Road map for food and nutrition security

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is located in the South-East part of Bangladesh with a population of over 1.3 million. It is geographically distinct from other parts of the country. Over 62 percent household are living below the absolute poverty line where as about 36 percent are hardcore poor. Most of the poor people of CHT are dependent on “Jum Cultivation”. During the months of March to May the jum cultivators suffer from scarcity of food which is locally known as “Bhadrat”. To support the poor jumiya families from the scarcity of food and hunger, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and partner organizations started Food Bank program in the CHT. Food Bank is a place where food grain is stored during harvesting time. During lean period this rice is distributed to poor jum cultivators and they return the rice during harvesting time The World Bank is supporting a project called South Asian Food And Nutrition Security Initiative –SAFANSI aimed at “enhancing knowledge and awareness of critical factors that promote food and nutrition security among women’s groups in four countries, through BEES network system of learning and capacity outreach. SAFANSI project is undertaken in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh in MJF supported food bank areas.