We need to think about how we can continue our livelihood by coexisting with Corona. Just as there is no substitute for eating if you want to survive, rice is one of the regulators of food security for Veto Bengalis. From time immemorial, Bengalis feel safe if they have paddy in their fields, this is a characteristic of our nature. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the total production of granular food grains in the fiscal year 2018-19 was 4 crore 32 lakh 11 thousand metric tons. A target of 2 crore 4 lakh 36 thousand metric tons of rice production has been set for the current boro season. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, so far the yield is expected to exceed the target. Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that Bangladesh will be one step ahead of Indonesia in world rice production, after China and India. It is not possible to estimate how long the Corona situation will last in many equations. As a result, we need to be more strategic and economical in using rice to ensure food security of the country without being overwhelmed by the high production of rice. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the pressure on rice and pay attention to nutritious alternative eating habits.
Bangabandhu said in one of his historic speeches, ‘Food is only rice, not flour; There are also fish, meat, eggs, milk, vegetables. 'It can be understood from Bangabandhu's words that he focused on building a nutritious nation. Following Bangabandhu, Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's agriculture-friendly policy strategy and Agriculture Minister Dr. agriculturist. Md. Abdur Razzak, MP is leading the country not only in food self-sufficiency but also in building a nutritious nation. The main source of vitamins and minerals Seasonal fruit is a nutritious food, which helps to increase the immunity of our body. Especially mango, jackfruit, pineapple and litchi are among them.
The King of Fruits This fruit is a very favorite fruit of children, boys and girls, young and old, old and old. Mango has been cultivated in about 169,000 hectares of land this year and although the production has declined due to the recent Amphan, the potential production is expected to exceed 22 lakh metric tonnes. Bangladesh is seventh in mango production in the latest assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). At present mango is being cultivated commercially in more than 20 districts. During the peak season, an average of 15,000 metric tons of mangoes are sold daily across the country.
After mango, the fruit that is produced more in terms of production is jackfruit, the national fruit of Bangladesh. The jackfruit of India is known in the world as Jhandavat Bhardaf and in Sri Lanka as the jack fruit rice tree (Jarpab Ritwab). This year, jackfruit has been cultivated in 61,600 hectares of land in Bangladesh and the potential production is expected to be 16 lakh 79 thousand metric tons. Raw jack fruit is known in the world market as vegetable meat. When the cells and kernels are full, that is, the ripe fruit can be cooked with chips or other vegetables. Ripe fruit cells are eaten directly. Candy, flax, pudding and other dishes can be made from the pulp of ripe fruit.
Pineapple is a sweet-tasting and common cold or cough food that is well-liked by the rich and the poor. As a result of successful application of modern agricultural technology, pineapple is available in untimely but most of it comes in the market in May-July. This year, pineapple has been cultivated in 20,120 hectares of land and the potential production is about 4 lakh 96 thousand metric tons. Pineapple is an important cash crop.
In this small country with a large population, one should not suffer from complacency in the coming days after seeing the continuous enviable success or upward trend in fruit production, but not taking rational food will show the way to light the crisis situation.
You should not just eat food to prevent coronavirus (Covid-19) disease-resistant food should be eaten. A comparative diet of 100 grams of cooked rice, mango, jackfruit, pineapple and litchi shows that rice has 349 kcal and no vitamins or minerals. Ripe mangoes contain 60 kcal of dietary energy, 600 IU of vitamin A (18 mg of vitamin A) and 16 mg of vitamin C (3 times more than raw mangoes). Ripe jackfruit contains 98 kcal of food energy (139 kcal of food energy in jackfruit seeds or kernels), 540 IU of vitamin A and 10 mg of vitamin C. Ripe pineapple contains 8 kcal of dietary energy, vitamin A5 IU and 34 mg of vitamin C and litchi contains 80 kcal of dietary energy and 11 mg of vitamin C. From a health point of view, it is said that it is better to eat less nutritious food from a single source. It is recommended to drink vitamin C-rich fruits with frequent watering to prevent corona. Most of the fruits contain 80% water. These fruits rich in vitamins and minerals increase the immunity of the human body. According to nutritionists, regular consumption of ripe mango-litchi before going to bed at night improves sleep and increases peace of mind. However, as a conscious citizen, we need to calculate and decide which food to eat and in what quantity.
According to 2016, an adult person consumes 2200 kcal of food energy per capita daily in Bangladesh and the daily intake of rice or granular food per capita is about 406 grams. As such, only 1415 kcal of food energy from rice and the rest from other food sources are being met. However, 350 grams of rice is enough to keep the body healthy and strong. At the same time, in the current moderate and controlled situation, the rate of physical exertion is much lower, so it can be assumed that three-fourths of the normal caloric intake is sufficient. An adult needs to eat 200 grams of fruit per day but we eat less than 60 grams. If we consume 200 grams or more of fruit per person per day for three months and consume less of the same amount of rice, then it is possible to save at least 33,000 metric tons of rice per day. If we calculate in three months, the stock of rice will be 29 lakh 60 thousand metric tons, with which 16 crore people can be fed easily for more than one and a half months. All that is needed is awareness, effective planning and proper initiative.
Lack of nutrition, ignorance of various uses and above all lack of post-harvest management wastes the lion's share of the fruits produced in our country. Canned pineapple syrup is in great demand in the European Union and American markets. We have the opportunity to export surplus pineapple by canning. At the private level, some companies and local entrepreneurs are adding value by producing and marketing fruit juices, chocolates, beverages, pickles, chutneys, mangoes, amchoors, etc. Again, there is no specialized cold storage in the country that can save more time and feed seasonal fruits for longer. The only option is to change our diet, eat less rice and increase the consumption of fruits more and more.
No one can guarantee that they will be able to buy food if they can afford it in the coming changing situation. Therefore, besides personal awareness, the upper echelons of the government are taking necessary steps including urgent decision in this regard. In the meantime, Bangladesh Railway has taken arrangements to transport mangoes from Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi to Dhaka at low cost through a special train for mangoes. Food for Nation is the first open agricultural marketplace in Bangladesh to ensure fair prices for marginal farmers and for consumers to get the agricultural products they need. In our country, the Postal Department has launched 'Krishakbandhu Postal Service' through which the vegetables and fruits produced by the farmers are being transported free of cost to various markets and supermarkets in Dhaka. Taking the initiative is not the last word but only the effective participation of all the stakeholders in the initiative can bring about the desired success of all these initiatives.