State of Knowledge on Food Systems for the IGP-5 Study Site: Reflections from Literature Survey

1. State of Knowledge on Food Systems for the IGP-5 Study Site: Reflections from Literature Survey Khandaker M. Ashraful Munim Jahangirnagar University GECAFS IGB Workshop, Khatmandu, 13 December, 2005

2. GECAFS IGB Workshop Kathmandu, 13 December 2005

3. GECAFS IGB Workshop Kathmandu, 13 December 2005 Literature Survey on FS No specific Study done so far on Greater Faridpur District (GFD) Sporadic data available on Food Production (primarily of cereal) … crop varieties, land holding sizes, coverage of major crops …. Food Distribution (… transportation infrastructure, storage facilities …) Food Utilization (i.e., Consumption info from HES) Large-scale data gaps on FS for the Study Site For characterization of FS for the Study Site, efforts must be made to collect primary level data Information about a number of FS attributes may also be garnered from ‘country level’ macro data (‘the whole of Bangladesh’)

4. GECAFS IGB Workshop Kathmandu, 13 December 2005 Available Macro-level Information on FS attributes FOOD AVAILABILITY Food Production (land holding sizes; tenancy arrangements; soil fertility; crop varieties; seasonality; availability of labour; irrigation; use of fertilizer…..) A good number of studies available on various aspects Amongst all the FS attributes, FP offers the most info/analysis Food Distribution (… transportation infrastructure; control over production; post-harvest processing; preservation, storage facilities; public safety nets; public food distribution system; procurement, …) Good availability of published info

5. GECAFS IGB Workshop Kathmandu, 13 December 2005 Available Macro-level Information on FS attributes FOOD AVAILABILITY Food Exchange (… peoples’ purchasing power; income levels; flow of remittances; informal social arrangements for barter; local customs for giving and receiving gifts; …..) No literature has been found on the above issues FOOD ACCESS Food Affordability (… pricing policies and mechanisms; local prices relative to external prices; seasonal and geographical variations in price; the forms in which households are paid; …) Available info is limited

6. GECAFS IGB Workshop Kathmandu, 13 December 2005 Available Macro-level Information on FS attributes FOOD ACCESS Food Allocation (… markets; governmental policies/interventions aimed at correcting market failures; …) Reasonable amount of macro-info is available Food Preference (… culture, religion, season, preparation requirements, advertisement, …) Very scanty data

7. GECAFS IGB Workshop Kathmandu, 13 December 2005 Available Macro-level Information on FS attributes FOOD UTILIZATION Nutritional Value (… diversity of food consumed; type of primary protein; incidence of diseases; …) Some studies are available Social Value (… social and cultural aspects of consumption; cherished and nurtured customs; family ties and community relations; …) No published literature has been found

8. GECAFS IGB Workshop Kathmandu, 13 December 2005 Available Macro-level Information on FS attributes FOOD UTILIZATION Food Safety (… public awareness regarding hygiene; presence of pathogens; contamination; changes with seasonality; storage conditions; …) Very limited published literature

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