM IN BANGLADESH
Published on
March 2014
Cover Photo
Emdadul Islam Bitu
Design & Printed by
ARKA
Oxfam in Bangladesh
House 4, Road 3, Block I
Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Phone: +880 8813607-9, 8824440
Fax: +880 8817402
www.oxfam.org/bangladesh
http://growbd.worldpress.com
http://twitter.com/growbangladesh
http://www.oxfam.org/en/grow
Message from Country Director
Hunger and food insecurity form the most serious consequence of poverty. This has multiplying
effects on other basic rights such as, education, health, etc. The latest FAO statistics illustrate
that approximately 842 million people in the world do not eat enough to be healthy. In other
words one in every eight people on earth goes to bed hungry. Despite the international
community and the state governments having recognized the right to food as a fundamental
human right years ago way back in 1948 through Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the
right based approach is yet to be reflected well in policy frameworks relating to food security
and poverty reduction.

Oxfam campaigns against the unjust system in the world which is characterized by an unequal
power structure and unjust resource distribution. It advocates for right based policy frameworks
creating the space for people to participate in the policy and programme formulation processes
that affects their life and livelihoods.
In Bangladesh Oxfam advocates for adopting a right based approach to food security related
interventions. We also advocate to gain legal recognition of right to food so as to 1) ensure
access to remedy and 2) strengthen the accountability mechanism governing the
implementation of policies and programmes on food security. It engages with relevant national
and international forum to draw policy makers attention to its advocacy calls.
In 2012, Oxfam in conjunction with CSRL (Oxfam supported campaign for sustainable rural
livelihoods) prepared a stakeholders report on right to food in Bangladesh to be submitted to
OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) in the time for Bangladeshs
universal periodic review by the UN Human Rights Council in 2013.
In 2013, Oxfam and its local campaign partners engaged in civil society initiatives led by the
People Forum on MDGs (PFM) to influence the Post 2015 framework development. In that
process, Oxfam led on the preparation of thematic position paper on Post MDGs framework on
Right to Food and Nutrition as one of nine thematic papers developed for the purpose. This
paper was sent to the Bangladesh Government for consideration while developing
Governments position on Post MDGs framework.
I hope the publication of these two advocacy papers namely, Stakeholders Report on Right
to Food in Bangladesh and Looking Beyond MDGs 2015: Food Security and Nutrition
will widen the scope of disseminating the key policy recommendations on food security and
nutrition issues. The compilation will also help to understand the food security context of
Bangladesh.
Snehal V. Soneji
Country Director
Oxfam in Bangladesh
ADVOCACY PAPERS ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION 2012-13
OXFAM IN BANGLADESH
Published on
March 2014
Cover Photo
Emdadul Islam Bitu
Design & Printed by
ARKA
Oxfam in Bangladesh
House 4, Road 3, Block I
Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Phone: +880 8813607-9, 8824440
Fax: +880 8817402
www.oxfam.org/bangladesh
http://growbd.worldpress.com
http://twitter.com/growbangladesh
http://www.oxfam.org/en/grow
Stakeholders Report on Right to Food
in Bangladesh
Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Bangladesh
UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council
16th session (22 Apr-3 May 2013)
1 2
1. This stakeholders report has been prepared jointly by Oxfam and a national alliance CSRL
(Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood) in Bangladesh (Annex 1 for the description of
Oxfam and CSRL alliance). This report is particularly focused on the right to food situation of
Bangladesh and is based on several consultations organized as part of the report preparation
process. Various available secondary sources of information like publications of both
government and non government organizations and other documentation, experience of
Oxfam and CSRL have been referred in this report. The draft report has also been shared with
3
relevant individuals and organizations including National Human Rights Commission. This
report has been developed following the guidelines adopted by the Human Rights Council.
Apart from acknowledging the progress made so far, the report endeavors to highlight the
challenges and concerns associated with improving the right to food situation. This report also
put forward several specific recommendations relevant for Bangladesh and the international
community to act upon in order to achieve the progressive realization of the right to food for the
people of Bangladesh.
2. The Bangladesh Constitution recognizes the states responsibility to all citizens right to food
in part 2 of the Constitution, though strictly not as a fundamental right, but as a part of the
fundamental principle of state. Through the provision of article 11, the Constitution guarantees
the fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human
person. Article 15(a) of the Constitution stipulates the fundamental responsibility of the state to
securing for its citizens the provision of the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing,
shelter, education and medical care.
3. Bangladesh has ratified almost all of the international core human rights treaties (Annex II).
By ratifying the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural rights (ICESCR)
Bangladesh has undertaken specific obligations to ensure right to food, a fundamental human
right for its citizens. As a signatory to the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action adopted by
the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993, Bangladesh has expressed its commitment to
implementing the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the United Nations in
1986. Bangladesh has also made commitments to cut by half the number of people suffering
from hunger and malnutrition by 2015 under the World Food Summit Declaration and the UN
Millennium Declaration.
I. Methodology
II. Constitutional and Legislative Framework on Right to Food
III. Bangladeshs International Commitments on Right to Food
Stakeholders Report on Right to Food in Bangladesh
05
Preamble
Launched in June 2011, GROW is Oxfams biggest campaign ever conveys a simple message:
Another future is possible. GROW aims to build movements and momentums demanding for
enabling environment so that all people, particularly the poor in the world and in Bangladesh
have enough to eat.
This publication is a compilation of two advocacy papers to explain the context, opportunities
and challenges on Food Security situation with a clear set of recommendations about way
forward. A thorough consultative process was followed with local, national stakeholders in
preparing these reports and various government and non government sources were
considered for relevant data collection.
The Stakeholders Report on Right to Food in Bangladesh was prepared in 2012 targeting
Bangladeshs second universal periodic review of human rights by UN Human Rights Council
(UNHRC). Together with other CSO/NGO submissions, this stakeholders' report focusing on
the right to food has been posted on OHCHR website and was referred in the OHCHR
compilation made on the human rights situation of Bangladesh to be considered by the Human
Rights Council during the review of Bangladeshs situation.
The thematic paper on food security and Post MDGs framework, Looking beyond MDGs
2015: Food Security and Nutrition was prepared in 2013 under a civil society initiative to
influence government positioning on post MDGs framework.
We hope, this publication will be helpful to understand the food security situation of Bangladesh
from all three dimensions of availability, accessibility and utilization. We believe that this
compilation will also contribute to synergy building among all the relevant stakeholders on the
need for a human right based comprehensive legal framework on right to food.
Monisha Biswas
Policy Advocacy Manager
Oxfam in Bangladesh
Stakeholders Report on Right to Food
in Bangladesh
Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Bangladesh
UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council
16th session (22 Apr-3 May 2013)
1 2
1. This stakeholders report has been prepared jointly by Oxfam and a national alliance CSRL
(Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood) in Bangladesh (Annex 1 for the description of
Oxfam and CSRL alliance). This report is particularly focused on the right to food situation of
Bangladesh and is based on several consultations organized as part of the report preparation
process. Various available secondary sources of information like publications of both
government and non government organizations and other documentation, experience of
Oxfam and CSRL have been referred in this report. The draft report has also been shared with
3
relevant individuals and organizations including National Human Rights Commission. This
report has been developed following the guidelines adopted by the Human Rights Council.
Apart from acknowledging the progress made so far, the report endeavors to highlight the
challenges and concerns associated with improving the right to food situation. This report also
put forward several specific recommendations relevant for Bangladesh and the international
community to act upon in order to achieve the progressive realization of the right to food for the
people of Bangladesh.
2. The Bangladesh Constitution recognizes the states responsibility to all citizens right to food
in part 2 of the Constitution, though strictly not as a fundamental right, but as a part of the
fundamental principle of state. Through the provision of article 11, the Constitution guarantees
the fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human
person. Article 15(a) of the Constitution stipulates the fundamental responsibility of the state to
securing for its citizens the provision of the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing,
shelter, education and medical care.
3. Bangladesh has ratified almost all of the international core human rights treaties (Annex II).
By ratifying the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural rights (ICESCR)
Bangladesh has undertaken specific obligations to ensure right to food, a fundamental human
right for its citizens. As a signatory to the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action adopted by
the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993, Bangladesh has expressed its commitment to
implementing the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the United Nations in
1986. Bangladesh has also made commitments to cut by half the number of people suffering
from hunger and malnutrition by 2015 under the World Food Summit Declaration and the UN
Millennium Declaration.
I. Methodology
II. Constitutional and Legislative Framework on Right to Food
III. Bangladeshs International Commitments on Right to Food
05
Preamble
Launched in June 2011, GROW is Oxfams biggest campaign ever conveys a simple message:
Another future is possible. GROW aims to build movements and momentums demanding for
enabling environment so that all people, particularly the poor in the world and in Bangladesh
have enough to eat.
This publication is a compilation of two advocacy papers to explain the context, opportunities
and challenges on Food Security situation with a clear set of recommendations about way
forward. A thorough consultative process was followed with local, national stakeholders in
preparing these reports and various government and non government sources were
considered for relevant data collection.
The Stakeholders Report on Right to Food in Bangladesh was prepared in 2012 targeting
Bangladeshs second universal periodic review of human rights by UN Human Rights Council
(UNHRC). Together with other CSO/NGO submissions, this stakeholders' report focusing on
the right to food has been posted on OHCHR website and was referred in the OHCHR
compilation made on the human rights situation of Bangladesh to be considered by the Human
Rights Council during the review of Bangladeshs situation.
The thematic paper on food security and Post MDGs framework, Looking beyond MDGs
2015: Food Security and Nutrition was prepared in 2013 under a civil society initiative to
influence government positioning on post MDGs framework.
We hope, this publication will be helpful to understand the food security situation of Bangladesh
from all three dimensions of availability, accessibility and utilization. We believe that this
compilation will also contribute to synergy building among all the relevant stakeholders on the
need for a human right based comprehensive legal framework on right to food.
Monisha Biswas
Policy Advocacy Manager
Oxfam in Bangladesh
against the backdrop of a growing population, decreasing agricultural lands, and frequently
occurring natural hazards, all of which tend to adversely affect food production. Agriculture is
critically important in ensuring food security by enhancing food production, generating more
jobs and increasing the income of farmers. Various ongoing government initiatives to promote
agricultural growth include: framing National Agricultural Policy 2011, providing Agricultural
Inputs Support Card to the farmers across the country, delivering the opportunity of opening a
bank account by depositing only Tk.10 (12 cents), introducing crop insurance schemes in a
pilot scale to test efficacy, distribution of fair price cards among the poor farmers for inputs,
forming Farmers Club and Marketing Groups, and providing credit facilities to the farmers.
Some other initiatives as forecasted in the budget statement 2012-13 include: enacting
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Act, 2012, and increasing the number of the
agricultural information communication centers.
9. Despite approaching self-sufficiency in rice, to ensure food availability in a sustainable
manner, challenges remain in many areas. However, monitoring adequacy and stability of food
4
supply is challenging because of data limitations . The conversion of arable land for non-
agricultural purposes, mining of essential nutrients and micro-nutrients and organic carbon
from the top soils, and the depletion of ground water, are major challenges to be faced in
5
sustaining future productive capacity. A recent study found that between 2001 and 2008, the
conversion of agricultural land to nonagricultural was 0.56% with an associated loss of rice
production estimated to have been between 0.86 and 1.16 %.
10. A huge quantity of water, mostly from ground water aquifer sources across the country, is
utilized in paddy fields to compensate for moisture stress. In absence of a regulation towards
using groundwater tube wells, the resource base is now at risk of declining piezometric surface,
especially in areas where the irrigation demand is very high. The long term sustainability of the
resource base is now at risk, which warrants immediate actions towards efficiently used
groundwater resources and the technologies (such as the AWD) that ensure judicious use of
the declining resource.
Table 1: Projected Food Grain Requirement and Production
Figures in thousands metric tons
Source: Ministry of Agriculture
Year
2010
2015
Table 2: Total food grain production: lac metric tons
Source: Bangladesh Economic Review 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). * DAE
07
2005-06
17.45
108.10
139.75
265.53
7.35
5.22
277.87
2006-07
15.12
108.41
149.65
273.18
7.25
8.99
289.42
2007-08
15.07
96.62
177.62
289.31
8.44
13.46
311.21
2009-10
17.09
133.07
183.41
322.57
9.69
8.87
341.13
2010-11*
21.33
127.91
186.17
335.41
9.72
15.52
360.65
Food grain
Aus
Aman
Boro
Total Rice
Wheat
Maize
Total
2003-04
18.32
115.21
128.37
261.90
12.53
2.41
276.44
2004-05
15.00
98.20
138.37
251.57
9.76
3.56
264.89
Food grain requirement
24519.60
25943.42
Net total production
27587.04
29797.54
4. Bangladesh is serving as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for two consecutive
terms. Prior to offering its candidature for the second term, Bangladesh made voluntary
pledges towards human rights which included commitments to intensify its efforts, while
framing its national policies and strategies, to uphold the fundamental principles enshrined in
the Constitution of Bangladesh as well as those of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and other international and regional human rights instruments to which it is a party. This
includes its commitment to enhance efforts to ensure the provision of basic necessities to
its people, including food, clothing, shelter, education and primary health care as a means of
effectively enjoying all human rights, and strengthen efforts to meet its obligations under the
treaty bodies to which it is a party through the effective implementation of relevant national
programs. Under the first Universal Periodic Review, Bangladesh accepted the
recommendation to continue its efforts to ensure the right to food for the citizens.
5. Bangladesh has a comprehensive food security policy framework that includes National
Food Policy 2006, accompanied by the National Food Policy and Plan of Action (2008-2015),
and an investment plan named the Bangladesh Country Investment Plan, a road map towards
investment in agriculture, food security and nutrition. Besides the specific policy framework on
food security, food security issues have been well reflected in other major policy and program
documents, such as,
Reality, Sixth Five Year Plan for FY 2011-2015.
6. As a universally recognized human right, the right to food entails the availability and
accessibility of adequate food meeting dietary needs (ensuring all constituents namely,
carbohydrates; proteins (both of animal and vegetable origins), fats (both of animal and
vegetable origins), vitamins and minerals both in terms of quantity and quality. It also states that
food availability has to be ensured on a sustainable basis and should not be compromised even
in the wake of vulnerabilities either man-made or those finding their origins in extreme natural
events. Very positively, National Food Policy 2006 outlines the strategies and objectives
covering all three elements: availability, access and utilization. The National Food Policy 2006
objectives are: adequate and stable supply of safe and nutritious food, increased
purchasing power and access to food of the people, and adequate nutrition for all
individuals, especially for women and children. Accordingly, the National Food Policy and
Plan of Action (2008-2015) set the targeted actions to achieve the goal and the Country
Investment Plan 2011 states the corresponding investment requirements in line with the Sixth
Five Year Plan and the Millennium Development Goals.
7. Despite Bangladeshs firm commitment to create provisions for food for its citizens, the state
of food security in Bangladesh is still not satisfactory. The Global Hunger Index 2011 ranked
Bangladesh 70th among the 81 countries where Global Food Security Index 2012 ranked
Bangladesh 81st among 105 countries.
8. In recent years, Bangladesh has made progress in food grain production thereby stepping
towards being self sufficient in rice (Table 1 & 2). In the past four decades since independence
in 1971, the country has been successful in increasing its rice production from a mere 0.8
Million Metric Tonnes to 3.5 Million Metric Tonnes. This daunting task has been achieved
IV. Bangladeshs Policy and Program Framework
V. Right to Food Situation on the Ground
Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2010-2021: Making Vision 2021 a
Food Availability
Joint Submission of Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and Oxfam
06
2008-09
18.95
116.13
178.09
313.17
8.44
7.30
328.96
against the backdrop of a growing population, decreasing agricultural lands, and frequently
occurring natural hazards, all of which tend to adversely affect food production. Agriculture is
critically important in ensuring food security by enhancing food production, generating more
jobs and increasing the income of farmers. Various ongoing government initiatives to promote
agricultural growth include: framing National Agricultural Policy 2011, providing Agricultural
Inputs Support Card to the farmers across the country, delivering the opportunity of opening a
bank account by depositing only Tk.10 (12 cents), introducing crop insurance schemes in a
pilot scale to test efficacy, distribution of fair price cards among the poor farmers for inputs,
forming Farmers Club and Marketing Groups, and providing credit facilities to the farmers.
