GAIBANDHA, MAR 14, 2021 (BSS)Speakers in a function here yesterday underscored the need for improving local existing food system aimed at evaluating the agriculture and  food systemsas well as its value chain.

“A local food system is a collaborative network that integrates sustainable food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management in order to enhance the environmental, economic, and social health of a particular area”, the also said.

They came up with the comments while addressing an experience sharing on Good Agriculture Practises to Improve the Local Food System held at the hall room of SKS Foundation at Radhakrishnapur area under SadarUpazila in the district on Saturday.

Sustained Opportunities for Nutrition Governance (SONGO) project being implemented here by RDRS Bangladesh and ICCO Cooperation with the financial support of European union arranged the function in association with the DAE here.

Senior secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture M.  Mesbahul Islam addressed the function as the chief guest and director general of the department of agricultural extension (DAE) M.Asadullah, former DG of the DAE Hamidur Rahman, additional director of the DAE, Rangpur region, Khandaker Abdul Wahed and ShakibNabi, country representative, ICCO cooperation, were present as the special guests while deputy commissioner(DC) M.  Abdul Matin presided over the ceremony.

The speakers in their speeches recommended for subsidizing fruits, vegetables, nuts, and sustainably produced meat incentive consumers to purchase affordable produces, raising taxes on the marketing and sale of unhealthful foods and discounting imperfect produces.

Agriculture secretary heard the overall activities of the project through its presentation with patience and emphasized for making the project fruitful at project command areas in Gaibandha and Kurigram districts anyhow and thanked the officials of SONGO Project for working for the selective group men specially the women of the district and inviting him such the function arranged by the project.

A large number of agri officials, NGO activists, invited persons and project beneficiaries including journalists took part in the programme.