Fresh food markets are a key resource in the effort to increase nutritious eating and fight food insecurity. A recent study by the Food and Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO) found that 95 percent of the urban poor in Dhaka purchase most of their food from these markets.

As part of preparations for the first ever United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) later this year, an independent dialogue was held today on the future of the country’s fresh markets. The dialogue was co-organized by FAO, World Bank, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), BSAFE Foundation, British Council’s PROKAS, and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA).

Special guests at today’s dialogue were Md. Abdul Kayowm Sarker, Chairman of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority; Dr. Shaikh Azizur Rahman, Director General, Department of Livestock Services; Md. Asadullah, Director General of Department of Agricultural Extension; Mr. Farid Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation; Md. Bablu Kumar Saha, Director General, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection; and Dr. Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Chairman of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council.

Khaja Abdul Hannan, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Food; Dr. Shaikh Azizur Rahman, Director General, Department of Livestock Services (DLS); John Taylor, Chief Technical Adviser of Dhaka Food System, FAO; Gerry Fox, Team Leader of PROKAS, British Council; Reza Siddique of BSAFE Foundation; delivered the opening speeches at the dialogue.

John Taylor, Chief Technical Advisor of FAO’s Dhaka Food System project, said that fresh food markets have a pivotal role to play in improving access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food. “Fresh food markets can really improve the diets of community members who are food insecure. Those suffering from food insecurity have little money for or access to food, particularly nutritious food. This can negatively affect their learning and development, family life, productivity, and physical and mental health. Fresh markets are beneficial not only for the poor though but a great resource for everybody since they sell a great variety of fresh food that is important to keep healthy.”

FAO is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to hold a series of UNFSS dialogues that will result in a set of policy recommendations and actions necessary for a more sustainable and inclusive food system. FAO’s Dhaka Food System project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, holds city working group meetings regularly with officials from all four Dhaka City Corporations (Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Gazipur, and Narayanganj). Today’s dialogue built upon these discussions.

One priority will be upgrading markets with modern infrastructure in order to improve hygiene.  The dialogue will help to set out possible solutions in line with the development agenda of the Government of Bangladesh. The following topics were discussed during the parallel group discussion sessions:

-              Market systems, supply chains, and urban-rural connectivity

-              Role of markets in the future food system (smart markets)

-              Food safety and effective management of markets

-              Consumer behaviour and demands and their impact on the future of food markets

-              Market governance and infrastructure

Why food systems?

The term ‘food system’ refers to activities involved in producing, processing, transporting and consuming food. Food systems touch every aspect of human existence. When they function well, food systems have the power to bring us together as families, communities and nations. But too many of the world’s food systems are fragile, unexamined and vulnerable to collapse, as millions of people around the globe have experienced first-hand during the COVID-19 crisis. When our food systems fail, the resulting disorder threatens our education, health and economy, as well as human rights, peace and security. As in so many cases, those who are already poor or marginalized are the most vulnerable.