Some other initiatives as forecasted in the budget statement 2012-13 include: enacting
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Act, 2012, and increasing the number of the
agricultural information communication centers.
9. Despite approaching self-sufficiency in rice, to ensure food availability in a sustainable
manner, challenges remain in many areas. However, monitoring adequacy and stability of food
4
supply is challenging because of data limitations . The conversion of arable land for non-
agricultural purposes, mining of essential nutrients and micro-nutrients and organic carbon
from the top soils, and the depletion of ground water, are major challenges to be faced in
5
sustaining future productive capacity. A recent study found that between 2001 and 2008, the
conversion of agricultural land to nonagricultural was 0.56% with an associated loss of rice
production estimated to have been between 0.86 and 1.16 %.
10. A huge quantity of water, mostly from ground water aquifer sources across the country, is
utilized in paddy fields to compensate for moisture stress. In absence of a regulation towards
using groundwater tube wells, the resource base is now at risk of declining piezometric surface,
especially in areas where the irrigation demand is very high. The long term sustainability of the
resource base is now at risk, which warrants immediate actions towards efficiently used
groundwater resources and the technologies (such as the AWD) that ensure judicious use of
the declining resource.
Table 1: Projected Food Grain Requirement and Production
Figures in thousands metric tons
Source: Ministry of Agriculture
Year
2010
2015
Table 2: Total food grain production: lac metric tons
Source: Bangladesh Economic Review 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). * DAE
07
2005-06
17.45
108.10
139.75
265.53
7.35
5.22
277.87
2006-07
15.12
108.41
149.65
273.18
7.25
8.99
289.42
2007-08
15.07
96.62
177.62
289.31
8.44
13.46
311.21
2009-10
17.09
133.07
183.41
322.57
9.69
8.87
341.13
2010-11*
21.33
127.91
186.17
335.41
9.72
15.52
360.65
Food grain
Aus
Aman
Boro
Total Rice
Wheat
Maize
Total
2003-04
18.32
115.21
128.37
261.90
12.53
2.41
276.44
2004-05
15.00
98.20
138.37
251.57
9.76
3.56
264.89
Food grain requirement
24519.60
25943.42
Net total production
27587.04
29797.54
4. Bangladesh is serving as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for two consecutive
terms. Prior to offering its candidature for the second term, Bangladesh made voluntary
pledges towards human rights which included commitments to intensify its efforts, while
framing its national policies and strategies, to uphold the fundamental principles enshrined in
the Constitution of Bangladesh as well as those of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and other international and regional human rights instruments to which it is a party. This
includes its commitment to enhance efforts to ensure the provision of basic necessities to
its people, including food, clothing, shelter, education and primary health care as a means of
effectively enjoying all human rights, and strengthen efforts to meet its obligations under the
treaty bodies to which it is a party through the effective implementation of relevant national
programs. Under the first Universal Periodic Review, Bangladesh accepted the
recommendation to continue its efforts to ensure the right to food for the citizens.
5. Bangladesh has a comprehensive food security policy framework that includes National
Food Policy 2006, accompanied by the National Food Policy and Plan of Action (2008-2015),
and an investment plan named the Bangladesh Country Investment Plan, a road map towards
investment in agriculture, food security and nutrition. Besides the specific policy framework on
documents, such as,
6. As a universally recognized human right, the right to food entails the availability and
accessibility of adequate food meeting dietary needs (ensuring all constituents namely,
carbohydrates; proteins (both of animal and vegetable origins), fats (both of animal and
vegetable origins), vitamins and minerals both in terms of quantity and quality. It also states that
food availability has to be ensured on a sustainable basis and should not be compromised even
in the wake of vulnerabilities either man-made or those finding their origins in extreme natural
events. Very positively, National Food Policy 2006 outlines the strategies and objectives
covering all three elements: availability, access and utilization. The National Food Policy 2006
objectives are: adequate and stable supply of safe and nutritious food, increased
purchasing power and access to food of the people, and adequate nutrition for all
individuals, especially for women and children. Accordingly, the National Food Policy and
Plan of Action (2008-2015) set the targeted actions to achieve the goal and the Country
Investment Plan 2011 states the corresponding investment requirements in line with the Sixth
Five Year Plan and the Millennium Development Goals.
7. Despite Bangladeshs firm commitment to create provisions for food for its citizens, the state
of food security in Bangladesh is still not satisfactory. The Global Hunger Index 2011 ranked
Bangladesh 70th among the 81 countries where Global Food Security Index 2012 ranked
Bangladesh 81st among 105 countries.
8. In recent years, Bangladesh has made progress in food grain production thereby stepping
towards being self sufficient in rice (Table 1 & 2). In the past four decades since independence
in 1971, the country has been successful in increasing its rice production from a mere 0.8
Million Metric Tonnes to 3.5 Million Metric Tonnes. This daunting task has been achieved
IV. Bangladeshs Policy and Program Framework
V. Right to Food Situation on the Ground
Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2010-2021: Making Vision 2021 a
Food Availability
Joint Submission of Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and Oxfam
06
2008-09
18.95
116.13
178.09
313.17
8.44
7.30
328.96
Experience of the past few years indicate that the share of agricultural expenditure in the total
budget has been on a declining trend since FY2010. Similarly, budgetary amount of subsidies
available to agriculture and food security is also declining (Annex IV: Table 3 & 4).
17. Recent official statistics from Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010
(Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), 2011), shows the progress in reducing the poverty rate
(31.5%) in 2010 from 56% in 1991-1992.However, since this HIES report estimates poverty
using only the Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) method and not the Direct Calorie Intake (DCI)
method, this poverty estimate does not directly show the food security status.
18. The Millennium Development Goals Bangladesh Progress Report 2011 acknowledges that
despite progress in poverty eradication, attaining food security and nutritional well-being still
remains a huge challenge. Still, a large number of people remain unable to access food in the
quantity, diversity and regularity required for a food secure life. According to the Welfare
Monitoring Survey 2009(A BBS Survey), 39.8% of the population thinks that they are food
insecure. The households reported that food crisis is a long term phenomenon for them
(80.8%) and the main reasons behind this are less income (59.6%) and lack of agricultural land
(44.8%). Labor Force Survey 2010, carried out by BBS, shows a low employment rate that is
59.3 % of the population with low participation of women (36%). Currently, womens agricultural
14
wages are 41% less than men , the difference of which is still high. The Millennium
Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report 2011 reveals the increasing income
15
inequality between the rich and the poor . Findings of HIES 2010 reveal that the incidence of
rural poverty is higher than that of urban poverty (Annex V) and poverty ranged from 26% in
Chittagong division to 46% in Rangpur division.
19. There is a significant difference in agricultural daily wages for male and female labors. This
situation is especially crucial for poor female-headed households who have no means of
income other than day-labor. Though movement in real wages determines the affordability to
those who are employed, the benefits of the increased wages are seasonal and last only for five
months during the harvest and planting seasons. Regional disparities exist in the proportion of
the population with less than 2,122 kcal/day. Bangladesh Household Food Security Nutrition
Assessment 2008-09 reported that populations living in Barisal and Rajshahi divisions had
worse (lower) food consumption scores in comparison with other divisions (Annex VI). The
survey also found that female headed households and households in rural areas are more food
insecure compared to their respective counterparts.
20. Food price hike and price instability have become a matter of grave concern particularly for
16
the low income and fixed income people (Annex VII) . The greatest impact of price hike is on
poor households whose food to non-food shares are proportionately larger in household
spending (68% of total household expenditures in the poorest 5% of households go on food
17
compared to 33% in the richest 5% of households) . Given the instability of food prices, the
Government has reinstated Open Market Sales (OMS) to stabilize consumer prices during the
lean seasons. However, the quantity distributed through OMS has generally not exceeded 1% of
total market supply suggesting that the impact in terms of price stabilization is quite low relative to
the relief provided to poor urban consumers, though in 2010/11, the distribution reached almost
3% of total supply with significant effects in containing price inflation observed between late 2010
18
and the first part of 2012 . If the present trend continues, urban poor will be affected due to
possible food price hike, poor wage and lack of access to nutritious food and safe drinking water.
Food Access
09
11. The climate change caused by global warming has also appeared as a severe threat to
subsistence scale agricultural production in future. On the one hand, CO fertilization will
2
facilitate the increase in yield at low levels of warming, perhaps up to 2C. On the other hand,
CO fertilization beyond 2C regime will tend to lose out against adverse effects of rising
2
temperature on C3 crops, while C4 crops (non-staple crops in Bangladesh) might still be giving
good yields. With specific reference to food grains, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that, in Bangladesh, by 2050, changing rainfall patterns
with increasing temperatures, flooding, droughts and salinity (in the coastal belt) could cause
an 8% and 32% decline in rice and wheat production respectively, compared to 1990 (Rashid et
al., 2009). Increased population pressure is another challenge to meet the growing demands of
6
balanced food from in-country production and number of climate induced displaced may
increase.
12. Farmers access to markets, optimizing inputs (fertilizer and irrigation), improving farmers
profits, etc appear to be equally important. Since the majority of the farmers are small and
marginalized (Annex III), they need incentives in the production of high cost agricultural
products. However, high production costs compounded with inadequate and inefficient subsidy
7
mechanism, lack of fair price of agricultural products , lack of adequate storage facilities, faulty
public procurement system and problems related to farmers access to market are some of the
major constraints faced by small and marginal farmers. These challenges make resource poor
farmers livelihoods vulnerable and might in turn discourage the farmers to continue farming.
13. Lack of quality seeds and fertilizer affect agricultural production. Though subsidized inputs
are provided for the benefit of the small farmers, and government has already taken various
positive steps to ease the process of getting subsidized inputs from the resource poor farmers,
targeted farmers are often deprived of the benefits due to lack of proper functioning of the
8
governance system. A study conducted in 2010 reveals that although urea is strictly to be sold
by the designated dealers of the own unions only, more than 17 percent of it is put on the open
market (an indication of leakage in the fertilizer distribution system). Though various policy
directions have been given to the private commercial banks to increase the flow of credit to
farming activities, progress is slow, and access to credit is one of the biggest constraints to
farmers because of inadequate and inefficient financial institutions in the rural areas.
14. Women play important roles as producers of food, managers of natural resources, income
earners, and caretakers of household food and nutrition security but womens access to and
control over land are still confined. A study finds that men own 96% of land where women own
9
the remaining 4% of land . Consequently a significant number of women farmers in Bangladesh
are unable to access fertilizer, cash assistance and other government subsidies intended for
10
farmers, because of the lack of land ownership .
11
15. Notwithstanding the recent policy documents that set the programs for crop diversification
and for development of fisheries and livestock sector, these subsectors growth pace is slow
due to various challenges including a lack of adequate resource allocation and institutional
capacity of respective government agencies, and a lack of policy incentives to encourage
12
local private investors . And wide gap exists between the current productions and demands for
13
milk, meat, and eggs .
16. Despite the critical importance of agriculture for increasing economic growth and ensuring
food security, investment in agriculture is found to be falling much shorter than the needs.
the
08
Stakeholders Report on Right to Food in Bangladesh Joint Submission of Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) and Oxfam
Experience of the past few years indicate that the share of agricultural expenditure in the total
budget has been on a declining trend since FY2010. Similarly, budgetary amount of subsidies
available to agriculture and food security is also declining (Annex IV: Table 3 & 4).
17. Recent official statistics from Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010
(Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), 2011), shows the progress in reducing the poverty rate
(31.5%) in 2010 from 56% in 1991-1992.However, since this HIES report estimates poverty
using only the Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) method and not the Direct Calorie Intake (DCI)
method, this poverty estimate does not directly show the food security status.
18. The Millennium Development Goals Bangladesh Progress Report 2011 acknowledges that
despite progress in poverty eradication, attaining food security and nutritional well-being still
remains a huge challenge. Still, a large number of people remain unable to access food in the
quantity, diversity and regularity required for a food secure life. According to the Welfare
Monitoring Survey 2009(A BBS Survey), 39.8% of the population thinks that they are food
insecure. The households reported that food crisis is a long term phenomenon for them
(80.8%) and the main reasons behind this are less income (59.6%) and lack of agricultural land
(44.8%). Labor Force Survey 2010, carried out by BBS, shows a low employment rate that is
59.3 % of the population with low participation of women (36%). Currently, womens agricultural
14
wages are 41% less than men , the difference of which is still high. The Millennium
Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report 2011 reveals the increasing income
15
inequality between the rich and the poor . Findings of HIES 2010 reveal that the incidence of
rural poverty is higher than that of urban poverty (Annex V) and poverty ranged from 26% in
19. There is a significant difference in agricultural daily wages for male and female labors. This
situation is especially crucial for poor female-headed households who have no means of
income other than day-labor. Though movement in real wages determines the affordability to
those who are employed, the benefits of the increased wages are seasonal and last only for five
months during the harvest and planting seasons. Regional disparities exist in the proportion of
the population with less than 2,122 kcal/day. Bangladesh Household Food Security Nutrition
Assessment 2008-09 reported that populations living in Barisal and Rajshahi divisions had
worse (lower) food consumption scores in comparison with other divisions (Annex VI). The
survey also found that female headed households and households in rural areas are more food
insecure compared to their respective counterparts.
20. Food price hike and price instability have become a matter of grave concern particularly for
16
the low income and fixed income people (Annex VII) . The greatest impact of price hike is on
poor households whose food to non-food shares are proportionately larger in household
spending (68% of total household expenditures in the poorest 5% of households go on food
17
compared to 33% in the richest 5% of households) . Given the instability of food prices, the
Government has reinstated Open Market Sales (OMS) to stabilize consumer prices during the
lean seasons. However, the quantity distributed through OMS has generally not exceeded 1% of
total market supply suggesting that the impact in terms of price stabilization is quite low relative to
the relief provided to poor urban consumers, though in 2010/11, the distribution reached almost
3% of total supply with significant effects in containing price inflation observed between late 2010
18
and the first part of 2012 . If the present trend continues, urban poor will be affected due to
possible food price hike, poor wage and lack of access to nutritious food and safe drinking water.
Food Access
09
11. The climate change caused by global warming has also appeared as a severe threat to
subsistence scale agricultural production in future. On the one hand, CO fertilization will
2
facilitate the increase in yield at low levels of warming, perhaps up to 2C. On the other hand,
CO fertilization beyond 2C regime will tend to lose out against adverse effects of rising
2
temperature on C3 crops, while C4 crops (non-staple crops in Bangladesh) might still be giving
good yields. With specific reference to food grains, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that, in Bangladesh, by 2050, changing rainfall patterns
with increasing temperatures, flooding, droughts and salinity (in the coastal belt) could cause
an 8% and 32% decline in rice and wheat production respectively, compared to 1990 (Rashid et
al., 2009). Increased population pressure is another challenge to meet the growing demands of
6
balanced food from in-country production and number of climate induced displaced may
increase.
12. Farmers access to markets, optimizing inputs (fertilizer and irrigation), improving farmers
profits, etc appear to be equally important. Since the majority of the farmers are small and
marginalized (Annex III), they need incentives in the production of high cost agricultural
products. However, high production costs compounded with inadequate and inefficient subsidy
7
mechanism, lack of fair price of agricultural products , lack of adequate storage facilities, faulty
public procurement system and problems related to farmers access to market are some of the
major constraints faced by small and marginal farmers. These challenges make resource poor
farmers livelihoods vulnerable and might in turn discourage the farmers to continue farming.
13. Lack of quality seeds and fertilizer affect agricultural production. Though subsidized inputs
are provided for the benefit of the small farmers, and government has already taken various
positive steps to ease the process of getting subsidized inputs from the resource poor farmers,
targeted farmers are often deprived of the benefits due to lack of proper functioning of the
8
governance system. A study conducted in 2010 reveals that although urea is strictly to be sold
by the designated dealers of the own unions only, more than 17 percent of it is put on the open
market (an indication of leakage in the fertilizer distribution system). Though various policy
directions have been given to the private commercial banks to increase the flow of credit to
farming activities, progress is slow, and access to credit is one of the biggest constraints to
farmers because of inadequate and inefficient financial institutions in the rural areas.
