Poverty to protein

The other day I was invited by the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council as a panel discussant on the importance of protein. I accepted the invitation without any hesitation as the very topic attracted me and made me feel proud. Not for being selected as a discussant, but for the socio-economic dynamics that made the organiser realise the importance of an issue that has long been missing for journalists to cover and discussants to focus on. I felt proud of the current situation where journalists are invited to cover events on protein and nutritional issues, unlike even a decade ago when newsmen like me used to cover seminars on poverty reduction and food security.

Those days are gone when governments and policymakers strived hard just for ensuring two-square meals for the huge population of our country. Then focus came to ensure Dal-Bhat before shifting to schooling for children and ensuring hygienic sanitation for rural Bangladesh. We have achieved astonishing success and gone ahead of our peer countries in South Asia region on these two issues.

We now talk about nutrition, health, protein, energy drinks and the significance of vitamin to improve our health and live longer. We are currently focusing on becoming a developing to developed nation- a clear pathway that makes us think about building an energised population, thanks to our economic upliftment and income growth.

Achieving protein sufficiency is directly connected with one’s income level, consciousness and knowledge on nutritional values of food one intakes. It is not much of arithmetic, but of economic nature. Our policymakers seemed not that serious on ensuring protein for its poverty-stricken population; despite they are full-fed except for the corona-induced period. Ensuring income growth for underprivileged population will automatically divert them towards food intake having nutritional values. This is a natural trend requiring not much effort from policymakers to diversifying and enriching food plates of the masses.

As per a finding of The Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and the Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) in April this year, the economic shock induced by the pandemic has pushed 2.45 crore people --  14.75 percent of the country's population -- into poverty in one year.

Those people had to head home as they became jobless. Their situation was worsened by rising living expenses, dwindling savings and mounting debt, said the survey.

Thanks to the efforts from our government our poverty rates have gone down strikingly since the independence. We have successfully reduced the poverty rate, although policymakers have miserably failed to contain corona-induced poverty. Though short-lived, it was due mainly to the policy inertia, not for resource constraints.

A recent publication of the United Nation’s FAO claims that Bangladesh has not yet been able to ensure food security for its citizen.

The Global Food Security Index has placed Bangladesh at 107 out of 113 countries in the Quality and Safety of Food. However, on a positive note, a few statistics have improved in terms of malnutrition. For instance, the malnutrition rate has come down from 20.8 per cent to 13 per cent in a span of 18 years from 2000.

In 2004, among children under five years, the shortness rate was 51 per cent , leanness rate was 15 per cent, the underweight rate was 43 per cent. In 2019, it decreased to 28 per cent, 9.6 per cent and 22.6 per cent respectively. The development came with the marked increase in our income level which was above $2,227 in last fiscal year.

According to FAO, grains are the major source of the total food intake (more than 60 per cent) in Bangladesh, while more than 50 per cent of the total population suffers from the scarcity of quality protein in general diets.

It is a matter of pride that Bangladesh's tremendous success in fish production growth has transformed its population's otherwise low-protein diet to diversified and rich sustenance. We now provide over half of the food proteins from fish sources.

Despite dietary link to income level, it cannot be denied that the government machineries must take some responsibility to educate the rural people about food values through mass communications.

In rural areas, diets commonly contain rice, vegetables, small quantities of pulses and fish. Due to such dietary choices, our country has been struggling with the burden of under-nutrition and malnutrition for several years now. Even meat consumption is believed to be low due to income disparity.

Besides these nutritional issues, the simple preference for consuming rice and rice and curry variants indicates a high level of carbohydrate intake compared to protein.

As fruits and vegetables provide us with other essential nutrients like vitamin, minerals, etc. they still may not suffice our protein needs. Protein is absolutely essential and responsible for contributing to our muscle and bone health is still lacking in daily diets.

A high protein intake can help with weight loss, increase muscle mass, and improve overall health. Protein is one of the most important components of each cell in the body.  Adequate protein intake is essential for our bodies to function properly. It is crucial for the development of muscles, hair, blood, connective tissue, antibodies, enzymes, and a lot more.

Now people of all walks of life can afford poultry meat and eggs, thanks to their upsurging income and low cost of poultry products. You will not find much difference between the plates of a master and his or her servant. We all can afford chicken. It is a new
Bangladesh.

Several poultry-based products such as eggs, chicken, and duck are high in protein. All of these foods contain approximately 20 grams of protein for 100 grams of quantity. It is advised to include lean, slightly larger cuts of meat to significantly boost the protein content in meals.

Once naturally plentiful, fish is no longer found in abundance in nature. However, widespread fish farming across the country have made fish varieties available at a relatively low cost. A kg Telapia, or Pangas is now priced at between Tk 120 and 130. Pangas, which used to be a delicacy only for ultra-rich, now is hugely consumed by poor population. What a change. Sometimes, I fail to recognize our country—Bangladesh.

Almost every family in Bangladesh can afford fish, a major source for protein–and fish is also filled with Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins.

Even in the eighties, only the rich could afford eggs which can now be afforded by day labourers and garment workers. Eggs are no longer the reserved food for the rich or even those belonging to the middle class.  Eggs which contain high amounts of protein, iron and vitamin, are now affordable for all.

I urge both the government and private sector to organize more seminars and discussions on protein and nutrition, along with programmes for mass awareness on the significance of protein in diets for a stronger Bangladesh.

We have effectively fought against poverty over the last 50 years. Achieving protein needs is simply a matter of time for Bangladesh.

The writer is Executive Editor at The Business Post. He can be contacted at nazmulahsan6504@gmail.com