Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
United Nations is keen to enhance support in exporting mangoes from
Bangladesh to promote the product at global, regional and local levels.
“FAO will help Bangladesh to export its different seasonal fruits including
mango through their ‘One Country One Priority Product’ (OCOP) aiming to
optimize the production systems, minimize food loss and more efficient,
inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems”, FAO representative Dr
Jiaoqun Shi said here today.
He came up with this proposal while a delegation of his organization made a
courtesy call with Agriculture Advisor Lieutenant General (retd) M Jahangir
Alam Chowdhury at his secretariat office.
The OCOP, a five year programme launched by FAO in 2021, focused on
supporting countries in identifying and promoting Special Agricultural
Products (SAPs)with unique qualities and special characteristics that have
the potential to be integrated into local, national, regional and global
markets.
Duri
ng the call on, they also discussed on different aspects which includes
damages of agricultural crops in recent floods, technical and consulting
support for development of the agriculture and export diversification of farm
commodity.
In the beginning of the meeting, the agriculture advisor welcomed the FAO
delegation and said: “FAO has provided support to Bangladesh on various
issues…We hope that this support will continue”.
Mentioning catastrophic loss of agricultural products in 11 districts, out of
23 due to flood, the agriculture advisor said FAO support is necessary during
the next agricultural rehabilitation programme.
Referring to FAO’s continuous partnership in the development of the
agricultural sector of Bangladesh, the FAO representative said, “FAO is
always ready to enhance support to seed, farm technology and technical and
consultation as well”.
Even the FAO is providing technical support to the ‘Program on Agricultural
and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship and
Resilience’
(PARTNER) implemented by the agriculture ministry to ensure food and
nutrition support to the Bangladeshi people, the FAO representative added.
The agriculture adviser also assured to provide continuous support to FAO
while its representative sought for regular exchanging of different
agriculture sector data between the two entities.
Senior officers of the ministry and agriculture department were also present
during this time.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