14. Women play important roles as producers of food, managers of natural resources, income
control over land are still confined. A study finds that men own 96% of land where women own
9
the remaining 4% of land . Consequently a significant number of women farmers in Bangladesh
are unable to access fertilizer, cash assistance and other government subsidies intended for
10
farmers, because of the lack of land ownership .
11
15. Notwithstanding the recent policy documents that set the programs for crop diversification
and for development of fisheries and livestock sector, these subsectors growth pace is slow
due to various challenges including a lack of adequate resource allocation and institutional
capacity of respective government agencies, and a lack of policy incentives to encourage
12
local private investors . And wide gap exists between the current productions and demands for
13
milk, meat, and eggs .
16. Despite the critical importance of agriculture for increasing economic growth and ensuring
food security, investment in agriculture is found to be falling much shorter than the needs.
the
08
Food Utilization
26. To improve the food utilization status various government initiatives are in place, such as
community-based nutrition programs, awareness on nutritional values, developing Food
Safety and Quality Policy, and National Food Safety Emergency Response Plan. However,
compared to food availability, progress in food utilization in terms of food safety and nutritional
values is upsetting. Currently, about 70% of caloric needs are fulfilled by cereals (62% by rice
25
alone), against a desirable maximum of 60% . Though Bangladesh has made progress in
reducing underweight prevalence rates, with the exception of Khulna division, all of
Bangladeshs administrative divisions had underweight rates over 30 percent; a threshold used
26
by the World Health Organization (WHO) as indicative of a very high severity situation . In the
Welfare survey 2009, the households who reported food insecurity mentioned that they
manage such crisis by starving (54.3%), loan/borrowing (49.2%) and reducing favorite food
(49.3%) and taking less food (39.3%) which signify poor food consumption level.
27. In a 2010 nutrition survey by Helen Keller International (HKI), BRAC University, and the
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 45 percent of children under five were found too
short for their age group (stunted), a sign of vitamin and mineral deficiency. Six out of 10
households in Bangladesh - including some 10 million children - did not have access to
sufficient, safe and nutritious food in 2010, according to the food security and nutrition survey
27
by HKI and its Bangladeshi partners . Growth retardation, an outcome of chronic under
nutrition, is widespread, affecting almost one in two of the countrys 17 million children below
five years of age (Household Food Security and Nutrition Assessment (HFSNA 2009).
According to Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS,2011), forty-one percent
(41%) of all children younger than 5 years old suffer from stunted growth while 16 % are wasted.
The combination of stunting and wasting causes thirty-six percent (36%) of all under-5 children
to suffer from being underweight (BDHS 2011). It may be noted that for a country like
Bangladesh, food intake quality and awareness on nutrition both are important to address
malnutrition of mother and children.
28. Notwithstanding the existence of various state laws and institutions such as, Bangladesh
Pure Food (Amendment Act) 2005, Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009, Bangladesh
Standard Testing Institute (BSTI), food safety is another major concern in Bangladesh.
Punishment provisions under the Pure Food Law are minimal and cannot stop the offenders
28
from continuing their illegal activities . Besides, because of the procedural hindrances, lack of
accountability, lack of monitoring systems as well as the lack of awareness among the
29
consumers about their rights , the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009 cannot effectively
ensure consumers right to safe food.
29. The National Food Policy Plan of Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report
2012 pointed out that only 64 out of 143 enlisted foods are certified. Food adulteration with
poisonous chemicals has reached a dangerous proportion posing serious health hazards in the
country. Basic food items on the market like rice, fish, fruits, vegetables, and sweetmeats are
30
adulterated with hazardous chemicals in an indiscriminate manner .
30. The findings of a socio-economic baseline survey conducted by a non-governmental
research organization in the CHT showed the acutely disadvantaged situation of the population
of the CHT, and particularly that of the indigenous peoples, as compared with the rest of the
31
country . The report showed, among others, that eighteen percent of the total population of the
VI. Exclusion and Vulnerability
21. Bangladesh has wide coverage of social safety net (SSN) programs to tackle the hunger of
poor people. Overall coverage of households benefiting from at least one SSN increased from
13.0% of households in 2005 to 24.6% in 2010 (HIES 2010). In recent years, SSN spending has
soared to a staggering US$4 Billion per annum, competing with spending in development
projects under annual development plans. According to Zohir et al., close to 70 Government
safety net programs are currently scattered across more than 15 different Government
agencies. In addition, a vast number of programs reaching into the thousands are being
19
operated by an extensive network of NGOs and development partners .
22. Whilst this represents substantial progress within five years, the coverage rate is still below
the proportion of households that are poor. Challenges associated with the targeting,
administration, monitoring and transparency of safety nets are widely discussed. Lack of
coordination among the different agencies both within the government and beyond is a major
constraint for improved achievement. Moreover, though the social safety nets help safeguard
the food rights of millions of people, this is not implemented within a rights-based framework of
entitlements, accountability and redressal.
23. To promote agricultural marketing and to improve the legal framework around agricultural
price information, agribusiness and marketing, a proposed legislation titled Agribusiness
Management Act (2011), is in the pipeline. These also include other initiatives to improve
20
physical access to market facilities under country investment plan . However, the weak
governance of the implementing Ministry and other local institutions remains one of the major
21
threats to achieve this objective . Though domestic procurement program has an important
role to play in providing price support and production incentives to the farmers, lack of
accountability and appropriate monitoring at different tiers of the program holds back the
22
efficiency of the program .
24. Although the domestic production of rice shows a surplus, the country has to depend on
international markets for most other essential food items which include wheat, sugar, pulse,
onion, turmeric etc. As an importing country, any changes in the policy and restrictions on the
exporting countries immediately affect the domestic markets in soaring domestic prices.
Moreover, global price increase also result in increasing the price in local markets as
23
experienced during 2007-08 global price crisis . Due to the loss of production in some food
exporting countries due to adverse weather events, experts are apprehending for the crisis like
24
2007-2008 , Bangladesh as an importing country is likely to be a victim of the situation, if
appropriate precautionary policy measures are not taken at national and global level.
25. International Cooperation: To establish a sustainable food security regime, indigenous
supply has to be the main contributor to the supply side, leaving the rest to import. But, as an
economically stressed developing country, Bangladesh cannot be expected to meet the
challenges of upholding the right to food on their own, especially in the wake of crop losses in
years from unfavorable weather conditions. International cooperation is required in this regard
both in terms of technological and financial assistance to achieve the progressive realization of
the right to food in Bangladesh. On the other hand, as an importing country, Bangladeshs food
security situation is affected by the unjust trade policies and practices at global level such as
trade barriers/restriction by food exporting countries, increasing alternative uses of food for the
purposes like producing bio-fuels, calls for reforms in the global trade policies, and practices to
ensure adequate food supply even in times of crisis.
11 10
Food Utilization
26. To improve the food utilization status various government initiatives are in place, such as
community-based nutrition programs, awareness on nutritional values, developing Food
Safety and Quality Policy, and National Food Safety Emergency Response Plan. However,
compared to food availability, progress in food utilization in terms of food safety and nutritional
values is upsetting. Currently, about 70% of caloric needs are fulfilled by cereals (62% by rice
25
alone), against a desirable maximum of 60% . Though Bangladesh has made progress in
reducing underweight prevalence rates, with the exception of Khulna division, all of
Bangladeshs administrative divisions had underweight rates over 30 percent; a threshold used
26
by the World Health Organization (WHO) as indicative of a very high severity situation . In the
Welfare survey 2009, the households who reported food insecurity mentioned that they
manage such crisis by starving (54.3%), loan/borrowing (49.2%) and reducing favorite food
(49.3%) and taking less food (39.3%) which signify poor food consumption level.
27. In a 2010 nutrition survey by Helen Keller International (HKI), BRAC University, and the
27
by HKI and its Bangladeshi partners . Growth retardation, an outcome of chronic under
nutrition, is widespread, affecting almost one in two of the countrys 17 million children below
five years of age (Household Food Security and Nutrition Assessment (HFSNA 2009).
According to Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS,2011), forty-one percent
(41%) of all children younger than 5 years old suffer from stunted growth while 16 % are wasted.
The combination of stunting and wasting causes thirty-six percent (36%) of all under-5 children
to suffer from being underweight (BDHS 2011). It may be noted that for a country like
Bangladesh, food intake quality and awareness on nutrition both are important to address
malnutrition of mother and children.
28. Notwithstanding the existence of various state laws and institutions such as, Bangladesh
Pure Food (Amendment Act) 2005, Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009, Bangladesh
Standard Testing Institute (BSTI), food safety is another major concern in Bangladesh.
Punishment provisions under the Pure Food Law are minimal and cannot stop the offenders
28
from continuing their illegal activities . Besides, because of the procedural hindrances, lack of
accountability, lack of monitoring systems as well as the lack of awareness among the
29
consumers about their rights , the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009 cannot effectively
ensure consumers right to safe food.
29. The National Food Policy Plan of Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report
2012 pointed out that only 64 out of 143 enlisted foods are certified. Food adulteration with
poisonous chemicals has reached a dangerous proportion posing serious health hazards in the
country. Basic food items on the market like rice, fish, fruits, vegetables, and sweetmeats are
30
adulterated with hazardous chemicals in an indiscriminate manner .
30. The findings of a socio-economic baseline survey conducted by a non-governmental
research organization in the CHT showed the acutely disadvantaged situation of the population
of the CHT, and particularly that of the indigenous peoples, as compared with the rest of the
31
country . The report showed, among others, that eighteen percent of the total population of the
VI. Exclusion and Vulnerability
21. Bangladesh has wide coverage of social safety net (SSN) programs to tackle the hunger of
13.0% of households in 2005 to 24.6% in 2010 (HIES 2010). In recent years, SSN spending has
soared to a staggering US$4 Billion per annum, competing with spending in development
projects under annual development plans. According to Zohir et al., close to 70 Government
safety net programs are currently scattered across more than 15 different Government
agencies. In addition, a vast number of programs reaching into the thousands are being
19
operated by an extensive network of NGOs and development partners .
22. Whilst this represents substantial progress within five years, the coverage rate is still below
the proportion of households that are poor. Challenges associated with the targeting,
administration, monitoring and transparency of safety nets are widely discussed. Lack of
coordination among the different agencies both within the government and beyond is a major
constraint for improved achievement. Moreover, though the social safety nets help safeguard
the food rights of millions of people, this is not implemented within a rights-based framework of
entitlements, accountability and redressal.
23. To promote agricultural marketing and to improve the legal framework around agricultural
price information, agribusiness and marketing, a proposed legislation titled Agribusiness
Management Act (2011), is in the pipeline. These also include other initiatives to improve
20
physical access to market facilities under country investment plan . However, the weak
governance of the implementing Ministry and other local institutions remains one of the major
21
threats to achieve this objective . Though domestic procurement program has an important
role to play in providing price support and production incentives to the farmers, lack of
accountability and appropriate monitoring at different tiers of the program holds back the
22
efficiency of the program .
24. Although the domestic production of rice shows a surplus, the country has to depend on
international markets for most other essential food items which include wheat, sugar, pulse,
onion, turmeric etc. As an importing country, any changes in the policy and restrictions on the
exporting countries immediately affect the domestic markets in soaring domestic prices.
Moreover, global price increase also result in increasing the price in local markets as
23
experienced during 2007-08 global price crisis . Due to the loss of production in some food
exporting countries due to adverse weather events, experts are apprehending for the crisis like
24
2007-2008 , Bangladesh as an importing country is likely to be a victim of the situation, if
appropriate precautionary policy measures are not taken at national and global level.
25. International Cooperation: To establish a sustainable food security regime, indigenous
purposes like producing bio-fuels, calls for reforms in the global trade policies, and practices to
ensure adequate food supply even in times of crisis.
11 10
36. Take measures to strengthen agricultural research works with a particular focus on agro
ecological peculiarities and climate resilient crop varieties;
37. Ensure a strong and frequently updated information system on agriculture, food security
and nutrition for accurate projection on the need of the farmers, and for proper planning and
monitoring; Strengthen the progress monitoring process by involving a multi stakeholder
participatory process;
38. Ensure adequate subsidy for the agricultural inputs and strengthen the distribution system
to prevent any form of irregularity in the system. Take measures to strengthen the capacity of
the relevant govt. institutions such as, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation
(BADC), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and empower them to ensure timely and
quality services required for the farmers; Ensure incessant initiatives on storage, agro
processing, and marketing in adequate and efficient manner;
39. Scale up investment to modernize the functioning of state-run TCB, including opening up its
branches in different divisions of the country and strengthen the market monitoring to stabilize
the food prices;
40. Increase the financial investments in the fisheries and livestock sectors as part of
comprehensive agriculture, take measures to enhance the capacity of the implementing
agencies of these sectors, and update/review existing policies on the livestock sector to
encourage private investment;
41. Update land use policy and ensure its proper implementation to stop using agriculture land
for non-agriculture activities (urbanisation, industrialisation, setting up house, market etc)
following FAO voluntary guideline on land;
42. Ensure right based approach in the development of Social Protection Strategy currently
under development and adopt a unified policy on right based Social Safety Net or Social
Protection programs linking with long term development programs on agriculture, food security
and nutrition;
43. Consider emerging challenges affecting food security like climate change, urbanization,
price volatility and financial market instability in designing and implementing food security
initiatives; and ensure better coordination among the existing programs;
44. Take appropriate legal and administrative steps to ensure land rights of the indigenous
people while recognizing traditional rights to land of the indigenous people living in the hill tracts
or other forest areas;
45. Adopt community based nutrition programs targeting both rural and urban area following a life
cycle approach and ensure that such interventions are consistent with local ecosystems and
prioritize local solutions and are consistent with the objective of moving towards sustainable diets;
46. Massive awareness raising among the consumers on the food safety issues and strengthen
the legal and the regulatory regime of consumer protection in the country along with strong
monitoring systems; ensure better coordination between food safety inspection and
enforcement agencies;
region was dependent upon farming/cultivation for their livelihood and about 22 per cent of
indigenous households lost their lands. The socio-economic status of most indigenous
communities in the plains, particularly in the north-western Rajshahi administrative divisions, is
known generally to be even worse than that of indigenous communities in the CHT. In a recent
baseline survey (2011) on the human rights situation in Bangladesh conducted by NHRC, the
respondents from the indigenous communities reported that lack of equal opportunities for
employment, and land disputes are major problems facing by them which indicates the
32
vulnerability to food security of the indigenous people of the country .
31. Depending on the agro ecological base adversity, region based food insecurity also exists.
33
Such as, early flood or flash floods affect the rice production in Haor areas. Continuous rodent
and pig attacks on crops in Chittagong Hill Tracts area and crop damage due to excessive
rainfall, ban on jhum (shifting) crop cultivation, erode the access to food and income of the
34
region . Food Security Strategies of The People Living in Haor Areas: Status and Prospects
(October 2010) explored that over two-fifths of the survey households suffered from normal
food insecurity, about one-third from moderate food insecurity and near one-fifth from severe
food insecurity. Such vulnerable situations require special attention and priority consideration
for victims of natural disasters, people living in disaster-prone areas and other specially
disadvantaged groups.
32. There are quite a large number of policy instruments related to agriculture, food security
and rural development (Annex VIII). While these documents are complementary to each other,
in some cases they contradict each other. In some cases, there are repetitions of the same
policies too. Besides, due to the involvement of multiple ministries, lack of coordination hinders
35
the effective progress . The NFP, PoA and CIP could provide pathway both for a unifying policy
framework and a coordinating institutional mechanism. Election manifesto of present elected
government of Bangladesh covers a range of indicators, though at the implementation level
progress are limited. As a SAARC Country, Bangladesh is also responsible to deliver on SDGs,
besides MDGs targets.
33. CIP, as a five-year investment plan made for food and agriculture for Bangladesh, does not
carry any major discrepancy in terms of policy, planning and strategies between these
documents is fully mainstreamed into the 6th Five Year Plan. However, a greater degree of
inconsistencies are found at the implementation level (Annex IX, Review of Bangladesh
Country Investment Plan (CIP): Issues and Challenges). The National Food Policy Plan of
Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012 reveals slow and uneven
implementation progress, as indicated by a delivery of just 51% of the budget available for the
financial year 2010/11, but impressive increase of the funding of food security and nutrition
investments (+ 2.2 Billion USD in 2010/11 for a total of 5.2 billion financed).
