Bangladesh faces significant food insecurity challenges, with over 60 million people not having adequate access to nutritious foods. While rice production has increased, the average diet lacks diversity and many nutrients. World Vision Bangladesh addresses these issues through agricultural and non-farm training programs that improve crop yields, introduce diversified production, and increase incomes. Their programs have reached over 155,000 small farmers and food insecure households. Key activities include farmer field schools, introduction of organic practices, and developing community extension systems, with outcomes of increased food production, diversified diets and livelihoods, and improved food security overall.

1. After China and India, Bangladesh holds the
third largest hungry population, with over 60
million people having inadequate food
resources, leading to growth stunting and
reduced mental and physical capacities. While
Bangladesh is nearly self-sufficient in rice
production, food security remains an elusive
goal. Currently, an alarming 43% of children
under-five in Bangladesh are stunted due to
continuous malnourishment as a result of poor
feeding habits and lack of access to nutritious
foods. The average Bangladeshi diet lacks
diversification with 75% of calories consumed
coming from rice. Agricultural production
grew at a rate of 4.36% in the FY 2010-11. The
population is growing at a rate of 1.566%. The
availability of and access to, domestically
produced food is a key issue affecting basic
survival, nutrition, national security, and stability,
making agricultural growth vital to addressing
these challenges. Additionally, agriculture
provides jobs for 80% of the total population
but contributes to only 22% of the gross
domestic product. Only 37% of Bangladesh’s
total area is arable land but natural disasters
can affect 30% of this land. Though the country
has made significant progress in boosting
national food production, a large part of the
population still lacks access to sufficient, safe
and nutritious food.
World Vision Bangladesh is positioning itself
more strongly in addressing these challenges to
development by improving agricultural
production and raising small farmer incomes
and rural wages. Apart from these, in FY 2011
World Vision Bangladesh led the situation with
target beneficiaries of 155,844 with a significant
rate at 87% through different agriculture and
non-farm
training,
demonstration,
input/economic assistance and awareness
building programs in scaling up yields prove
effective interventions to address food security
and economic development as well.
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Food Security and Economic development
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Key Facts
• Bangladesh has increased its food grain production over the past
28 years, from 11.8 million metric tons in 1974 to more than 34.5
million metric tons (mmt) in 2010-11
• 81.3% of the population consumes fewer than 2190 kcal per day
where for people in most developing countries the daily calorie
intake is 2828
• 30% of women have low body mass index (BMI less than 18.5)
• Women usually eat last and less. They are the most malnourished
group in Bangladesh.
• 50% of all Bangladeshi babies are born underweight.
• Frequent floods, cyclones and other natural disasters pose special
problems for assuring food security. It is further complicated by
gender-related factors-women are heavily engaged in agriculture
but do not have access to extension services or other inputs like
seeds and fertilizer.
• The Government relies increasingly on the private sector to
address food security, a positive trend.

2. World Vision Bangladesh’s Response
World Vision Bangladesh’s Food Security and Economic
Development Program addresses the following capacity to
respond through agriculture and non-farm activities:
Outcomes:
Management of agricultural and non-farm programs
under rural Area Development Programs
Participation of women in agricultural and non-farm
programs has increased
Promotion of organic agricultural practices
Successfully promoted Farmer Field Schools(FFS)
Successfully established community based agricultural
extension system
Developed agricultural extension facilitators
These activities continue to target ADPs and other
projects as well as new communities where World Vision’s
humanitarian action is required in future in targeting
farmers, local producer groups, food insecure households
in rural areas and small holders and people with disabilities
and the ultra poor.
Goal
To sustain food security and income thereby
enhancing livelihood capacity of poor and extreme poor.
1. Grow in primary agricultural production through
intensifying crop production and expanding non-crop
agriculture.
2. Diversify
income
sources
creating
business
development opportunities and providing necessary
support for both farm and non-farm micro and small
enterprises (MSEs).
3. Improving market access for farmers and non-farm
operators through identifying better links to markets
for products in high value and growing demand.
4. Forging private-NGO-public partnerships to build up
national and international collaborations and
networking to facilitate improved access to specialized
departments and innovative technologies and resources.
Key Results
100% of farmers have received training on improved
crops production technology
•
88% of farmers have received crop inputs
•
73% of persons received inputs for livestock rearing
•
93% of farmers have received training on livestock
•
105% of farmers received inputs for fisheries
•
109 % of farmers trained on forestry
•
•
98 % of farmers received agricultural inputs
84% of persons received inputs on homestead
forestry
•
93% of farmers attended in Field Farmers School
(FFS) program
•
42% of persons received inputs on non-farm
•
100% of community members received training on
non-farm skill development
•
•
100% of members trained on non-farm skill
development
References:
1. Quarterly Report on Crop Prospects and Food Situation/FAO,
October 2011
2. Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Report FY 2011, World
Vision Bangladesh
3. World Vision Bangladesh, Secondary Strategy 2009-2013,
Food Security and Economic Development Sector
4. Health Situation of Bangladesh, November 2011
5. Food Situation Monitoring Report (July-September 2011),
Food Planning and Monitoring Unit(FPMU), Ministry of Food
and Disaster Management
40 Years of Service to the Children of Bangladesh
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World Vision Bangladesh
Awal Center (4th floor)
34, Kamal Ataturk Avenue
Banani, Dhaka-1213
Web: www.wvasiapacific.org/bangladesh