DHAKA, Wednesday, 27 May 2009: – Marginal and landless farmers in Bangladesh are soon to receive a productivity boost, thanks to innovative projects of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) funded with a 20-million euro (Tk. 181 Core) donation from the European Union (EU).  | | Through this EU grant we hope WFP will generate employment opportunities and boost agricultural productivity and give marginal and landless farmer/agricultural labourers access to employment opportunities and sufficient food |  | | Dr. Jean Jacques Lauture, acting Head of Cooperation European Commission Delegation to Bangladesh |
With this assistance WFP Bangladesh, through its High Food Price Emergency Operation, will assist 400,000 ultra-poor people including landless farmers affected by volatile food prices to improve livelihood and ensure food security. The programme through different schemes, aims at helping poor farmers to produce food more efficiently. It will also improve the capacity of ultra poor agricultural workers/ wage labourers in entrepreneurship, developing their skills in small-scale agro-based activities, group farming, food processing, diversified crop production, poultry/cow rearing and other income generating activities. “Through this EU grant we hope WFP will generate employment opportunities and boost agricultural productivity and give marginal and landless farmer/agricultural labourers access to employment opportunities and sufficient food,”said Dr. Jean Jacques Lauture, acting Head of Cooperation European Commission Delegation to Bangladesh. The programme will transfer income mainly in the form of cash to highly food insecure and disaster prone areas. The programme interventions include creation of employment opportunities, training and asset grants. Different schemes will enhance flood resilience and improve agricultural infrastructure. "While the price of rice has come down, millions of Bangladeshis are yet to recover from the higher levels of debt and increase in malnutrition which the crisis provoked. Moreover, price volatility could continue, particularly as the global economic crisis sets in. This important new partnership between the EU and WFP will help marginal or landless farmers weather the storm of price volatility, by promoting agricultural production and broadening their livelihood opportunities”, said, Mr. Aylieff. Eleven most food insecure districts, Bhola, Baherhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalokhati, Pirojpur, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Nawabgonj, Narail, and Banderban will be covered by the programme. Each project participant will receive a daily wage of Tk.150 per working day for participation in employment generation activities. Families with pregnant and lactating mothers and malnourished children will receive micro nutrient sachets. WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency and the UN’s frontline agency for hunger solutions. In 2009, WFP aims to feed around 100 million people in 77 countries. |