34. Adopt a legal framework on right to food, and introduce right based approach to
programming on food security for progressive realization of the right to adequate food;
35. Adopt National Agriculture Policy with necessary revisions for ensuring coherence with all
agriculture and food security and nutrition policy framework and ensure coherence and efficient
coordination among all the relevant implementing agencies;
VII. Policy coherence and implementation progress
VIII. Recommendations
13 12
36. Take measures to strengthen agricultural research works with a particular focus on agro
37. Ensure a strong and frequently updated information system on agriculture, food security
and nutrition for accurate projection on the need of the farmers, and for proper planning and
monitoring; Strengthen the progress monitoring process by involving a multi stakeholder
participatory process;
38. Ensure adequate subsidy for the agricultural inputs and strengthen the distribution system
to prevent any form of irregularity in the system. Take measures to strengthen the capacity of
the relevant govt. institutions such as, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation
(BADC), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and empower them to ensure timely and
quality services required for the farmers; Ensure incessant initiatives on storage, agro
processing, and marketing in adequate and efficient manner;
39. Scale up investment to modernize the functioning of state-run TCB, including opening up its
branches in different divisions of the country and strengthen the market monitoring to stabilize
the food prices;
40. Increase the financial investments in the fisheries and livestock sectors as part of
41. Update land use policy and ensure its proper implementation to stop using agriculture land
42. Ensure right based approach in the development of Social Protection Strategy currently
Protection programs linking with long term development programs on agriculture, food security
and nutrition;
43. Consider emerging challenges affecting food security like climate change, urbanization,
44. Take appropriate legal and administrative steps to ensure land rights of the indigenous
people while recognizing traditional rights to land of the indigenous people living in the hill tracts
or other forest areas;
45. Adopt community based nutrition programs targeting both rural and urban area following a life
cycle approach and ensure that such interventions are consistent with local ecosystems and
prioritize local solutions and are consistent with the objective of moving towards sustainable diets;
46. Massive awareness raising among the consumers on the food safety issues and strengthen
the legal and the regulatory regime of consumer protection in the country along with strong
monitoring systems; ensure better coordination between food safety inspection and
enforcement agencies;
region was dependent upon farming/cultivation for their livelihood and about 22 per cent of
indigenous households lost their lands. The socio-economic status of most indigenous
communities in the plains, particularly in the north-western Rajshahi administrative divisions, is
known generally to be even worse than that of indigenous communities in the CHT. In a recent
baseline survey (2011) on the human rights situation in Bangladesh conducted by NHRC, the
respondents from the indigenous communities reported that lack of equal opportunities for
employment, and land disputes are major problems facing by them which indicates the
32
vulnerability to food security of the indigenous people of the country .
31. Depending on the agro ecological base adversity, region based food insecurity also exists.
33
Such as, early flood or flash floods affect the rice production in Haor areas. Continuous rodent
and pig attacks on crops in Chittagong Hill Tracts area and crop damage due to excessive
rainfall, ban on jhum (shifting) crop cultivation, erode the access to food and income of the
34
region . Food Security Strategies of The People Living in Haor Areas: Status and Prospects
32. There are quite a large number of policy instruments related to agriculture, food security
and rural development (Annex VIII). While these documents are complementary to each other,
in some cases they contradict each other. In some cases, there are repetitions of the same
policies too. Besides, due to the involvement of multiple ministries, lack of coordination hinders
35
the effective progress . The NFP, PoA and CIP could provide pathway both for a unifying policy
framework and a coordinating institutional mechanism. Election manifesto of present elected
government of Bangladesh covers a range of indicators, though at the implementation level
progress are limited. As a SAARC Country, Bangladesh is also responsible to deliver on SDGs,
besides MDGs targets.
33. CIP, as a five-year investment plan made for food and agriculture for Bangladesh, does not
documents is fully mainstreamed into the 6th Five Year Plan. However, a greater degree of
inconsistencies are found at the implementation level (Annex IX, Review of Bangladesh
Country Investment Plan (CIP): Issues and Challenges). The National Food Policy Plan of
Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012 reveals slow and uneven
implementation progress, as indicated by a delivery of just 51% of the budget available for the
financial year 2010/11, but impressive increase of the funding of food security and nutrition
investments (+ 2.2 Billion USD in 2010/11 for a total of 5.2 billion financed).
34. Adopt a legal framework on right to food, and introduce right based approach to
programming on food security for progressive realization of the right to adequate food;
35. Adopt National Agriculture Policy with necessary revisions for ensuring coherence with all
agriculture and food security and nutrition policy framework and ensure coherence and efficient
coordination among all the relevant implementing agencies;
VII. Policy coherence and implementation progress
VIII. Recommendations
13 12
47. Submit long due initial and periodic report on ICESCR to the Committee on ICESCR and
take measures to implement the recommendations of the Committee; Complying with CEDAW
obligations, take legal, administrative measures to end discrimination against women and
ensure womens equal rights(right to land and other economic property);
48. Secure pro farmers position in negotiation in WTO to protect the rights of the small and
marginalized farmers as far as agriculture is concerned; and takes effective measures that
agriculture products get the duty free and quota free market access to the international
markets;
49. Take effective steps to set up regional and international virtual food banks with the
commitments of food availability to countries stressed by food insecurity and furthering the
process of making such arrangement operational, in cases where such arrangement has
already been made, for example, SAARC Food Bank.
50. Include the food security concerns in the agriculture related trade negotiations from a food
security perspective; introduce new rules and disciplines to prevent export restrictions/barriers
by food exporting countries and ensure continuing food exports to the Least Developed
Countries(LDCs) at affordable prices even during the crisis period;
51. Increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) and ensure that developed
countries/development partners realize their commitments of ODA for the development of
agriculture and food security. This can be followed up under MDGs Framework and upcoming
Post 2015 process besides ongoing process like CoP.
1
Oxfam GB is an international NGO based in UK (www.oxfam.org.uk), Bangladesh country office works on various
issues including food security. Oxfam launched a global campaign named GROW in 2011. As one of the Focus
Country, OGB Bangladesh organized consultation on food security situations as a part of its national campaign.
2
CSRL is a national alliance of approximately 250 local and national civil society organizations and networks launched
in 2007, facilitated by Oxfam GB in Bangladesh.
3
Among other individuals and organizations, WAVE Foundation, VSO Bangladesh, Inner Power, Institute for
Environment and Development (IED), ActionAid Bangladesh, INCIDIN Bangladesh, IFSN, SUPRO, BLAST,
Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP), Angikar Bangladesh, Campaign for Right to Food and Social Security and
UNDP Bangladesh have been consulted throughout the report preparation process.
4
Food Policy Action Plan and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012, page 10.
5
Quasem, M A. (2011) Conversion of Agricultural Land to Non-agricultural Uses in Bangladesh: Extents and
Determinants Bangladesh Development Studies, Vol. XXXIV, March No.1.
6
According to Population and Housing Census 2011: as on 15 March 2011, total population of Bangladesh is 14, 97,
72,364 and project population on 16 July 2012 is 15, 25, 18,015. Population growth rate is 1.37%
7
Bangladesh Rice Farmers Demand Higher Purchase Price for New Crop Boro Paddy( Oryza News on May 22,2012)/
The Daily Star, 14 September 2012
8
A Quantitative Analysis of Fertilizer Demand and Subsidy Policy in Bangladesh( Manob Sakti Unnayan Kendro),
December 2010
9
A Masud Ali, AKM Mustaque Ali Ratan Sarkar(2005),Agrarian living beyond corporate cage: Peasants paper on
trade and Globalization; INCIDIN Bangladesh, Dhaka.
End Notes
10
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/93851/BANGLADESH-Bureaucratic-hitch-leaves-women-farmers-high-and-dry:
The problem, according to Sharmind Neelormi, an associate economics professor at Jahangir Nagar University in
Dhaka who has studied gender trends in farming, and others, is that the Agriculture Input Assistance Card (AIAC)
programme requires eligible cardholders to own land
11
Country Investment Plan for Fisheries Development(2010-2015), Road Map to Country Investment Plan for
Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition with Proper Livestock Resource management
12
National Food Policy Plan of Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012
13
Zahurul Karim, Khan Shahidul Huque, Md. Golam Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali, and Mosharraf Hossain, Growth and
Development Potential of Livestock and Fisheries in Bangladesh, Prepared for the Bangladesh Food Security
Investment Forum May 2010: A comparison of projected supply and demand shows that there will be a shortfall of
about 1 million metric tons (mt) of fish in 2015 under a high-demand growth scenario
14
Zhang, X., S. Rashid, K. Ahmad, V. Muller, H. Lemma, S. Belal and A. Ahmed (2012) Rising Wages and Poverty
Reduction in Bangladesh, Background paper prepared for the World Bank Poverty Assessment Report on
Bangladesh, IFPRI
15
MDGs Bangladesh progress report 2011, page 17
16
AAM Badrul Hasan and Sharifa Khan,(2011), Food Security of the Net Food Importing Developing Countries(NFDIS)
in the context of WTO Negotiations.
17
Food Policy Action Plan and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012, page no.21/ Based on the BBS HIES
2010.
18
Food Policy Action Plan and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012
19
http://www.nfpcsp.org/agridrupal/sites/default/files/Working%20together%20for%20better%20safety.pdf
20
Food Policy Action Plan and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012, page no.55
21
Oxfam Publication: A review of Bangladesh Country Investment(CIP): Issues and Challenges.
22
The Bangladesh Development Studies, Vol. XXXIII, March-June 2010, Nos. 1 & 2, The Right to Food: Bangladesh
Perspectives, QUAZI SHAHABUDDIN* P. 117
23
BIDS Policy Brief, Input Prices, Subsidies and Farmers' Incentives, M. Asaduzzaman, Quazi Shahabuddin, Uttam
Kumar Deb and Steve Jones( May 2009): In 2007 and 2008, Bangladesh experienced unprecedented rises and
sharp falls in the prices of oil, fertilizer and food. A striking feature of this volatility was that while prices took many
months to build up to their peaks in mid-2008, the downturn was very rapid, with prices tumbling by the end of 2008.
24
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19193390
25
National Food Policy Plan of Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012, p-16
26
MDGs Bangladesh Progress Report 2011, page 21
27
DHAKA, 22 December 2011 (IRIN)
28
Anika Hossain,What Your Children Eat,A weekly Publication of the Daily Star, Vol 14, Issue 796, September 28,2012
29
http://lawlib.wlu.edu/lexopus/works/297-1.pdf
30
Thursday, Aug 11, 2011/ The Daily Star/Asia News Network
31
Country Technical Notes on Indigenous Peoples Issues: BANGLADESH, Submitted by: Raja Devasish Roy Date:
March 2010/ Human Development Research Centre (Abul Barkat et al), Socio-economic Baseline Survey of
Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility, UNDP, Bangladesh, IDB Bhaban, Sher-e-Bangla
Nagar, Dhaka 1207, 2009.
32
Food Policy Action Plan Monitoring Report 2012, p.19
33
Haor is a bowl shape seasonal wetland with perennial water bodies found in North East Bangladesh and Indian State
Assam and Tripura
34
Bangladesh Food Security Monitoring Bulletin, Issue No.8, Jan-Mar 2012
35
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (2009), Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood.
15 14
47. Submit long due initial and periodic report on ICESCR to the Committee on ICESCR and
take measures to implement the recommendations of the Committee; Complying with CEDAW
obligations, take legal, administrative measures to end discrimination against women and
ensure womens equal rights(right to land and other economic property);
48. Secure pro farmers position in negotiation in WTO to protect the rights of the small and
markets;
49. Take effective steps to set up regional and international virtual food banks with the
50. Include the food security concerns in the agriculture related trade negotiations from a food
security perspective; introduce new rules and disciplines to prevent export restrictions/barriers
by food exporting countries and ensure continuing food exports to the Least Developed
Countries(LDCs) at affordable prices even during the crisis period;
51. Increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) and ensure that developed
agriculture and food security. This can be followed up under MDGs Framework and upcoming
Post 2015 process besides ongoing process like CoP.
1
Oxfam GB is an international NGO based in UK (www.oxfam.org.uk), Bangladesh country office works on various
issues including food security. Oxfam launched a global campaign named GROW in 2011. As one of the Focus
Country, OGB Bangladesh organized consultation on food security situations as a part of its national campaign.
2
CSRL is a national alliance of approximately 250 local and national civil society organizations and networks launched
in 2007, facilitated by Oxfam GB in Bangladesh.
3
Among other individuals and organizations, WAVE Foundation, VSO Bangladesh, Inner Power, Institute for
Environment and Development (IED), ActionAid Bangladesh, INCIDIN Bangladesh, IFSN, SUPRO, BLAST,
Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP), Angikar Bangladesh, Campaign for Right to Food and Social Security and
UNDP Bangladesh have been consulted throughout the report preparation process.
4
Food Policy Action Plan and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012, page 10.
5
Quasem, M A. (2011) Conversion of Agricultural Land to Non-agricultural Uses in Bangladesh: Extents and
Determinants Bangladesh Development Studies, Vol. XXXIV, March No.1.
6
According to Population and Housing Census 2011: as on 15 March 2011, total population of Bangladesh is 14, 97,
72,364 and project population on 16 July 2012 is 15, 25, 18,015. Population growth rate is 1.37%
7
Bangladesh Rice Farmers Demand Higher Purchase Price for New Crop Boro Paddy( Oryza News on May 22,2012)/
The Daily Star, 14 September 2012
8
A Quantitative Analysis of Fertilizer Demand and Subsidy Policy in Bangladesh( Manob Sakti Unnayan Kendro),
December 2010
9
A Masud Ali, AKM Mustaque Ali Ratan Sarkar(2005),Agrarian living beyond corporate cage: Peasants paper on
trade and Globalization; INCIDIN Bangladesh, Dhaka.
End Notes
10
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/93851/BANGLADESH-Bureaucratic-hitch-leaves-women-farmers-high-and-dry:
The problem, according to Sharmind Neelormi, an associate economics professor at Jahangir Nagar University in
Dhaka who has studied gender trends in farming, and others, is that the Agriculture Input Assistance Card (AIAC)
programme requires eligible cardholders to own land
11
Country Investment Plan for Fisheries Development(2010-2015), Road Map to Country Investment Plan for
Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition with Proper Livestock Resource management
12
National Food Policy Plan of Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012
13
Zahurul Karim, Khan Shahidul Huque, Md. Golam Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali, and Mosharraf Hossain, Growth and
Development Potential of Livestock and Fisheries in Bangladesh, Prepared for the Bangladesh Food Security
Investment Forum May 2010: A comparison of projected supply and demand shows that there will be a shortfall of
about 1 million metric tons (mt) of fish in 2015 under a high-demand growth scenario
14
Zhang, X., S. Rashid, K. Ahmad, V. Muller, H. Lemma, S. Belal and A. Ahmed (2012) Rising Wages and Poverty
Reduction in Bangladesh, Background paper prepared for the World Bank Poverty Assessment Report on
Bangladesh, IFPRI
15
MDGs Bangladesh progress report 2011, page 17
16
AAM Badrul Hasan and Sharifa Khan,(2011), Food Security of the Net Food Importing Developing Countries(NFDIS)
in the context of WTO Negotiations.
17
2010.
18
Food Policy Action Plan and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012
19
http://www.nfpcsp.org/agridrupal/sites/default/files/Working%20together%20for%20better%20safety.pdf
20
Food Policy Action Plan and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012, page no.55
21
Oxfam Publication: A review of Bangladesh Country Investment(CIP): Issues and Challenges.
22
The Bangladesh Development Studies, Vol. XXXIII, March-June 2010, Nos. 1 & 2, The Right to Food: Bangladesh
Perspectives, QUAZI SHAHABUDDIN* P. 117
23
BIDS Policy Brief, Input Prices, Subsidies and Farmers' Incentives, M. Asaduzzaman, Quazi Shahabuddin, Uttam
Kumar Deb and Steve Jones( May 2009): In 2007 and 2008, Bangladesh experienced unprecedented rises and
sharp falls in the prices of oil, fertilizer and food. A striking feature of this volatility was that while prices took many
months to build up to their peaks in mid-2008, the downturn was very rapid, with prices tumbling by the end of 2008.
