COVID-19 and Food Supply in Bangladesh: A Review

The pandemic COVID-19 has slowed down human activities globally and throwing countries into a slump and possibly economic depression. Bangladesh, a growing economic country, is also experiencing severe economic shockwaves. Besides the economic shock, it is also facing an imbalance in the food supply in all of its channels. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general understanding of the possible impacts of COVID-19 on food supply in Bangladesh. The paper presents a brief summary of the global COVID-19 situation and the current food supply status concerning COVID-19. In Bangladesh, the trend of COVID-19 cases is increasing and due to the lockdown situation, the food supply is hampering badly. Since most farmers are not adapted to mechanized agriculture and facing labour shortages, their production has fallen at risk in terms of harvesting. Due to buyer shortage and unavailability of supply channels, products are being forced to sell at a low price and it will take years to overcome this shock as the prognosis of COVID-19 is still unknown to all. Though the government has taken some policy measures to maintain a sufficient food supply, protect the agriculture sector, and mitigate the possible losses.

Deep Learning Solutions for Agricultural and Farming Activities

The continuously growing population throughout globe demands an ample food supply, which is one of foremost challenge of smart agriculture. Timely and precise identification of weeds, insects, and diseases in plants are necessary for increased crop yield to satisfy demand for sufficient food supply. With fewer experts in this field, there is a need to develop an automated system for predicting yield, detection of weeds, insects, and diseases in plants. In addition to plants, livestock such as cattle, pigs, and chickens also contribute as major food. Hence, livestock demands precision methods for reducing the mortality rate of livestock by identifying diseases in livestock. Deep learning is one of the upcoming technologies that when combined with image processing promises smart agriculture to be a reality. Various applications of DL for smart agriculture are covered.

Technical Equipment of Agricultural Production

The guarantee of a sufficient food supply is one of the challenges in both international and national economic security. Development of world agriculture is impossible without using advanced technologies. Their application in agriculture depends on the security of agricultural producers with highly effective agricultural machinery for which agricultural engineering serves. Agricultural engineering is an important element of the agro-industrial complex of any state providing it with necessary machinery and equipment. One of the important directions of the establishment of food security is the development of agricultural engineering. In this regard, the chapter analyses the current state of the world market of agricultural machinery; develops the methodology of assessment of the competitiveness of agricultural machinery in the domestic market; and elaborates the definition of effective methods of management of logistics costs at the operation of agricultural machinery.

SCREENING OF COMMON BEAN GENOTYPES FOR RESISTANCE AGAINST Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: To screen nine available bean genotypes for resistance to common bacterial blight disease under green house and field conditions.Methodology: Experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications in a 9×2×2 factorial factor of 9 bean genotypes, grown in sterile or non-sterile soil and inoculated or non-inoculated (control) during the greenhouse and a 9×2 field screening of 9 bean genotypes, and inoculated or non-inoculated. During growth, data on plant height number of pods per plant, length of pods and size and number ofCBB spots was taken. Yield parameters were also assessed.Findings: The findings from the experiment revealed a significant variation (P<0.05) on the entire traits studied among the nine bean genotypes. Data from the field and greenhouse experiments were in conformity. None of the evaluated genotype was immune to CBB. In the green house, it was observed that disease symptoms were severe in beans planted in non-sterile soil and inoculated with Xap compared to those planted in sterile soil and non-inoculated respectively.Contribution to practice and policy: There was a strong positive correlation between size and number of CBB spots and growth and yield parameters. CAL77 and Cal 156A genotypes exhibited high levels of resistance to CBB which could improve the bean yields resulting to sufficient food supply, improved nutrition, health and improvement of the source of income to the local communities

A Mismatch between External Debt Finances and Consumption Cost in Nigeria

This study scrutinizes the influence of external obligation on the cost of living in Nigeria. In recent times, Nigeria has been tagged as the headquarters of world poverty due to the unaffordable cost of living that has resulted in all manner of crimes prevailing in the country. However, the role of foreign loans being contracted by the government in reducing consumption cost has become a concern, hence this investigation. This study made use of a secondary form of statistical records covering the period 2000–2018. The result of the data analysis has shown that external debt does not improve consumption cost, but rather aids the rising cost of living in Nigeria. In a nutshell, the study suggests that the government should invest a large chunk of the borrowed funds into agriculture and local manufacturing for sufficient food supply and provision of goods and services at reasonable costs. This study recommends support for infant industries and entrepreneurship to reduce the consumption cost in the country. The study also encourages the government to seek debt rearrangement or outright revocation by the lending institutions and countries.

