FAO holds dialogue on UNFSS

As part of preparations for the first ever United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) later this year, an independent dialogue was held today on the future of the country's fresh markets. 

The dialogue was co-organised by FAO, World Bank, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), BSAFE Foundation, British Council's PROKAS, and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), said a press release. 

Special guests at today's dialogue were Md Abdul Kayowm Sarker, chairman of BFSA, Dr Shaikh Azizur Rahman, director general, Department of Livestock Services, Md Asadullah, director general of Department of Agricultural Extension, Farid Ahmed, chief executive officer of Dhaka South City Corporation, Md Bablu Kumar Saha, director general, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, chairman of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council. 

FAO Dhaka Food System project Chief Technical Advisor John Taylor said that fresh food markets have a pivotal role to play in improving access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food. 

"Fresh food markets can really improve the diets of community members who are food insecure. Those suffering from food insecurity have little money for or access to food, particularly nutritious food," he added. 

FAO's Dhaka Food System project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, holds city working group meetings regularly with officials from all four Dhaka City Corporations (Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Gazipur, and Narayanganj).