Bangladesh is a low income economy. The livestock sector is not only a source of income and nutritious food for rural households, it also generates employment for a growing population in the country, particularly for young men and women. The project responded to the request of the Government of Bangladesh to promote the development of the livestock sector, and was aligned with its national priorities and development strategies. It was also designed to respond to opportunities created through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by the Government of China to promote regional economic development and infrastructural support in 2017, as well as to International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) China’s support for South South Cooperation (SSC). The project aimed to identify value chain upgrading opportunities and carry out the pilot implementation of selected upgrading models and strategies, to support the inclusive and sustainable development of dairy and beef value chains in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, particularly for the benefit of smallholder producers and agro entrepreneurs, and through knowledge and experience exchanges via SSC with China.

Access to sufficient food by all people at all times to meet their dietary needs is a matter of critical importance. Despite declining arable agricultural land, Bangladesh has made commendable progress in boosting domestic food production. The growth in overall food production has been keeping ahead of population growth, resulting in higher per capita availability of food over time. In the early 1970s, Bangladesh was a food-deficit country with a population of about 75 million. Today, the population is 165 million, and the country is now self-sufficient in rice production, which has tripled over the past three decades. Along with enhanced food production, increased income has improved people’s access to food. Furthermore, nutritional outcomes have improved significantly.

Nevertheless, the challenges to food and nutrition security remain formidable. Future agricultural growth and food and nutrition security are threatened by population growth, worsening soil fertility, diminishing access to land and other scarce natural resources, increasing vulnerability of crop varieties to pests and diseases, and persistent poverty leading to poor access to food. In addition, the impacts of climate change—an increase in the incidence of natural disasters, sea intrusion, and salinity—will exacerbate food and nutrition insecurity in the coming decades if corrective measures are not taken. Aligned with this context, the authors of the book explore policy options and strategies for developing agriculture and improving food security in Bangladesh. Securing Food for All in Bangladesh, with its breadth and scope, will be an invaluable resource for policymakers, researchers, and students dedicated to improving people’s livelihoods in Bangladesh.

The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna deltas has newly emerged ‘char’ islands, which are very vulnerable, socially, institutionally and environmentally. This book explains how the governments of Bangladesh and the Netherlands cooperated on a land-based rural development project to give settlers security and purpose. The 13 chapters in this book are based on experience gathered from implementing the Char Development and Settlement Project undertaken since 1994.