Population Backfire: Hindsight to Malthusian Catastrophe

The basic tenet of Economics lies in the scarcity principle and unlimited nature of human wants, but allocating a definite amount of resources to satisfy the growing per capita needs in an economy is a difficult task. Things become more complicated when the population pressure generates backfire. The global population has increased to 7.8 billion, and it is essential to ensure sufficient food supply for the growing human population as well as for other species without destroying ecological balance is a serious matter to consider. An evaluation of Malthusian population theories has great importance in this context. This paper intends to analyze the Malthusian theory of population and what happens if population backfire happens and also looks into the intensity of positive checks on population along with the Malthusian trap and its effect on the present as well as the future generation.

Actual problems in food supplying to the world's population

The purpose of the article is to investigate the problem of food shortages for a significant number of the population worldwide, taking into account the history of the problem, its causes, consequences, statistics and prospects for solving in accordance with existing trends. Research methods. Methods used: theoretical generalization - for characterizing international organizations and program goals that work to combat hunger, analysis and synthesis - for consideration the dynamics number of starving people on the planet and identify regions and countries with largest expanding such problem, comparative evaluation - for comparing absolute and relative statistical indicators in various aspects of the problem, historical - for structuring over time the measures taken to ensure sufficient food supply and their actual results, graphic - for better visualization the comparative statistics. Research results. Information on the responsible institutions that settle food shortages around the world is provided, key issues that need attention in the context of food insecurity are described, quantitative indicators of the global food problem are considered, the uneven nature of its distribution is highlighted, given list of the factors that deepen social and economic problems for the population, a clear link between poverty and chronic malnutrition is determined, critical remarks about the reality of prospect to overcome hunger according to the planned schedule are formed. Scientific novelty. An assessment of development the situation with the number of starving people in the world in the coming decades is made, taking into account an expected demographic changes and potential resources of agricultural production as a key sector in this problem. Practical significance. The provisions of the article are aimed at underlining weaknesses in the global food security system, detailing them and presenting to domestic authorities and business structures in order to find a balance between expanding export potential, participating in international initiatives and maintaining economical-effective agricultural sector. Figs.: 1. Refs.: 17.

Exploration of Food-Seeking Behaviour, Food Preparation, and Restrictions to Sufficient Food among the Jahai Sub-Tribe (Indigenous People) in Gerik, Malaysia

Access to food has been determined to be a factor that strongly influences the dietary intake and eating habit of indigenous people (Orang Asli, OA). This study explored food acquisition and the barriers in obtaining traditional and market foods among the Jahai subtribe (within the Negrito ethnic group) via a qualitative approach. Twenty-eight OA (14 males and 14 females) from Gerik, Perak, Malaysia participated in four focus group discussions (FGDs; two male-only and two female-only groups; seven informants in each FGD). Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the gathered data. The results found that the Jahai applied both modern (buying and receiving food assistance) and traditional (gathering, farming, fishing, and hunting) methods in obtaining food. The barriers they faced in gathering sufficient food supply included low purchasing power, high demand for food, high transport costs, depletion of food supplies in their surroundings, threats from wild animals on the farm and during food searching activities, and food sharing. Food preparation methods practiced by the OA include roasting and grilling, frying, simmering (gulai), and boiling. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of the dietary behaviour of the Jahai subtribe and highlights restricted food access among the OA, which demands urgent attention.

Technical Equipment of Agricultural Production

The guarantee of a sufficient food supply is one of the challenges in both international and national economic security. Development of world agriculture is impossible without using advanced technologies. Their application in agriculture depends on the security of agricultural producers with highly effective agricultural machinery for which agricultural engineering serves. Agricultural engineering is an important element of the agro-industrial complex of any state providing it with necessary machinery and equipment. One of the important directions of the establishment of food security is the development of agricultural engineering. In this regard, the chapter analyses the current state of the world market of agricultural machinery; develops the methodology of assessment of the competitiveness of agricultural machinery in the domestic market; and elaborates the definition of effective methods of management of logistics costs at the operation of agricultural machinery.