Keep food and agri inputs out of sanction purview

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Saturday urged the leaders of developed countries to keep food and agricultural inputs out of the purview of sanctions related to the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a press release.

"Developed countries should be more responsible and proactive in ensuring food security worldwide," he said.

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Razzaque went on to say that Bangladesh has become an innocent victim of the war, due to which the prices of fertiliser have risen at least four times while the cost of food grains are also high, leading to food insecurity.

He also urged global leaders to take flexible, unbureaucratic and fast steps to mitigate the negative impacts of the war.

Razzaque made this call at the "15th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference" in Germany, organised by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

"Developed countries should be more responsible and proactive in ensuring food security worldwide," he said.

The conference was held on the concluding day of the 15th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), which took place from January 18 to 21.

Highlighting their preparations, Razzaque said the incumbent government is working to build developed, sustainable and climate resilient agriculture systems that will ensure food security and nutrition and a better life for farmers.

However, land degradation, population growth, climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have been obstacles, he added.

The agriculture minister also urged developed countries to quickly implement their commitments that were given in the COP26, COP27 and other global forums.

The conference focused on how to increase cooperation in crisis-proof food systems, climate-resilient food systems, protecting biodiversity and building sustainable global food systems.

The 2023 GFFA addressed the issue "Food Systems Transformation: A Worldwide Response to Multiple Crises".

Agriculture ministers from more than 70 countries and representatives of 10 international organisations participated in the conference.

In the last four days of the conference, titled "Food System Transformation: A Worldwide Response to Multiple Crises", high-level representatives of the participating countries and agriculture ministers announced a "Joint Manifesto".

At the conference, it was mentioned that around 702 million to 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021, which is 46 million more than in 2020 and 150 million more than in 2019.

The world is currently facing its worst food crisis since World War 2. The extinction of species, Covid-19 and the war have added a new dimension to the food crisis.