24
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19193390
25
National Food Policy Plan of Action and Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012, p-16
26
MDGs Bangladesh Progress Report 2011, page 21
27
DHAKA, 22 December 2011 (IRIN)
28
Anika Hossain,What Your Children Eat,A weekly Publication of the Daily Star, Vol 14, Issue 796, September 28,2012
29
http://lawlib.wlu.edu/lexopus/works/297-1.pdf
30
Thursday, Aug 11, 2011/ The Daily Star/Asia News Network
31
Country Technical Notes on Indigenous Peoples Issues: BANGLADESH, Submitted by: Raja Devasish Roy Date:
March 2010/ Human Development Research Centre (Abul Barkat et al), Socio-economic Baseline Survey of
Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility, UNDP, Bangladesh, IDB Bhaban, Sher-e-Bangla
Nagar, Dhaka 1207, 2009.
32
Food Policy Action Plan Monitoring Report 2012, p.19
33
Haor is a bowl shape seasonal wetland with perennial water bodies found in North East Bangladesh and Indian State
Assam and Tripura
34
Bangladesh Food Security Monitoring Bulletin, Issue No.8, Jan-Mar 2012
35
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (2009), Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood.
15 14
Annex 1
Campaign for Sustainable and Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) Bangladesh: Campaign for
Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) is an alliance of 250 local-national-international
development and civil society organizations, active in Bangladesh. Formed in September
2007, CSRL aims to ensure sustainable rural livelihoods in Bangladesh by focusing on
agriculture, climate change and trade policies and practices. Besides performing at local and
national level, this alliance is now also playing a significant role at the international level for
protecting the public interest of Bangladesh.
Oxfam: Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations networked together in
more than 90 countries, as part of a global movement for change, to build a future free from the
injustice of poverty.
Oxfams involvement in Bangladesh began with Oxfam GBs assistance to the refugees during
the 1971 war for Bangladeshs independence.
This stakeholders report has been drafted by the Secretariat of Campaign for Sustainable
Rural Livelihood with the inputs from CSRL partners and Steering Committee Members.
Annex II
Description of CSRL and Oxfam
Ratification of core human rights treaties
Declarations: Article 10 (rights
during loss of liberty), Article
11(Imprisonment for inability to
fulfill contractual obligation), Article
14 (no trial in absentia):
Reservation: Article 14 (no trial in
absentia)
Article 1 (right to self-
determination):
Articles 2 (realization of rights) and
3 (gender equality):
Articles 7 (conditions of work) and
8 (trade union rights):
Articles 10 (family rights) and 13
(right to education):
International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Optional Protocol to ICCPR
(individual complaints procedure)
Second Optional Protocol to
ICCPR (abolishing the death
penalty)
International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (ICESCR)
6 September 2000 (a)
-
-
5 October 1998 (a)
Reservations
and Declarations
Human Rights Treaty
Ratification/
Accession (a)
Reservations
and Declarations
Human Rights Treaty
Ratification/
Accession (a)
Acceptance of amendment to art. 8
(6): Receipt of declaration on art. 14
Reservation: Article 14 Para 1
Receipt of declaration on art. 22
Reservation: Articles 2, [...] and 16
(1) (c)
Article 2- Principle of non
discrimination and elimination of
discrimination against women
Articles 2 16 (1) (c)- Elimination of
discrimination against women in all
matters relating to marriage and
family relations, in particular the
same rights and responsibilities
during marriage and its dissolution.
Declaration:
Article 10 (1) thereof that it would
not undertake the obligations
arising out of articles 8 and 9 of the
said Optional Protocol.
Reservations:
Article 14 (freedom of thought,
conscience and religion):
[The Government of Bangladesh]
ratifies the Convention with a
reservation to article 14, paragraph
1.
Optional Protocol to the
Rights
New York, 10 December 2008
Not yet in force
International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (ICERD)
Declaration under art.14, ICERD
allowing for individual complaints
Convention against Torture and
other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CAT)
Declaration under art.22 CAT
Optional Protocol to CAT
(allowing in-country inspections of
places of detention)
Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW)
Optional Protocol to CEDAW
Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC)
-
11 June 1979 (a)
5 October 1998 (a)
6 November 1984 (a)
6 September 2000
3 August 1990
17 16
Annex 1
Campaign for Sustainable and Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) Bangladesh: Campaign for
Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) is an alliance of 250 local-national-international
development and civil society organizations, active in Bangladesh. Formed in September
2007, CSRL aims to ensure sustainable rural livelihoods in Bangladesh by focusing on
agriculture, climate change and trade policies and practices. Besides performing at local and
national level, this alliance is now also playing a significant role at the international level for
protecting the public interest of Bangladesh.
Oxfam: Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations networked together in
more than 90 countries, as part of a global movement for change, to build a future free from the
injustice of poverty.
Oxfams involvement in Bangladesh began with Oxfam GBs assistance to the refugees during
the 1971 war for Bangladeshs independence.
This stakeholders report has been drafted by the Secretariat of Campaign for Sustainable
Rural Livelihood with the inputs from CSRL partners and Steering Committee Members.
Annex II
Description of CSRL and Oxfam
Ratification of core human rights treaties
Declarations: Article 10 (rights
during loss of liberty), Article
11(Imprisonment for inability to
fulfill contractual obligation), Article
14 (no trial in absentia):
Reservation: Article 14 (no trial in
absentia)
Article 1 (right to self-
determination):
Articles 2 (realization of rights) and
3 (gender equality):
Articles 7 (conditions of work) and
8 (trade union rights):
Articles 10 (family rights) and 13
(right to education):
International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Optional Protocol to ICCPR
(individual complaints procedure)
Second Optional Protocol to
ICCPR (abolishing the death
penalty)
Rights (ICESCR)
6 September 2000 (a)
-
-
5 October 1998 (a)
Reservations
and Declarations
Human Rights Treaty
Ratification/
Accession (a)
Reservations
and Declarations
Human Rights Treaty
Ratification/
Accession (a)
Acceptance of amendment to art. 8
(6): Receipt of declaration on art. 14
Reservation: Article 14 Para 1
Receipt of declaration on art. 22
Reservation: Articles 2, [...] and 16
(1) (c)
Article 2- Principle of non
discrimination and elimination of
discrimination against women
Articles 2 16 (1) (c)- Elimination of
discrimination against women in all
matters relating to marriage and
family relations, in particular the
same rights and responsibilities
during marriage and its dissolution.
Declaration:
Article 10 (1) thereof that it would
not undertake the obligations
arising out of articles 8 and 9 of the
said Optional Protocol.
Reservations:
Article 14 (freedom of thought,
conscience and religion):
[The Government of Bangladesh]
ratifies the Convention with a
reservation to article 14, paragraph
1.
Rights
Not yet in force
Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (ICERD)
Declaration under art.14, ICERD
Convention against Torture and
other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CAT)
Declaration under art.22 CAT
Optional Protocol to CAT
(allowing in-country inspections of
places of detention)
Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW)
Optional Protocol to CEDAW
Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC)
-
11 June 1979 (a)
5 October 1998 (a)
6 November 1984 (a)
6 September 2000
3 August 1990
17 16
Lower Poverty Line
National
31.5
40.0
Urban
21.3
28.4
Rural
35.2
43.8
National
17.6
25.1
Urban
7.7
14.6
Rural
21.1
28.6
Annex IV
Ministry wise budget allocation for agriculture and rural development (combined of
development and non development allocation)
Table 3
Ministry/ FY
Agriculture
Ministry of fishery and animal
resources
Ministry of water resources
Rural development and
cooperative division
FY 2012-13
8,911
948
2,892
1,112
FY 2011-12
(revised)
9,260
931
2,261
1,047
FY2011-12
7,406
977
2,228
802
FY2010-11
8,438
774
2,040
630
Table 4: Agricultural subsidy during the five fiscal years (in Crore Taka)
Fiscal Year
Agriculture subsidy
Total Subsidy
Agriculture subsidy
as % of total subsidy
FY 2007-08
2250
4200
54
FY 2008-09
4285
6717
64
FY 2009-10
3600
6989
52
FY 2010-11
4006
7662
52
FY 2011-12
4500
9286
48
Source: Ministry of Finance (MoF)-http://www.mof.gov.bd
Annex V
Head Count Rates of Incidence of Poverty (CBN Method), 2005-2010
2010
2005
Upper Poverty Line
Years of HIES
Using data of HIES 2010
Subsidy trend in last 2 fiscal years
FY
2012-13
2011-12(revised)
2011-12
Amount
TK. 6,000 crore Taka
TK. 4500 Crore Taka
Source: budget statements
Annex III
Structure of distribution of agricultural land holding (1983-2008)
Items
Distribution of farm holdings by size:
Small (<1.0 ha)
Medium (1.0-3.0 ha)
Large (>3.0 ha )
Source: BBS Census of Agriculture 2008, National Series, Volume 1/ Food Action Plan Monitoring Report 2012
1983-84
70.3%
24.7%
4.9%
1996
80.0%
17.6%
2.5%
2008
84.2%
14.2%
1.6%
Article 21 (adoption): Also article
21 would apply subject to the
existing laws and practices in
Bangladesh.
Optional Protocol to CRC on the

involvement of children in armed
conflict
sale of children, child prostitution
and child pornography
Protection of the Rights of All
Migrant Workers and members of
Their Families (CMW)
Declaration under art.77 CMW
Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities
International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance
6 September 2000
6 September 2000
24 August 2011
9 May 2007(S)
30 November 2007(R)
12 May 2008(a)

-
Reservations
and Declarations
Human Rights Treaty
Ratification/
Accession (a)
19 18
Lower Poverty Line
National
31.5
40.0
Urban
21.3
28.4
Rural
35.2
43.8
National
17.6
25.1
Urban
7.7
14.6
Rural
21.1
28.6
Annex IV
Ministry wise budget allocation for agriculture and rural development (combined of
development and non development allocation)
Table 3
Ministry/ FY
Agriculture
Ministry of fishery and animal
resources
Ministry of water resources
Rural development and
cooperative division
FY 2012-13
8,911
948
2,892
1,112
FY 2011-12
(revised)
9,260
931
2,261
1,047
FY2011-12
7,406
977
2,228
802
FY2010-11
8,438
774
2,040
630
Table 4: Agricultural subsidy during the five fiscal years (in Crore Taka)
Fiscal Year
Agriculture subsidy
Total Subsidy
Agriculture subsidy
as % of total subsidy
FY 2007-08
2250
4200
54
FY 2008-09
4285
6717
64
FY 2009-10
3600
6989
52
FY 2010-11
4006
7662
52
FY 2011-12
4500
9286
48
Source: Ministry of Finance (MoF)-http://www.mof.gov.bd
Annex V
Head Count Rates of Incidence of Poverty (CBN Method), 2005-2010
2010
2005
Upper Poverty Line
Years of HIES
Using data of HIES 2010
Subsidy trend in last 2 fiscal years
FY
2012-13
2011-12(revised)
2011-12
Amount
TK. 4500 Crore Taka
Source: budget statements
Annex III
Structure of distribution of agricultural land holding (1983-2008)
Items
Distribution of farm holdings by size:
Small (<1.0 ha)
Medium (1.0-3.0 ha)
Large (>3.0 ha )
Source: BBS Census of Agriculture 2008, National Series, Volume 1/ Food Action Plan Monitoring Report 2012
1983-84
70.3%
24.7%
4.9%
1996
80.0%
17.6%
2.5%
2008
84.2%
14.2%
1.6%
Article 21 (adoption): Also article
21 would apply subject to the
existing laws and practices in
Bangladesh.

involvement of children in armed
conflict
sale of children, child prostitution
and child pornography
Protection of the Rights of All
Migrant Workers and members of
Their Families (CMW)
Declaration under art.77 CMW
International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance
6 September 2000
6 September 2000
24 August 2011
9 May 2007(S)
30 November 2007(R)
12 May 2008(a)

-
Reservations
and Declarations
Human Rights Treaty
Ratification/
Accession (a)
19 18
Annex IX
Policy Consistency Matrix
Food
production
Highly stressed
to achieve self-
sufficiency in
food
production by
the year 2015
Highly stressed
to achieve self-
sufficiency in
food
production by
2015
Zero
dependency
on food
import
The two budgets
lack consistency.
The goals are not
clear. In the budget
of FY 2010-11, it was
announced that self-
sufficiency on food
production will be
achieved by 2012;
the budget of the
current fiscal said
that self-sufficiency
on food will be
achieved by 2013.
Inconsistency
between short
and long term
policy and plan
strategies may
weaken the
goal of
achieving food
self-sufficiency
in the country
within a
stipulated time.
Food Insecurity by Geographic and Gender Status (percent)
Annex VI
National
Area
Division
Sex of household head
Average
Rural
Urban
Barisal
Chittagong
Dhaka
Khulna
Rajshahi
Sylhet
Male
Female
25
27
17
26
25
20
25
31
24
23
38
Source: BHFSNA 2008-09, WFP, UNICEF, IPHN/ MDGs Bangladesh Progress Report 2011(table 1.6)
Annex VIII
Policies related to agriculture
Crops Sub-sector
1. National Agricultural Policy (NAP) 1999
2. New Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) 1996
3. DAE Strategy Plan 1999-2002
4. Agricultural Extension Manual 1999
Agricultural Ministry
Crops Sub-sector
5. Seed Policy 1993
6. Seed Law 1997
7. Co-ordinated Pest Management Policy 2002
8. National Agricultural Work Plan
9. Effective Policy Brief 2004
10. National Jute Policy 2002
Non-Crop Sub-sector
11. National Livestock Policy and Work Plan 2005
12. National Fisheries Policy and Action Plan 1998
13. National Forest Policy 1994
Cross-Cutting Policies
14. National Land Use Policy
15. National Water Policy
16. Environment Policy 1992 and Implementation
Programme
17. National Food Policy 2006
18. National Rural Development Policy 2001
19. Agriculture and Rural Development parts (2008) of
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-2 (2009-2011)
20. Export Import Policy 2006-2009
21. National Economic Policies
Ministry of Jute
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
Ministry of Forest and Environment
Ministry of Land
Water Resources Ministry
Food Ministry
Rural Development and Cooperative
Ministry
Planning Commission, Planning
Ministry
Commerce Ministry
Ministry of Finance
Source: Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, Ministry of Commerce,09 March 2011
Annex VII
Average price of some essential food items price/kg
Item
1
Rice(Coarse)
Wheat Flour
Soya bin Oil
Pulm Oil
Pulse(Lentil)
Sugar
Potato
Onion
Milk Powder
Salt
Price
11.01.2006
2
17.50
19.50
50.50
40.50
48.00
47.50
14.50
20.00
293.00
12
Price
11.01.2007
3
18.50
25.50
65.00
51.00
65.00
36.50
13.00
18.00
347.00
13
Price
9.03.2011
4
34.00
31.00
105.00
94.00
72.00
57.00
8.00
20.00
420.00
15
% of change
between 2006
& 2011
5
83.78
21.57
61.54
84.31
10.77
56.16
-38.46
11.11
21.04
15.38
% of change
between 2007
& 11
6
94.29
58.97
107.92
132.10
50.00
20.00
-44.83
0.00
43.34
25.00
Policy Ministry
Policy Ministry
21 20
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Annex IX
Policy Consistency Matrix
Food
production
Highly stressed
to achieve self-
sufficiency in
food
production by
the year 2015
Highly stressed
to achieve self-
sufficiency in
food
production by
2015
Zero
dependency
on food
import
The two budgets
lack consistency.
The goals are not
clear. In the budget
of FY 2010-11, it was
announced that self-
sufficiency on food
production will be
achieved by 2012;
the budget of the
current fiscal said
that self-sufficiency
on food will be
achieved by 2013.
Inconsistency
between short
and long term
policy and plan
strategies may
weaken the
goal of
achieving food
self-sufficiency
in the country
within a
stipulated time.
