FAO Representative Jiaoqun Shi met with Abu Tahir Muhammad Zaber, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, to boost food security and promote One Health in Bangladesh, launching new steps to protect people, animals and the environment. The meeting focused on ways to help farmers, fishers and communities have steady access to safe food while keeping plants, animals and people healthy. Officials agreed to strengthen work on biodiversity, to make sure nature can support farming and fishing for years to come. They also discussed helping the government carry out its National Adaptation Policy so communities can better handle weather changes and other risks. The plan includes supporting smallholders with guidance on safer animal and fish farming, improving access to clean water and better food storage, and creating early warning systems for disease and extreme weather. Training and simple tools will help local workers spot health risks early and take quick action, which can stop outbreaks before they spread. The work aims to make food systems stronger so people can find healthy food close to home, and to help farms grow in ways that protect soil and water. The partners will look at ways to connect laboratories, veterinarians and public health workers so information flows faster when a problem is found. This One Health approach links human health with animal health and the environment, and it makes it easier to plan helpful steps that protect all three. The meeting also highlighted how farming methods that protect biodiversity, like planting diverse crops and caring for wetlands, can make food supplies more reliable and nutritious. By focusing support where small producers need it most, the teams want to boost local incomes and reduce the need for long trips to sell produce. Officials said clear, short training and better links to markets can help small shops and families earn more and waste less. The plan will also look for simple finance and small grants to help farmers try better ideas without high risk. Many actions are practical and low-cost, such as better feed for animals, safe waste disposal, and shared storage spaces that keep food fresh longer. Together, these steps aim to build trust across communities, strengthen local services and help nature and people thrive. The partners plan to work with local leaders and experts to test ideas, measure results and grow the most useful programs across more regions so more families benefit from safer food and healthier farms. Community events, simple guides in local languages, and radio or phone messages will help share practical tips with people who live far from towns, so farmers, fishers and shop owners can learn fast and use ideas that fit their daily lives and thrive together.
