A New Horizon in Ensuring Food Security and Safe Food
A M Imdadul Islam
In the history of Bangladesh’s development, agriculture is not merely an economic sector; it is one of the principal foundations of the nation’s self-reliance, struggle, resilience, and success. After independence, a country that was heavily dependent on foreign aid to address food shortages has today emerged before the world as a successful and exemplary model in food production, preservation, stock management, and disaster response. Behind this long journey lies the tireless effort of farmers, continuous progress in agricultural research, effective use of modern technology, adoption of timely policies, and the government’s far-sighted planning and implementation.
In continuation of this progress, Bangladesh touched a unique milestone in the history of its food security on July 21, 2026. On this day, total foodgrain stocks in government warehouses reached a record high of 2,397,527 metric tons in the country’s history. On the other hand, the required amount for a safe food reserve is set at 1,350,000 metric tons. That is, by preserving a significant surplus of foodgrains compared to the required safe reserve, Bangladesh has reached new heights in food security. This achievement is not merely a statistical success; it is a bright reflection of self-reliant Bangladesh’s capability, planned governance, and continuous development in the agricultural sector. This food reserve, built through a combination of well-planned agricultural policies, modern food storage infrastructure, efficient stock and distribution management, initiatives aimed at increasing agricultural output, and effective government policies, will play a crucial role in meeting internal food demand. It will also serve as a strong security shield in coping with natural disasters, global economic volatility, supply chain disruptions, or any other national crisis. At the same time, it bears proof of the capabilities of the country’s food management and the practical success of long-term planning.
One of Bangladesh’s major challenges after independence was the food deficit. The war-ravaged country’s agricultural infrastructure was weak, production was limited, and natural disasters were almost a daily companion. At that time, the country’s population was around 75 million, while foodgrain production was barely over 10 million tons. As a result, a large portion of the total food demand had to be met through imports and international food aid. Ensuring food security was then one of the hardest priorities for the state.
However, over the past five decades, a quiet yet revolutionary change has taken place in Bangladesh’s agricultural sector. High-yielding and climate-resilient varieties developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), and other research institutions, along with the expansion of irrigation facilities, use of quality seeds, balanced fertilizer management, spread of agricultural mechanization, and easy loans and incentives for farmers, have injected new momentum into agricultural output. Alongside field-level agricultural extension activities, the spread of modern farming methods and encouraging farmers to use technology have consistently increased productivity. In continuation of this, total foodgrain production including rice, wheat, and maize has currently reached nearly 50 million tons annually. Bangladesh is now one of the top rice-producing countries in the world, which is a bright recognition of the capacity of the country’s agricultural sector, the success of research, and the contribution of farmers.
Significant changes have occurred in the country’s agricultural production system due to the government’s farmer-friendly policies, field-level agricultural extension activities, use of modern farm machinery, and the expansion of climate-resilient technology. The expansion of technology-driven management at every step from production to storage, and from storage to delivering food to consumers, has reduced foodgrain wastage, increased transparency in management, and strengthened the ability to make rapid, effective decisions during crises.
Adequate foodgrain reserves are a principal foundation of a country’s food security, economic stability, and disaster response capability. When sufficient food is stocked in government warehouses, it is possible to maintain price stability by quickly supplying foodgrains to the market during times of need. Through this, food access for low-income people is secured, and risks of artificial market crises or price volatility are largely controlled. Simultaneously, it becomes easier to swiftly deliver food assistance to people affected by floods, cyclones, river erosion, droughts, or any other natural disasters. Government food reserves also play a critical role in effectively implementing various social safety net programs, including food-friendly programs, OMS, VGF, and VGD.
In discussions about food, two important concepts are food security and safe food. Although the two phrases are interrelated, their meanings, objectives, and scopes of action are not the same. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, true development is assured only when people can regularly consume not just sufficient food, but safe, nutritious, and healthy food. In other words, both food adequacy and food quality are equally important for human welfare and sustainable development. For this reason, food security and safe food are considered complementary to each other.
Food security refers to a condition where every person at all times has access to sufficient, nutritious, and affordable food. Its four fundamental pillars are food availability, access to food, nutritional utilization, and consistent supply. Thus, to ensure food security, merely increasing production is not enough; proper preservation of produced food, uninterrupted market supply, price control, boosting purchasing power, and ensuring food availability during disasters or crises are equally necessary. To ensure safe and quality food, the government has issued the ‘Safe Food (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 2026’. Under these regulations, mandatory registration and licensing have been made compulsory for individuals and organizations involved in food production, import, processing, storage, transportation, supply, and sale. This will facilitate accountability, quality control, and discipline at every stage of the food business.
The Bangladesh Safe Food Authority is implementing multidimensional activities to prevent food adulteration and ensure safe food. Alongside testing food samples in government-recognized laboratories, instantaneous testing is being conducted by collecting samples from different parts of the country through mobile labs and mini labs. As a result, field-level irregularities can be identified quickly, necessary actions taken, and health risks to consumers reduced.
In addition, through the toll-free hotline 16155, there is an opportunity to lodge complaints about food adulteration, low-quality food, or any other irregularities from anywhere in the country. A participatory and accountable system for ensuring safe food is being built through active public participation, swift receipt and investigation of complaints, effective monitoring, and legal action. Alongside strengthening the legal framework, expanding institutional capacity, and extending technology-driven surveillance systems, the government is continuously taking and executing effective measures to ensure safe, nutritious, and quality food.
Ensuring food security and safe food is not just an essential need of the present time; it is one of the primary bases for building a future developed, prosperous, and self-reliant Bangladesh. Through increased agricultural output, adequate foodgrain reserves, modern storage infrastructure, efficient food management, safe food assurance, and the integrated application of science-based policy and technology, Bangladesh has opened a new horizon in food security. To make this achievement more sustainable and long-lasting, the combined participation and responsible role of farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, food traders, consumers, and the government are essential. If safe, nutritious, quality, and easily accessible food can be ensured for all, a healthy, energetic, talented, and productive nation will be built, and this skilled, healthy human resource will be the strongest driving force for achieving sustainable development and constructing a prosperous, self-reliant Bangladesh.
