NATORE, Dec 5, 2018 (BSS)- Agriculturists and development activists at a
discussion here today viewed that concerted efforts of all public and private
entities including the farmers and manufacturers can be the vital means of
ensuring safe food for sound public health.
To this end, they mentioned that ensuring good agricultural, handling and
manufacturing practices has become the crucial means. So, all the government
and non-government organizations concerned should come forward and work
together.
The observations came at a seminar titled “Food Safety Focusing Safe Tomato
and Mango Products” at Shahara Party Centre in the town.
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation with support from European
Commission arranged the seminar under the ‘Improving consumer awareness and
access to certified safe tomato and mango products in Bangladesh- EU Switch
Asia project’.
Chaired by Regional Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) Joinul Abedeen, DAE Deputy Directors Rafiqul Islam and Meftahul Bari
addressed the seminar as special guests.
In their respective keynote presentations, Principal Scientific Officer of
Fruit Research Station Dr Alim Uddin and DAE District Training Officer Belal
Uddin gave an overview of modern technologies relating to the production of
safe tomato and mango. They also highlighted the importance of safe food.
EU- Switch Asia Project Coordinator Mahbub Ullah gave an overview of the
project and its activities relating to food safety issues.
He also advised the participants to utilize the knowledge acquired from the
seminar in their respective practices and disseminate these among their
surrounding people so that the project initiative can be successful.
SNV intends to ensure food safety through good agricultural practices (GAP)
at farmers level, good handling practices (GHP) at supply chain levels and
good manufacturing practices (GMP) at agro-processing company levels.
Mahbub Ullah, however, says ensuring food safety is very difficult for an
organization like SNV it requires collaborative effort from government and
non-government organizations concerned.
The DAE officials appreciated the initiatives of SNV for ensuring the food
safety in Bangladesh. They also gave emphasis on good agricultural practices
at farmers level as it is the foundation of food safety.
Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor Dr Rajwanul Haque, Horticultural Expert
Dr Shah Kamal, Food Safety Advisor Mahe Alam and District Coordinator Saidur
Rahman from SNV disseminated their expertise on the issue.
More than 130 people comprising officials from DAE and fruit research
centre, NGOs, farmers and Agro-Processing Companies like PRAN, Sajeeb and
Kishwan joined the seminar and took part in its group discussion.