Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: Responding to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on food value chains through efficient logistics

1. Can you share examples on how the bottlenecks listed in the policy brief have been addressed and with which result?

Bangladesh was in countrywide lockdown since the third week of March, being extended almost seven times until the first of June. During this period the harvesting of Boro rice was to be done. Boro rice contributes to 54% of rice production in Bangladesh and is harvested mostly in May. As the public transports were not functioning, large number of seasonal labors required for harvesting could not move. The farmers were in panic. Several remedies were taken by the government and civil society, those have been:

1) Organizing special transport for the labor movement; 2) Engage local youth as voluntary labor for harvesting; and 3) Promotion of use of mini combine harvesters.

Government is providing subsidy/grant to farmers for purchase of mini combine harvester. This grant is included in the Covid-19 agriculture recovery package (of around 90 billion Taka).

Government has also increased purchase of rice. This year government doubled its Boro rice procurement target compared with the previous year.

2. What has been the impact of measures to face the COVID-19 pandemic on the exports of food and cash crops?

Bangladesh is an exporter of tropical fruits, like mango, lychee etc., and vegetables. Since 2015 FAO representation in Bangladesh is supporting mango export. Apparently, the export this year has been hampered. However, a clear picture is not yet available.  

6. What challenges related to the food value chain have emerged during the relaxing of COVID-19 containment measures?

The main challenge is now to recover the pandemic losses. Now one rice sowing season (Aus) is in place, and another one (Aman) is coming, or already in place. The previously mentioned support package is also targeting this season. Government asked the farmers not to leave any arable land uncultivated, as Food Security is the most important issue for Bangladesh in the post pandemic period. Bangladesh is losing in two large export sectors, 1) RMG and 2) Remittance. Hence there is an additional challenge to the Agriculture sector.