Food Insecurity by Geographic and Gender Status (percent)
Annex VI
National
Area
Division
Sex of household head
Average
Rural
Urban
Barisal
Chittagong
Dhaka
Khulna
Rajshahi
Sylhet
Male
Female
25
27
17
26
25
20
25
31
24
23
38
Source: BHFSNA 2008-09, WFP, UNICEF, IPHN/ MDGs Bangladesh Progress Report 2011(table 1.6)
Annex VIII
Policies related to agriculture
Crops Sub-sector
1. National Agricultural Policy (NAP) 1999
2. New Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) 1996
3. DAE Strategy Plan 1999-2002
4. Agricultural Extension Manual 1999
Crops Sub-sector
5. Seed Policy 1993
6. Seed Law 1997
7. Co-ordinated Pest Management Policy 2002
8. National Agricultural Work Plan
9. Effective Policy Brief 2004
10. National Jute Policy 2002
Non-Crop Sub-sector
11. National Livestock Policy and Work Plan 2005
12. National Fisheries Policy and Action Plan 1998
13. National Forest Policy 1994
Cross-Cutting Policies
14. National Land Use Policy
15. National Water Policy
16. Environment Policy 1992 and Implementation
Programme
17. National Food Policy 2006
18. National Rural Development Policy 2001
19. Agriculture and Rural Development parts (2008) of
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-2 (2009-2011)
20. Export Import Policy 2006-2009
21. National Economic Policies
Ministry of Jute
Ministry of Land
Water Resources Ministry
Food Ministry
Rural Development and Cooperative
Ministry
Planning Commission, Planning
Ministry
Commerce Ministry
Ministry of Finance
Source: Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, Ministry of Commerce,09 March 2011
Annex VII
Average price of some essential food items price/kg
Item
1
Rice(Coarse)
Wheat Flour
Soya bin Oil
Pulm Oil
Pulse(Lentil)
Sugar
Potato
Onion
Milk Powder
Salt
Price
11.01.2006
2
17.50
19.50
50.50
40.50
48.00
47.50
14.50
20.00
293.00
12
Price
11.01.2007
3
18.50
25.50
65.00
51.00
65.00
36.50
13.00
18.00
347.00
13
Price
9.03.2011
4
34.00
31.00
105.00
94.00
72.00
57.00
8.00
20.00
420.00
15
% of change
between 2006
& 2011
5
83.78
21.57
61.54
84.31
10.77
56.16
-38.46
11.11
21.04
15.38
% of change
between 2007
& 11
6
94.29
58.97
107.92
132.10
50.00
20.00
-44.83
0.00
43.34
25.00
Policy Ministry
Policy Ministry
21 20
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Agriculture
research and
extension
Impacts of
climate change
on agriculture
production
Productivity
and technology
Regional
intervention
Investment on
R&D Stressed
Highly stressed
Highly stressed
Coastal zone,
Sylhet & chars
in the monga
affected areas
got priority in
crop sector
development
plan.
Stressed and
identified a
tentative
priority
research area,
and formulated
strategies for
extension
services
No strategy to
tackle climate
change
impacts on
agriculture
production
Devised
strategies
Coastal zone,
Sylhet & char
areas in the
monga
affected areas
got priority in
crop sector
development
plan.
Top priority is
given with an
investment
proposal of
US$ 1 billion
Proposed
adaptive
measures to
tackle climate
change
impacts
Stressed
through R &
D programs
Stressed is
given in
southern part
of the country
only
There is no new
allocation to carry
out agriculture
research and
development; no
initiative to
modernize
agriculture extension
services in the
country which is very
important for better
agriculture health.
A sum of TK700
crore is allocated in
each of the last two
fiscals (also in
FY2009-10); yet no
fund is allocated to
the MoA to tackle the
impacts of CC on
agriculture.
No emphasis has
been given to
increase agriculture
productivity and
technological
innovation
Some attention has
been given on Aila
affected southern
region of
Bangladesh.
Inconsistency
remains in
planning and
actual
implementation
Inconsistency
remains both in
planning and
actual
implementation
Inconsistency
remains both in
planning and
actual
implementation
Inconsistency;
tendency to
have ex-post
responses;
regional
intervention
should be
focused on
agro-ecological
zone base
intervention.
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Irrigation
Fisheries &
Livestock
Rural
development
and institutions
Employment
generation
Highly stressed
Highly stressed
Emphasis has
been given on
powerful and
autonomous
local
Governance
Highly stressed
Devised
targets and
comprehensive
strategies
Devised
strategies
As usual
strategies are
proposed
Proposed
strategies are
as usual,
employment in
non-farm
sector is
stressed
Proposed the
largest
investment
program
Investment
plan for next
five years
has been
doubled up
compared to
the past five
years.
Investment
program has
given on road
connectivity
No specific
program for
employment
generation.
Budget allocation is
well below the
targets set in CIP.
well below the
projected amount as
in CIP.
Relatively less
emphasis is given
on rural
development and
rural institutions.
Budgetary
measures are as
usual
Lack of
resources
could be the
key constraint;
targets may
not achieve
because of
lack of fund,
and
inefficiency
and poor
governance of
WDB
Lack of
resources
could be the
key constraint
Decentralizatio
n of local
government
and weak
governance of
rural
institutions
continued to
remain in all
planning and
policy
documents.
Objective of
access to food
may not be
achieved due
to lack of
employment
and income
opportunities
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
23 22
Agriculture
research and
extension
Impacts of
climate change
on agriculture
production
Productivity
and technology
Regional
intervention
Investment on
R&D Stressed
Highly stressed
Highly stressed
Coastal zone,
Sylhet & chars
in the monga
affected areas
got priority in
crop sector
development
plan.
Stressed and
identified a
tentative
priority
research area,
and formulated
strategies for
extension
services
No strategy to
tackle climate
change
impacts on
agriculture
production
Devised
strategies
Coastal zone,
Sylhet & char
areas in the
monga
affected areas
got priority in
crop sector
development
plan.
Top priority is
given with an
investment
proposal of
US$ 1 billion
Proposed
adaptive
measures to
tackle climate
change
impacts
Stressed
through R &
D programs
Stressed is
given in
southern part
of the country
only
There is no new
allocation to carry
out agriculture
research and
development; no
initiative to
modernize
agriculture extension
services in the
country which is very
important for better
agriculture health.
A sum of TK700
crore is allocated in
each of the last two
fiscals (also in
FY2009-10); yet no
fund is allocated to
the MoA to tackle the
impacts of CC on
agriculture.
No emphasis has
been given to
increase agriculture
productivity and
technological
innovation
Some attention has
been given on Aila
affected southern
region of
Bangladesh.
Inconsistency
remains in
planning and
actual
implementation
Inconsistency
remains both in
planning and
actual
implementation
Inconsistency
remains both in
planning and
actual
implementation
Inconsistency;
tendency to
have ex-post
responses;
regional
intervention
should be
focused on
agro-ecological
zone base
intervention.
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Irrigation
Fisheries &
Livestock
Rural
development
and institutions
Employment
generation
Highly stressed
Highly stressed
Emphasis has
been given on
powerful and
autonomous
local
Governance
Highly stressed
Devised
targets and
comprehensive
strategies
Devised
strategies
As usual
strategies are
proposed
Proposed
strategies are
as usual,
employment in
non-farm
sector is
stressed
Proposed the
largest
investment
program
Investment
plan for next
five years
has been
doubled up
compared to
the past five
years.
Investment
program has
given on road
connectivity
No specific
program for
employment
generation.
well below the
targets set in CIP.
well below the
projected amount as
in CIP.
Relatively less
emphasis is given
on rural
development and
rural institutions.
Budgetary
measures are as
usual
Lack of
resources
could be the
key constraint;
targets may
not achieve
because of
lack of fund,
and
inefficiency
and poor
governance of
WDB
Lack of
resources
could be the
key constraint
Decentralizatio
n of local
government
and weak
governance of
rural
institutions
continued to
remain in all
planning and
policy
documents.
Objective of
access to food
may not be
achieved due
to lack of
employment
and income
opportunities
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
23 22
Rural Credit
Food price
stabilization
Social safety
net (SSN)
programmes
Natural
resources
management
and their
access to poor
Stress has been
given on reform
and innovation
to improve
credit market
opportunities for
the rural poor
and to increase
the efficacy of
rural finance.
Vaguely
mentioned
Stressed, but
as usual
There is no
direction.
Micro credit is
stressed
No specific
strategies
Strategies are
as usual
Provide some
directions for
natural
resources
management
and its access
to poor
No program
has been
taken
accordingly
Public food
management
system is
being
stressed.
Stress has
been given
for
institutional
and capacity
development
for more
effective SSN
programs
Not taken into
consideration
No initiative has
been taken to
increase the flow of
finance in rural
economy.
No specific
measures has been
taken
Budgetary
measures are as
usual
No specific initiative
has been taken
Markets could
not be
developed, if
the flow of
money
circulation is
not increased
sufficiently.
Government
has lost its
control over
food market
and seriously
failed to control
it
Region specific
new integrated
SSN is
required which
should be
linked with
economically
productive
activities
Increasing
access to
natural
resources for
rural poor is
essential for
reducing
poverty and
food vulnerabil
ity. Thus all the
planning
documents
should give
high importance
on it
Improve
nutritional
status
Stressed to
keep it below
15 per cent by
2021, but
terms it
challenging
There is no
specific target;
strategies are
as usual, in the
case of health,
population and
nutrition
together
Target is to
reduce
malnourished
people to
17.5 per cent
by 2015.
Community-
based
program is
proposed
Little initiatives have
been taken.
Strategies in
SFYP and CIP
are
inconsistent.
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Note: Soft copy of this report is available in the following link:
http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/js8_upr_bgd_s16_2013_jointsubmission8_e.pdf
25 24
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Rural Credit
Food price
stabilization
Social safety
net (SSN)
programmes
Natural
resources
management
and their
access to poor
Stress has been
given on reform
and innovation
to improve
credit market
opportunities for
the rural poor
and to increase
the efficacy of
rural finance.
Vaguely
mentioned
Stressed, but
as usual
There is no
direction.
Micro credit is
stressed
No specific
strategies
Strategies are
as usual
Provide some
directions for
natural
resources
management
and its access
to poor
No program
has been
taken
accordingly
Public food
management
system is
being
stressed.
Stress has
been given
for
institutional
and capacity
development
for more
effective SSN
programs
Not taken into
consideration
No initiative has
been taken to
increase the flow of
finance in rural
economy.
No specific
measures has been
taken
Budgetary
measures are as
usual
No specific initiative
has been taken
Markets could
not be
developed, if
the flow of
money
circulation is
not increased
sufficiently.
Government
has lost its
control over
food market
and seriously
failed to control
it
Region specific
new integrated
SSN is
required which
should be
linked with
economically
productive
activities
Increasing
access to
natural
resources for
rural poor is
essential for
reducing
poverty and
food vulnerabil
ity. Thus all the
planning
documents
should give
high importance
on it
Improve
nutritional
status
Stressed to
keep it below
15 per cent by
2021, but
terms it
challenging
There is no
specific target;
strategies are
as usual, in the
case of health,
population and
nutrition
together
Target is to
reduce
malnourished
people to
17.5 per cent
by 2015.
Community-
based
program is
proposed
Little initiatives have
been taken.
Strategies in
SFYP and CIP
are
inconsistent.
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Note: Soft copy of this report is available in the following link:
http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/js8_upr_bgd_s16_2013_jointsubmission8_e.pdf
25 24
Area of
Intervention
for Food
Security
Perspective
Plan
Sixth Five
Year Plan
CIP Budget FY2010-
11 & FY2011-12
Comments/
Suggestions
Looking Beyond MDGs 2015: Food Security and Nutrition
Background
Limitations of MDGs framework
Hunger and malnutrition have been in development debate for centuries but progress has been
minimal. After years of studies, debates and negotiations, world leaders gathered at UN
Headquarters in September 2000 to ratify the Millennium Declaration which center on halving
poverty and improving the welfare of the worlds poorest by 2015. In line with the Millennium
Declaration, the UN systems agreed for a set of time bound and measurable goals and targets
to assess progress over the period from 1990 to 2015.The MDGs include eight goals
addressing income poverty, decent work and hunger (MDG1); primary education (MDG 2);
gender inequalities (MDG 3); child and maternal health (MDGs 4 and 5); HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, and malaria (MDG 6); environmental sustainability including the loss of natural
resources and biodiversity and access to water, sanitation, and good housing (MDG 7); and
global partnerships (MDG 8).
Two years from the 2015 target date of the Millennium Development Goals, while there has been
progress in reducing poverty in some regions, this progress has been uneven and the number of
people living in poverty in some countries continue to increase, with women and children
constituting the majority of the most affected groups, especially in the least developed countries.
Though the Millennium Declaration made substantial reference to human rights, and the
principles of freedom and equality, the MDGs absolutely departed from those principles, the
basis from which the MDGs were drawn. One of the key limitations of the MDGs framework is
that the MDG targets are basically some sectoral quantitative targets without focusing on the
underlying causes of poverty and hunger. MDGs have been challenged for its target-driven and
technocratic approach to development and concerns have been raised as to whether the
MDGs pay sufficient attention to women and marginalized groups, and properly address
national and global power inequities. The targets are not adequately focused on the poorest of
the poor or on inequality within a country.
In respect of MDG Goal 1 (eradication of extreme poverty and hunger), target has been set on
achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all, although no date is set for its
realization. For MDG target 1.A, extreme poverty is conceived as income poverty, measured
principally by those living on less than $1 a day. Concerns have been raised about the focus on
the indicator for poverty. In many countries, and through the passage of time, $1 a day is not
enough for the poor to be able to afford basic goods for survival. Furthermore, poverty involves
more than just a lack of income or a daily struggle for basic sustenance. It is now widely
acknowledged that poverty is not confined only to economic deprivation but extends to social,
cultural and political deprivation as well. But the goal does not necessarily require States to
target the poorest of the poor or address income inequality or to address unequal power
structure. Social security is also critical for those who are unable to actively participate in the
economy and find work, particularly in the cases of old age, disability and maternity. But the
goal does not set any target for social security measures.
In increasing the physical accessibility of food, the distribution of resources, including
agricultural services and infrastructure, need to be sufficiently targeted to marginalized and
vulnerable groups, including those regions where the poorest reside. Special attention needed
Thematic Paper on Post MDGs Framework on Food
Security And Nutrition
27
Background
Limitations of MDGs framework
Hunger and malnutrition have been in development debate for centuries but progress has been
minimal. After years of studies, debates and negotiations, world leaders gathered at UN
Headquarters in September 2000 to ratify the Millennium Declaration which center on halving
poverty and improving the welfare of the worlds poorest by 2015. In line with the Millennium
Declaration, the UN systems agreed for a set of time bound and measurable goals and targets
to assess progress over the period from 1990 to 2015.The MDGs include eight goals
addressing income poverty, decent work and hunger (MDG1); primary education (MDG 2);
gender inequalities (MDG 3); child and maternal health (MDGs 4 and 5); HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, and malaria (MDG 6); environmental sustainability including the loss of natural
resources and biodiversity and access to water, sanitation, and good housing (MDG 7); and
global partnerships (MDG 8).
Two years from the 2015 target date of the Millennium Development Goals, while there has been
progress in reducing poverty in some regions, this progress has been uneven and the number of
people living in poverty in some countries continue to increase, with women and children
constituting the majority of the most affected groups, especially in the least developed countries.
Though the Millennium Declaration made substantial reference to human rights, and the
principles of freedom and equality, the MDGs absolutely departed from those principles, the
basis from which the MDGs were drawn. One of the key limitations of the MDGs framework is
that the MDG targets are basically some sectoral quantitative targets without focusing on the
underlying causes of poverty and hunger. MDGs have been challenged for its target-driven and
technocratic approach to development and concerns have been raised as to whether the
MDGs pay sufficient attention to women and marginalized groups, and properly address
national and global power inequities. The targets are not adequately focused on the poorest of
the poor or on inequality within a country.
In respect of MDG Goal 1 (eradication of extreme poverty and hunger), target has been set on
achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all, although no date is set for its
realization. For MDG target 1.A, extreme poverty is conceived as income poverty, measured
principally by those living on less than $1 a day. Concerns have been raised about the focus on
the indicator for poverty. In many countries, and through the passage of time, $1 a day is not
enough for the poor to be able to afford basic goods for survival. Furthermore, poverty involves
more than just a lack of income or a daily struggle for basic sustenance. It is now widely
acknowledged that poverty is not confined only to economic deprivation but extends to social,
cultural and political deprivation as well. But the goal does not necessarily require States to
target the poorest of the poor or address income inequality or to address unequal power
structure. Social security is also critical for those who are unable to actively participate in the
economy and find work, particularly in the cases of old age, disability and maternity. But the
goal does not set any target for social security measures.
