Asian Development Bank (ADB) will enhance
cooperation in order to strengthen efficiency in irrigation and agricultural
researches, aiming to develop the farm sector of the country.
ADB Country Director in Bangladesh Edimon Ginting came with this assurance
while attending a meeting with Agriculture Minister at the secretariat here
this morning.
“The ADB will provide cooperation in agriculture sector of Bangladesh,
particularly in agriculture development at coastal zone, Chattogram Hill
Tracts and Haor region,” said Edimon Ginting.
Apart from this, ADB will also provide cooperation for development of farm
commodity export, irrigation efficiency and strengthening farm research, he
told the meeting.
As part of the cooperation, $50 million project in agriculture sector aided
by the ADB is now remaining at the final stage, said a press release. During
the meeting, the agriculture minister also has sought financial and
technological support to the Philippines based regional development Bank for
setting up a modern packing house and modern testing laboratory on two acres
of land at Purbachal.
“Although Bangladesh is self-sufficient in cereal food productions…but we
are in lag behind in commodity export and processing as the country has more
surplus crops like Mango, Pineapple, Banana, Potato and Vegetables,” said the
agriculture minister. “We need cooperation from the ADB for developing our
export and processing system of the farm commodities,” he added.
Additional secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture M Ruhul Amin Talukder,
Deputy Secretary Farhana Irish, Deputy Country Director of ADB Ziangbo Ning
ministry officials, among others, attended the meeting.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)