Nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Bangladesh: a review

This paper reviews the programs and related research on nutrition sensitive agriculture in Bangladesh using available literature. The government has undertaken several policies, including a National Food and Nutrition Policy, in order to make agriculture into a dynamic food-based activity, leading to nutritional security. Among the under-five children in Bangladesh, 41 % are stunted, 16 % are wasted and 36 % are underweight. Land use patterns by farmers have made the country self-sufficient in rice, potato and vegetable production. Milk producers have been playing an important role in fulfilling the nutritional needs of some regions. Non-government organisation's (NGO's) activities are strongly applauded in terms of rural poverty alleviation, employment generation, empowerment of women and food security. The Adivasi Fisheries Project (AFP) is such a project, aimed at upscaling the nutritional status of the poor and ultra-poor in the north-western and northern regions. Women in rural areas are engaged in a vast array of farm and non-farm activities ranging from livestock rearing to household work. The "One-house-one-farm" project, launched by the government, is a successful programme producing diversified fruits and vegetables at homesteads in order to reduce malnutrition of farm families. Finally, this study makes some policy recommendations which will be helpful in further shaping the ongoing efforts to ensure food security.