Addressing the increasing need for standardized method(s) to differentiate populations and households with varying degrees of food insecurity - to scope further interventions – senior government officials from the Ministry of food gathered at the day-long seminar, met with development partners and subject matter specialists from home and abroad, on the topic of ‘Methodologies for Measurement of poverty and Food Insecurity’, hosted by Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU), and organized at CIRDAP Intl. Conference Center, on Wednesday, 28 October 2015. 

The FAO USAID-funded project “Meeting the Under-nutrition Challenge (MUCH) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provided technical support for the event.

The inaugural session was joined by Advocate Mr Md. Qamrul Islam, Hon’ble Minister of Food, Mr Nuruzzaman Ahmed, Hon’ble State Minister of Food, Ms. Mushfeka Ikfat, Secretary of Food, Ms Kaniz Fatema, Secretary of Statistics and Information Division, and Mr. Shyamol Kanti Ghosh, Secretary of Agriculture. Mr Mike Robson, FAO representative was also present at the event as special guest. 

A key note paper presentation was given by Dr. Akhter Ahmed, Chief of party, IFPRI.

In discussing, M Robson, FAOR expressed his optimism about the improving food security and nutrition situation in the country mentioning the decline of stunting rate to 36% form 41%. He also pointed out that as the country develops identifying pockets of remaining poverty becomes more complex as the poverty scenario varies region to region. Stating that ‘One seminar cannot bring all the solutions on such a topic’, Mr Robson strongly recommended forming a sub-group to the Local Consultative Group (LCG) on Agriculture to look into food security-related statistics and methodology issues.

Minister of Food, and a parliament member, Advocate Qamrul Islam emphasized progress in food storage now up to 1.6 million MT, which shows the strength of country’s contingency plan in case of need. He also stressed that issues of health safety and education must be given the necessary spotlights along with food safety concerns. 

Around 150 people from government, development sector, media and academia participated in the inaugural session and the day-long programme also included back to back four (4) technical sessions chaired by Secretaries from Statistics and Informatics Division of the Planning Commission and from the Ministry of Food, as well as Dr Shamsul Alam, Senior Member (Senior Secretary), GED, Planning Commission.