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DCCI webinar on food value chain in the Covid time held
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organized a webinar on Food Value Chain: in the time of Covid 19. Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP joined this webinar as chief guest. DCCI President Shams Mahmud chaired the webinar.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organized a webinar on Food Value Chain: in the time of Covid 19. Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP joined this webinar as chief guest. DCCI President Shams Mahmud chaired the webinar.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organized a webinar on Food Value Chain: in the time of Covid 19. Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP joined this webinar as chief guest. DCCI President Shams Mahmud chaired the webinar.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organized a webinar on Food Value Chain: in the time of Covid 19. Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP joined this webinar as chief guest. DCCI President Shams Mahmud chaired the webinar.
Monzur Morshed Ahmed, Member, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority said undisposed batteries and chemicals are contaminating agro-products. For as safe food value chain, we have to more work. There are several players in the food safety process and there should be a certification body to monitor check and balance, interventions coordination among the stakeholders, he added. For hotels and restaurants Bangladesh Food Safety Authority introduces a grading system, he further said.
Dr. Saleh Ahmed, Chairman, Kernal Foundation said local consumers are losing confidence. He urged for Implementation of good agricultural practices and good manufacturing practices to avoid food contamination. We have lack of testing lab facility, he added. He further called upon for adoption of on-farm and off-farm food safety measures, infrastructure development, technology, international standard packaging. He said we need an interface of integrated Industry, education and research. He requested to the Minister to create a separate division or cell under Ministry of Agriculture to support agro-processors.
Mr. Md. Iqtadul Hoque, General Secretary, Bangladesh Agro Processors’ Association said farmers should be well aware of actual demand of agro products so that they can produce as per demand. He also urged for specialized cold storage facility. In recent Covid time, processed food industry was not very much hampered, he informed. In the process of food value chain, he called upon to reduce influence of middle-man in the supply chain part. He said contract zoning will be more viable than contract farming.
Uzma Chowdhury, Director (Finance), PRAN-RFL Group said food value chain covers the interventions of producers, processors, distributors and consumers. She said ensuring fair price for the growers will ensure the sector sustainable. She said PRAN has producing Cassava in 6000 acres of land in the northern part of the country. If we can maintain good balance of trade with the countries Bangladesh imports those countries will not impose any tariff or non-tariff barriers upon our exports, she opined. She also urged upon food testing lab for ensuring consumer’s safety. Moreover, modern transportation network will help reduce wastages of perishable agro-food. She also requested the government to introduce insurance facility for the farmers.
Malik Talha Ismail Bari, Director, Unimart-United Group, called upon to create awareness among the downstream agro producers regarding storage, production, backward linkage and easy transportation system for a sustainable food value chain.
DCCI Senior Vice President NKA Mobin, FCA, FCS gave the concluding remarks.
Published on: 2020-11-08