In increasing the physical accessibility of food, the distribution of resources, including
agricultural services and infrastructure, need to be sufficiently targeted to marginalized and
vulnerable groups, including those regions where the poorest reside. Special attention needed
Thematic Paper on Post MDGs Framework on Food
Security And Nutrition
27
mining of essential nutrients and micro-nutrients and organic carbon from the top soils, and the
depletion of ground water, are major challenges in sustaining future productive capacity. The
climate change caused by global warming has also appeared as a severe threat to subsistence
scale agricultural production in future.
Given the small and marginalized farmers contribution to food production, high production
costs compounded with inadequate and inefficient subsidy mechanism, lack of fair price of
agricultural products, lack of adequate storage facilities, faulty public procurement system and
problems related to farmers access to market etc are some of the major constraints to
sustained food production.
Women play important roles as producers of food, managers of natural resources, income
control over land are still confined which negatively influences the food production.
Accessibility: Still, a large number of people remain unable to access food in the quantity,
diversity and regularity required for a food secure life. According to the Welfare Monitoring
Survey 2009(A BBS Survey), 39.8% of the population thinks that they are food insecure.
Regional disparities exist in the proportion of the population with less than 2,122 kcal/day. The
evidence also suggests that female headed households and households in rural areas are
more food insecure compared to their respective counterparts.
Food price hike and price instability have become a matter of grave concern particularly for the
low income and fixed income people. The greatest impact of price hike is on poor households
whose food to non-food shares are proportionately larger in household spending (68% of total
household expenditures in the poorest 5% of households go on food compared to 33% in the
i
richest 5% of households).
Bangladesh has wide coverage of social safety net (SSN) programs to tackle the hunger of
13.0% of households in 2005 to 24.6% in 2010 (HIES 2010). According to a Report of Central
Monitoring Committee, 99 number of safety net programs are being implemented under 21
different ministries and divisions of Government. Whilst this represents substantial progress
within five years, the coverage rate is still below the proportion of households that are poor.
Challenges associated with the targeting, administration, monitoring and transparency of
safety nets are widely discussed. Lack of coordination among the different agencies both within
the government and beyond is a major constraint for improved achievement. Moreover, though
the social safety nets help safeguard the food rights of millions of people; this is not
implemented within a rights-based framework of entitlements, accountability and redressal.
Utilization: Progress in food utilization in terms of food safety and nutritional values is also
upsetting. Low birth weight (36%), childhood malnutrition (41% stunting; 36% underweight; 16%
wasting) and maternal malnutrition (25% CED) continue to be major nutritional problems in
Bangladesh. In the Welfare survey 2009, the households who reported food insecurity mentioned
that they manage such crisis by starving (54.3%), loan/borrowing (49.2%) and reducing favorite
food (49.3%) and taking less food (39.3%) which signify poor food consumption level.
Thematic Paper on Post MDGs Framework on Food Security And Nutrition
to be given to groups such as small farmers and landless labourers (through holistic agrarian
reform and/or provision of secure tenure), fisher folk and forest users, by ensuring secure
access to natural resources within a sustainable framework. The economic empowerment of
women through increased and equal control over productive resources is also crucial. To
ensure that food is economically accessible (affordable), states need to ensure that there is
enough food available to keep prices in check and take steps to ensure that food remains
affordable when its market price increases.
Notwithstanding the need for integrated efforts for ensuring food security, the MDGs (goal 1.3)
partly reflects the right to food, in particular the right to freedom from hunger, but without any
particular attention to the most marginalized and vulnerable. Though equitable national efforts
are required to address the root causes of hunger, these have not been captured in the
indicators.
The other key concerns as have been raised in many occasions are the absence of human
rights based integrated approach to MDG-related development planning, monitoring and
reporting, and the absence of enforceability and accountability mechanism.
MDGs are also primarily focused on developing countries. The international accountability
mechanisms for the MDGs are particularly weak. While developing countries have taken
incentives to adopt MDG-oriented plans, there has been no mechanism to ensure that the rich
countries keep their promises (under goal 8) to assist developing countries to realize the other
seven goals.
Goal 1 of MDGs is on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger with three targets which are:
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a
day; Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and
young people; and Halve between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from
hunger.
Bangladesh has made progress in achieving the MDGs goal 1. Household Income and
Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010 estimated poverty rate is 31.5% which is positively an
improvement to the poverty rate of 56.6% in 1991-92. However, since this HIES reports rate
poverty using only the Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) method and not the Direct Calorie Intake
(DCI) method, this poverty estimation does not directly show the food security status.
Notwithstanding the progress in poverty reduction, Bangladesh could not show progress in
employment generation, creation of more decent wage employment for women, attaining food
security, reducing income inequality. Labor Force Survey 2010, carried out by BBS, shows a
low employment rate that is 59.3 % of the population with low participation of women (36%).
The Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report 2011 reveals the increasing
income inequality between the rich and the poor. Findings of HIES 2010 reveal that the
incidence of rural poverty is higher than that of urban poverty and poverty ranged from 26% in
Availability: In recent years, Bangladesh has made progress in food grain production. Despite
approaching self-sufficiency in rice, to ensure food availability in a sustainable manner,
challenges remain in many areas. The conversion of arable land for non-agricultural purposes,
MDGs implementation progress in Bangladesh
Key challenges in relation to food security and nutrition in Bangladesh
29 28
mining of essential nutrients and micro-nutrients and organic carbon from the top soils, and the
depletion of ground water, are major challenges in sustaining future productive capacity. The
climate change caused by global warming has also appeared as a severe threat to subsistence
scale agricultural production in future.
Given the small and marginalized farmers contribution to food production, high production
costs compounded with inadequate and inefficient subsidy mechanism, lack of fair price of
agricultural products, lack of adequate storage facilities, faulty public procurement system and
problems related to farmers access to market etc are some of the major constraints to
sustained food production.
Women play important roles as producers of food, managers of natural resources, income
control over land are still confined which negatively influences the food production.
Accessibility: Still, a large number of people remain unable to access food in the quantity,
diversity and regularity required for a food secure life. According to the Welfare Monitoring
Survey 2009(A BBS Survey), 39.8% of the population thinks that they are food insecure.
Regional disparities exist in the proportion of the population with less than 2,122 kcal/day. The
evidence also suggests that female headed households and households in rural areas are
more food insecure compared to their respective counterparts.
Food price hike and price instability have become a matter of grave concern particularly for the
low income and fixed income people. The greatest impact of price hike is on poor households
whose food to non-food shares are proportionately larger in household spending (68% of total
household expenditures in the poorest 5% of households go on food compared to 33% in the
i
richest 5% of households).
Bangladesh has wide coverage of social safety net (SSN) programs to tackle the hunger of
13.0% of households in 2005 to 24.6% in 2010 (HIES 2010). According to a Report of Central
Monitoring Committee, 99 number of safety net programs are being implemented under 21
different ministries and divisions of Government. Whilst this represents substantial progress
within five years, the coverage rate is still below the proportion of households that are poor.
Challenges associated with the targeting, administration, monitoring and transparency of
safety nets are widely discussed. Lack of coordination among the different agencies both within
the government and beyond is a major constraint for improved achievement. Moreover, though
the social safety nets help safeguard the food rights of millions of people; this is not
implemented within a rights-based framework of entitlements, accountability and redressal.
Utilization: Progress in food utilization in terms of food safety and nutritional values is also
upsetting. Low birth weight (36%), childhood malnutrition (41% stunting; 36% underweight; 16%
wasting) and maternal malnutrition (25% CED) continue to be major nutritional problems in
Bangladesh. In the Welfare survey 2009, the households who reported food insecurity mentioned
that they manage such crisis by starving (54.3%), loan/borrowing (49.2%) and reducing favorite
food (49.3%) and taking less food (39.3%) which signify poor food consumption level.
to be given to groups such as small farmers and landless labourers (through holistic agrarian
reform and/or provision of secure tenure), fisher folk and forest users, by ensuring secure
access to natural resources within a sustainable framework. The economic empowerment of
women through increased and equal control over productive resources is also crucial. To
ensure that food is economically accessible (affordable), states need to ensure that there is
enough food available to keep prices in check and take steps to ensure that food remains
affordable when its market price increases.
Notwithstanding the need for integrated efforts for ensuring food security, the MDGs (goal 1.3)
partly reflects the right to food, in particular the right to freedom from hunger, but without any
particular attention to the most marginalized and vulnerable. Though equitable national efforts
are required to address the root causes of hunger, these have not been captured in the
indicators.
The other key concerns as have been raised in many occasions are the absence of human
rights based integrated approach to MDG-related development planning, monitoring and
reporting, and the absence of enforceability and accountability mechanism.
MDGs are also primarily focused on developing countries. The international accountability
mechanisms for the MDGs are particularly weak. While developing countries have taken
incentives to adopt MDG-oriented plans, there has been no mechanism to ensure that the rich
countries keep their promises (under goal 8) to assist developing countries to realize the other
seven goals.
Goal 1 of MDGs is on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger with three targets which are:
Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a
day; Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and
young people; and Halve between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from
hunger.
Bangladesh has made progress in achieving the MDGs goal 1. Household Income and
Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010 estimated poverty rate is 31.5% which is positively an
improvement to the poverty rate of 56.6% in 1991-92. However, since this HIES reports rate
poverty using only the Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) method and not the Direct Calorie Intake
(DCI) method, this poverty estimation does not directly show the food security status.
Notwithstanding the progress in poverty reduction, Bangladesh could not show progress in
employment generation, creation of more decent wage employment for women, attaining food
security, reducing income inequality. Labor Force Survey 2010, carried out by BBS, shows a
low employment rate that is 59.3 % of the population with low participation of women (36%).
The Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh Progress Report 2011 reveals the increasing
income inequality between the rich and the poor. Findings of HIES 2010 reveal that the
incidence of rural poverty is higher than that of urban poverty and poverty ranged from 26% in
Availability: In recent years, Bangladesh has made progress in food grain production. Despite
approaching self-sufficiency in rice, to ensure food availability in a sustainable manner,
challenges remain in many areas. The conversion of arable land for non-agricultural purposes,
MDGs implementation progress in Bangladesh
Key challenges in relation to food security and nutrition in Bangladesh
29 28
investment plan named the Bangladesh Country Investment Plan, a road map towards
investment in agriculture, food security and nutrition. Besides, the specific policy framework on
documents, such as, 'Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2010-2021: Making Vision 2021 a
There are also quite a large number of policy instruments related to agriculture, food security
and rural development. While these documents are complementary to each other, in some
cases they contradict each other. In some cases, there are repetitions of the same policies too.
Besides, due to the involvement of multiple ministries lack of coordination hinders the effective
progress. The NFP, PoA and CIP could provide pathway both for a unifying policy framework
and a coordinating institutional mechanism.
CIP, as a five-year investment plan for food security and agriculture for Bangladesh, does not
documents and is fully mainstreamed into the 6th Five Year Plan. However, a greater degree of
inconsistencies are found at the implementation level. National Food Policy Plan of Action and
Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012 reveals slow and uneven implementation
progress, as indicated by a delivery of just 51% of the budget available for the financial year
2010/11, but impressive increase of the funding of food security and nutrition investments (+ 2.2
Billion USD in 2010/11 for a total of 5.2 billion financed).
International Cooperation: To establish a sustainable food security regime, indigenous
purposes like producing bio-fuels and calls for reforms in the global trade policies, and
practices to ensure adequate food supply even in times of crisis.
Adopt a legal framework on right to food, and introduce right based approach to
programing on food security for progressive realization of the right to adequate food;
Ensure right based approach in the development of Social Protection Strategy currently
Protection programs linking with long term development programs on agriculture, food
security and nutrition;
Consider emerging challenges affecting food security like climate change, urbanization,
Adopt National Agriculture Policy with necessary revisions for ensuring coherence with all
agriculture and food security and nutrition policy framework and ensure coherence and
efficient coordination among all the relevant implementing agencies;
Key asks at national and international level
National
In a 2010 nutrition survey by Helen Keller International (HKI), BRAC University, and the
by HKI and its Bangladeshi partners .
Growth retardation, an outcome of chronic under nutrition, is widespread, affecting almost one
in two of the countrys 17 million children below five years of age (Household Food Security and
Nutrition Assessment (HFSNA 2009). According to Bangladesh Demographic and Health
Survey(BDHS,2011), forty-one percent (41%) of all children younger than 5 years old suffer
from stunted growth while 16 % are wasted. The combination of stunting and wasting causes
thirty-six percent (36%) of all under-5 children to suffer from being underweight (BDHS 2011). It
may be noted that for a country like Bangladesh, both food intake quality and awareness on
nutrition are important to address malnutrition of mother and children.
Food adulteration with poisonous chemicals has reached a dangerous proportion posing
serious health hazards in the country. Basic food items on the market like rice, fish, fruits,
vegetables, and sweetmeats are adulterated with hazardous chemicals in an indiscriminate
manner. Access to safe drinking water is another crucial component and urban poor are more
vulnerable compared to the rural poor.
Global Factors: Although domestic production of rice shows a surplus, the country has to
depend on international markets for most other essential food items which include wheat,
sugar, pulse, onion, turmeric etc. As an importing country, any changes in the policy and
restrictions on the exporting countries immediately affect the domestic markets in soaring
domestic prices. Moreover, global price increase also result in increasing the price in local
markets as experienced during 2007-08 global price crisis. Due to the loss of production in
some food exporting countries due to adverse weather events, experts are apprehending for
the crisis like 2007-2008. Bangladesh as an importing country is likely to be a victim of the
situation, if appropriate precautionary policy measures are not taken at national and global
level.
Exclusion and Vulnerability to Food Security: In a recent baseline survey (2011) on the
human rights situation in Bangladesh conducted by NHRC, the respondents from the
indigenous communities reported that lack of equal opportunities for employment, and land
disputes are major problems facing by them which indicate the vulnerability to food security of
the indigenous people of the country.
Food Security Strategies of The People Living in Haor Areas: Status and Prospects
Bangladesh has a comprehensive food security policy framework that includes National Food
Policy 2006, followed by the National Food Policy and Plan of Action (2008-2015), and an
Bangladeshs Policy and Program Framework
Looking Beyond MDGs 2015: Food Security and Nutrition Thematic Paper on Post MDGs Framework on Food Security And Nutrition
31 30
investment plan named the Bangladesh Country Investment Plan, a road map towards
investment in agriculture, food security and nutrition. Besides, the specific policy framework on
documents, such as, 'Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2010-2021: Making Vision 2021 a
There are also quite a large number of policy instruments related to agriculture, food security
and rural development. While these documents are complementary to each other, in some
cases they contradict each other. In some cases, there are repetitions of the same policies too.
Besides, due to the involvement of multiple ministries lack of coordination hinders the effective
progress. The NFP, PoA and CIP could provide pathway both for a unifying policy framework
and a coordinating institutional mechanism.
CIP, as a five-year investment plan for food security and agriculture for Bangladesh, does not
documents and is fully mainstreamed into the 6th Five Year Plan. However, a greater degree of
inconsistencies are found at the implementation level. National Food Policy Plan of Action and
Country Investment Plan Monitoring Report 2012 reveals slow and uneven implementation
progress, as indicated by a delivery of just 51% of the budget available for the financial year
2010/11, but impressive increase of the funding of food security and nutrition investments (+ 2.2
Billion USD in 2010/11 for a total of 5.2 billion financed).
International Cooperation: To establish a sustainable food security regime, indigenous
purposes like producing bio-fuels and calls for reforms in the global trade policies, and
practices to ensure adequate food supply even in times of crisis.
Adopt a legal framework on right to food, and introduce right based approach to
programing on food security for progressive realization of the right to adequate food;
Ensure right based approach in the development of Social Protection Strategy currently
Protection programs linking with long term development programs on agriculture, food
security and nutrition;
Consider emerging challenges affecting food security like climate change, urbanization,
Adopt National Agriculture Policy with necessary revisions for ensuring coherence with all
agriculture and food security and nutrition policy framework and ensure coherence and
efficient coordination among all the relevant implementing agencies;
Key asks at national and international level
National
In a 2010 nutrition survey by Helen Keller International (HKI), BRAC University, and the
by HKI and its Bangladeshi partners .
