Program Successes: Food Security

An improved enabling environment increases agricultural diversification and productivity ensures that food-based safety net mechanisms enable the poorest populations to gain from, and contribute to, agricultural production and distribution. To this end, USAID has been working with the government to improve theformulation and implementation of food policy in Bangladesh thorough its NFPCSP project. This is being done through research, monitoring, capacity building, and coordination within Government of Bangladesh (GOB) agencies, particularly the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MOFDM)’s Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU). In addition, the recently launched Policy Research and Strategy Support Program PRSSP project supports food security related research and debate in civil society and established stronger links between GOB analysts and civil society researchers.

USAID, through its NFPCSP projects, also provided capacity-building support to the GOB to develop its Country Investment Plan (CIP) for agriculture and food security, which was launched in May, 2010. Subsequently, the GOB received $52 million from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) Trust Fund, a multi-donor trust fund managed by the World Bank.

Meanwhile, rice production significantly increased during the 2011 Boro season in the AAPI project areas. Thanks to the use of Guti urea (fertilizer pellet), rice yield increased by 15% resulting in a 101,169 metric ton boost in rice production. Between October 2010 and June 2011, the use of fertilizer deep placement technology saved the government $5.34 million in fertilizer subsidies.