BSS, Rangpur :
Experts at a seminar have stressed on proper processing and preservation of seasonal fruits and vegetables to ensure food and nutrition security of the population.
They viewed this at the seminar titled “Processed Foods (Fruits and Vegetables): Contributions to Nutrition: Role of BIRTAN” held at BRAC Learning Centre here on Sunday afternoon.
Rangpur Regional Station of Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) under the Ministry of Agriculture located at Pirganj organized the seminar.
Divisional Commissioner Md. Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan attended the seminar as the chief guest with Executive Director (Additional Secretary) of BIRTAN Md. Abdul Wadud in the chair.
Professor of the Department of Food Processing and Preservation of Hajee Muhammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur Dr. Maruf Ahmed presented the keynote easy in the seminar as resource person.
Chief Scientific Officer at Spices Research Centre at Shibganj in Bogura Agriculturist Dr. Md. Hamim Reza and Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension at its Rangpur Regional Office Agriculturist Md. Emdad Hossain Sheikh spoke as special guests.
Senior Scientific Officer at Rangpur Regional Station of BIRTAN at Pirganj Agriculturist Dr. Md. Sadekul Islam moderated the seminar.
Prof Dr. Maruf Ahmed put emphasis on engaging collective efforts of all concerned to ensure proper processing and preservation of extra seasonal fruits and vegetables to prevent huge wastages of the agri-commodities being caused every year.
“In the off-seasons, it is possible to keep oneself healthy by taking balanced nutrition effortlessly from those scientifically processed and properly preserved fruits and vegetables,” he said.
He said Malaysia processes 83 percent of its produced fruits and vegetables, Philippines 78 percent, Brazil 70 percent while Bangladesh processes only less than one percent of its produced fruits and vegetables. “Due to unawareness and lack of adequate processing and preservation facilities, the annual financial value of wasted fruits and vegetables produced in the country currently stands at Tk 4,091 crore and Taka 4,243 crore respectively,” he said.
Dr. Ahmed put especial importance on preservation of additional quantities of produced seasonal fruits and vegetables maintaining quality to meet nutritional demand of the population round the year for attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Other experts lauded nutrition security related awareness raising training and other activities of BIRTAN and suggested the organization to put more importance on the necessity of processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables.
The chief guest urged all to work together to ensure proper processing and preservation of seasonal fruits and vegetables and consume those during other periods like in foreign countries to ensure nutritional security for all and build a nutrition-enriched nation.