Growth retardation, an outcome of chronic under nutrition, is widespread, affecting almost one
in two of the countrys 17 million children below five years of age (Household Food Security and
Nutrition Assessment (HFSNA 2009). According to Bangladesh Demographic and Health
Survey(BDHS,2011), forty-one percent (41%) of all children younger than 5 years old suffer
from stunted growth while 16 % are wasted. The combination of stunting and wasting causes
thirty-six percent (36%) of all under-5 children to suffer from being underweight (BDHS 2011). It
may be noted that for a country like Bangladesh, both food intake quality and awareness on
nutrition are important to address malnutrition of mother and children.
Food adulteration with poisonous chemicals has reached a dangerous proportion posing
serious health hazards in the country. Basic food items on the market like rice, fish, fruits,
vegetables, and sweetmeats are adulterated with hazardous chemicals in an indiscriminate
manner. Access to safe drinking water is another crucial component and urban poor are more
vulnerable compared to the rural poor.
Global Factors: Although domestic production of rice shows a surplus, the country has to
depend on international markets for most other essential food items which include wheat,
sugar, pulse, onion, turmeric etc. As an importing country, any changes in the policy and
restrictions on the exporting countries immediately affect the domestic markets in soaring
domestic prices. Moreover, global price increase also result in increasing the price in local
markets as experienced during 2007-08 global price crisis. Due to the loss of production in
some food exporting countries due to adverse weather events, experts are apprehending for
the crisis like 2007-2008. Bangladesh as an importing country is likely to be a victim of the
situation, if appropriate precautionary policy measures are not taken at national and global
level.
Exclusion and Vulnerability to Food Security: In a recent baseline survey (2011) on the
human rights situation in Bangladesh conducted by NHRC, the respondents from the
indigenous communities reported that lack of equal opportunities for employment, and land
disputes are major problems facing by them which indicate the vulnerability to food security of
the indigenous people of the country.
Food Security Strategies of The People Living in Haor Areas: Status and Prospects
Bangladesh has a comprehensive food security policy framework that includes National Food
Policy 2006, followed by the National Food Policy and Plan of Action (2008-2015), and an
Bangladeshs Policy and Program Framework
31 30
Increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) and ensure that developed
agriculture and food security. This can be followed up under MDGs Framework and
upcoming Post 2015 process besides ongoing process like CoP.
Often the MDGs framework is criticized as donor/UN driven process and Post 2015 process
provides the opportunity to engage all level of stakeholders. In 2011, the UN Secretary General
in his annual report Accelerating progress towards the MDGs: options for sustained and
inclusive growth and issues for advancing the United Nations development agenda
beyond 2015 articulated the importance to look at options for sustained and inclusive growth
and issues for advancing the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015. These include
the need to foster an inclusive, open and transparent consultation process with multi-
stakeholder participation to ensure incorporation of the lessons learned and experiences from
all stakeholders. This was reinforced during Rio+20 and Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) will be discussed again in 2013 at UN assembly. Under this process, the UN will
organize consultations at the national level in up to 50 countries and Bangladesh is one of
those. Other forms of consultations have also been started at national and global level which
includes mobilization, web platform and crowd sourcing.
The post-2015 framework for development needs to address the interlinked global challenges
of food security, poverty eradication, social and economic equity, gender equality, climate
change, resilience, equitable distribution of resources, and environmental sustainability. It
should base on the principles of human rights, equity and equality, participation, accountability,
and shared but differentiated responsibility.
Mostly discussed criticisms against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) include over
emphasis on quantity, sectoral and isolated goals, absence of universal values of equality and
human rights. Given the experience of the MDGs, the Post MDGs framework should not deliver
several isolated goals alone. Rather the framework should ensure holistic and integrated
framework to address prevailing development challenges. The framework should use human
rights language thereby spelling out the entitlements of the people rather than mere
opportunities and services and opening up the space for ensuring accountability of the
governments. With specific to food security and nutrition, the framework should impart a food
production system based on the principles of food sovereignty and human rights and
strengthen the implementation of right to food to eradicate hunger and malnutrition through the
promotion of international cooperation and coherence.
To achieve the vision of ending hunger and ensure food security for all, the framework should
be built on specific objectives of: (1) ensure access to adequate food for all in sustainable
manner and irrespective of geographical location as well as socio economic status of the
people; (2) ensure consumption of safe and quality food with adequate nutritional values; and
(3) strengthen accountability mechanisms to ensure good governance in all related
machineries.
Context of post 2015
Suggested principles for Post 2015 development framework
Suggested framework for Post 2015 specific to food security and
nutrition
Take measures to strengthen agricultural research works with a particular focus on agro
Ensure a strong and frequently updated information system on agriculture, food security
and nutrition for accurate projection on the need of the farmers, and for proper planning
and monitoring; Strengthen the progress monitoring process by involving a multi
stakeholder participatory process;
Ensure adequate subsidy for the agricultural inputs and strengthen the distribution system
to prevent any form of irregularity in the system. Take measures to strengthen the capacity
of the relevant govt. institutions such as, Bangladesh Agricultural Development
Corporation(BADC), Department of Agricultural Extension(DAE) and empower them to
ensure timely and quality services required for the farmers; Ensure incessant initiatives on
storage, agro processing, and marketing in adequate and efficient manner;
Scale up investment to modernize the functioning of state-run TCB, including opening up
its branches in different divisions of the country and strengthen the market monitoring to
stabilize the food prices;
Increase the financial investments in the fisheries and livestock sectors as part of
Update land use policy and ensure its proper implementation to stop using agriculture land
Take appropriate legal and administrative steps to ensure land rights of the indigenous
people while recognizing traditional rights to land of the indigenous people living in the hill
tracts or other forest areas;
Adopt community based nutrition programs targeting both rural and urban area following a
life cycle approach and ensure that such interventions are consistent with local
ecosystems and prioritize local solutions and are consistent with the objective of moving
towards sustainable diets;
Massive awareness raising among the consumers on the food safety issues and
strengthen the legal and the regulatory regime of consumer protection in the country along
with strong monitoring systems; ensure better coordination between food safety
inspection and enforcement agencies;
Ensure adequate financing for timely and proper implementation of the planned
interventions in the area of food security.
Secure pro farmers position in negotiation in WTO to protect the rights of the small and
markets;
Take effective steps to set up regional and international virtual food banks with the
Include the food security concerns in the agriculture related trade negotiations from a food
security perspective; introduce new rules and disciplines to prevent export
restrictions/barriers by food exporting countries and ensure continuing food exports to the
Least Developed Countries(LDCs) at affordable prices even during the crisis period;
International
33 32
Increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) and ensure that developed
agriculture and food security. This can be followed up under MDGs Framework and
upcoming Post 2015 process besides ongoing process like CoP.
Often the MDGs framework is criticized as donor/UN driven process and Post 2015 process
provides the opportunity to engage all level of stakeholders. In 2011, the UN Secretary General
in his annual report Accelerating progress towards the MDGs: options for sustained and
inclusive growth and issues for advancing the United Nations development agenda
beyond 2015 articulated the importance to look at options for sustained and inclusive growth
and issues for advancing the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015. These include
the need to foster an inclusive, open and transparent consultation process with multi-
stakeholder participation to ensure incorporation of the lessons learned and experiences from
all stakeholders. This was reinforced during Rio+20 and Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) will be discussed again in 2013 at UN assembly. Under this process, the UN will
organize consultations at the national level in up to 50 countries and Bangladesh is one of
those. Other forms of consultations have also been started at national and global level which
includes mobilization, web platform and crowd sourcing.
The post-2015 framework for development needs to address the interlinked global challenges
of food security, poverty eradication, social and economic equity, gender equality, climate
change, resilience, equitable distribution of resources, and environmental sustainability. It
should base on the principles of human rights, equity and equality, participation, accountability,
and shared but differentiated responsibility.
Mostly discussed criticisms against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) include over
emphasis on quantity, sectoral and isolated goals, absence of universal values of equality and
human rights. Given the experience of the MDGs, the Post MDGs framework should not deliver
several isolated goals alone. Rather the framework should ensure holistic and integrated
framework to address prevailing development challenges. The framework should use human
rights language thereby spelling out the entitlements of the people rather than mere
opportunities and services and opening up the space for ensuring accountability of the
governments. With specific to food security and nutrition, the framework should impart a food
production system based on the principles of food sovereignty and human rights and
strengthen the implementation of right to food to eradicate hunger and malnutrition through the
promotion of international cooperation and coherence.
To achieve the vision of ending hunger and ensure food security for all, the framework should
be built on specific objectives of: (1) ensure access to adequate food for all in sustainable
manner and irrespective of geographical location as well as socio economic status of the
people; (2) ensure consumption of safe and quality food with adequate nutritional values; and
(3) strengthen accountability mechanisms to ensure good governance in all related
machineries.
Context of post 2015
Suggested principles for Post 2015 development framework
Suggested framework for Post 2015 specific to food security and
nutrition
Take measures to strengthen agricultural research works with a particular focus on agro
Ensure a strong and frequently updated information system on agriculture, food security
and nutrition for accurate projection on the need of the farmers, and for proper planning
and monitoring; Strengthen the progress monitoring process by involving a multi
stakeholder participatory process;
Ensure adequate subsidy for the agricultural inputs and strengthen the distribution system
to prevent any form of irregularity in the system. Take measures to strengthen the capacity
of the relevant govt. institutions such as, Bangladesh Agricultural Development
Corporation(BADC), Department of Agricultural Extension(DAE) and empower them to
ensure timely and quality services required for the farmers; Ensure incessant initiatives on
storage, agro processing, and marketing in adequate and efficient manner;
Scale up investment to modernize the functioning of state-run TCB, including opening up
its branches in different divisions of the country and strengthen the market monitoring to
stabilize the food prices;
Increase the financial investments in the fisheries and livestock sectors as part of
Update land use policy and ensure its proper implementation to stop using agriculture land
Take appropriate legal and administrative steps to ensure land rights of the indigenous
people while recognizing traditional rights to land of the indigenous people living in the hill
tracts or other forest areas;
Adopt community based nutrition programs targeting both rural and urban area following a
life cycle approach and ensure that such interventions are consistent with local
ecosystems and prioritize local solutions and are consistent with the objective of moving
towards sustainable diets;
Massive awareness raising among the consumers on the food safety issues and
strengthen the legal and the regulatory regime of consumer protection in the country along
with strong monitoring systems; ensure better coordination between food safety
inspection and enforcement agencies;
Ensure adequate financing for timely and proper implementation of the planned
interventions in the area of food security.
Secure pro farmers position in negotiation in WTO to protect the rights of the small and
markets;
Take effective steps to set up regional and international virtual food banks with the
Include the food security concerns in the agriculture related trade negotiations from a food
security perspective; introduce new rules and disciplines to prevent export
restrictions/barriers by food exporting countries and ensure continuing food exports to the
Least Developed Countries(LDCs) at affordable prices even during the crisis period;
International
33 32
While developing the goals and indicators, an integrated approach must be followed to ensure
that an enabling policy environment are created at the national and international levels
involving both state and non-state actors and organizations. The framework must also ensure
that the economic and social exclusions as well as climate change and disasters that cause
food insecurity for certain groups/communities are well addressed, access to associated
services(health, crop insurance, land use, market linkage, preservation of agricultural products
etc.) are well facilitated.
The Post MDGs framework must create formal scope for CSOs engagement in monitoring the
progress. UPR model exercised by UN Human Rights Council and FAO introduced CFS
mechanism could be followed along with formation and empowering of Multi Stakeholders
Forum/ Council for Food Security and Nutrition.
Suggested Goals and Targets
Goal: Ensuring food security and nutrition for all
Target 1: Ensure adequate food availability
Target 2: Ensure access to adequate food
for all in sustainable manner
Target 3: Ensure consumption of safe and
quality food with adequate nutritional
values;
- Increase production of non staple crops
- Subsidy and credit facilities to the small and
marginalized farmers
- Womens right to land ownership
- Control over/access to land and natural resources of
the poor and marginalized people
- Women economic empowerment
- Efficient and appropriate market mechanism to
ensure small farmers access to market facilities
- Agriculture research strengthened
- Cultivation of climate resilient food varieties
- Land use policy revised and implemented
- Increased allocation for the disadvantaged/ back
warded regions agriculture
- Sustained employment increased
- Gender equality in all aspects of employment
- Employment for the marginalized people
- Coverage of SSNs increased and adoption of
unified right based legal framework on SSNs
- Rights in work/Minimum wage in domestic law
- Support to the self employment/SMEs
- Strengthen state institutions like TCB to keep food
prices under control/stable
- Legal and regulatory framework for protection of
consumers rights
- Community based nutrition programme following
life cycle approach
- Support to promotion of local nutritional food
- Number of underweight/stunted/wasted child
End Notes
i
2010
Goal and Targets
Indicators
Target 4: Strengthen accountability
mechanisms to ensure good governance
in all related machineries
Target 5: International Cooperation
- Legal framework developed to ensure food security
- Multi stakeholder participatory monitoring process
operational
- Duty free market access of agricultural products to
the international markets
- rules and disciplines to prevent export
restrictions/barriers by food exporting countries
- Food exports to the Least Developed
Countries(LDCs) at affordable prices even during
the crisis period
- Developed countries/development partners realize
their commitments of ODA for the development of
agriculture and food security
Goal and Targets
Indicators
35 34
While developing the goals and indicators, an integrated approach must be followed to ensure
that an enabling policy environment are created at the national and international levels
involving both state and non-state actors and organizations. The framework must also ensure
that the economic and social exclusions as well as climate change and disasters that cause
food insecurity for certain groups/communities are well addressed, access to associated
services(health, crop insurance, land use, market linkage, preservation of agricultural products
etc.) are well facilitated.
The Post MDGs framework must create formal scope for CSOs engagement in monitoring the
progress. UPR model exercised by UN Human Rights Council and FAO introduced CFS
mechanism could be followed along with formation and empowering of Multi Stakeholders
Forum/ Council for Food Security and Nutrition.
Target 1: Ensure adequate food availability
Target 2: Ensure access to adequate food
for all in sustainable manner
Target 3: Ensure consumption of safe and
quality food with adequate nutritional
values;
- Increase production of non staple crops
- Subsidy and credit facilities to the small and
marginalized farmers
- Womens right to land ownership
- Control over/access to land and natural resources of
the poor and marginalized people
- Women economic empowerment
- Efficient and appropriate market mechanism to
ensure small farmers access to market facilities
- Agriculture research strengthened
- Cultivation of climate resilient food varieties
- Land use policy revised and implemented
- Increased allocation for the disadvantaged/ back
warded regions agriculture
- Sustained employment increased
- Gender equality in all aspects of employment
- Employment for the marginalized people
- Coverage of SSNs increased and adoption of
unified right based legal framework on SSNs
- Rights in work/Minimum wage in domestic law
- Support to the self employment/SMEs
- Strengthen state institutions like TCB to keep food
prices under control/stable
- Legal and regulatory framework for protection of
consumers rights
- Community based nutrition programme following
life cycle approach
- Support to promotion of local nutritional food
- Number of underweight/stunted/wasted child
End Notes
i
2010
Goal and Targets
Indicators
Target 4: Strengthen accountability
mechanisms to ensure good governance
in all related machineries
Target 5: International Cooperation
- Legal framework developed to ensure food security
- Multi stakeholder participatory monitoring process
operational
- Duty free market access of agricultural products to
the international markets
- rules and disciplines to prevent export
restrictions/barriers by food exporting countries
- Food exports to the Least Developed
Countries(LDCs) at affordable prices even during
the crisis period
- Developed countries/development partners realize
their commitments of ODA for the development of
agriculture and food security
Goal and Targets
Indicators
35 34
House 4, Road 3, Block I, Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Phone : +88 02 8813607-9, 8824440, Fax : +88 02 8817402
/OxfamBangladesh
/OxfaminBD
/OxfaminBangladesh
/Oxfam-in-Bangladesh

Advocacy Papers On Food Security and Nutrition

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Advocacy Papers On Food Security and Nutrition

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ADVOCACY PAPERS ON

FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

Optional Protocol to CRC on the

Optional Protocol to CRC on the

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