Food production in Bangladesh : Policy, strategy and consequences

During the last two decades, the main objectives of food policy has been to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains. For this the expansion seed-fertilizer-irrigation technology has been adopted as the strategy. In this paper it is argued that the food grain biased policy and strategy has failed to achieve the desired results. Limited success in food grain production has been achieved at expense of adversely affecting the production of other crops, livestock and fish resulting in deterioration of the quality of average diet in the country. It is recommended that a more diversified and more inclusive agricultural programme has to be pursued to improve the situation.