Dhaka: Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul E. Mohamed emphasized the necessity of evidence-based planning and efficient public investment for transforming Bangladesh’s agriculture sector. He spoke as the chief guest at the opening session of a workshop, highlighting the move toward a more resilient and climate-smart agricultural system.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Mohamed noted the importance of initiatives such as the Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme in providing technical support for policy formulation and investment prioritization. Marco V. S¡nchez, Deputy Director of Agrifood Economics and Policy at FAO, acknowledged Bangladesh’s agricultural progress but pointed out challenges like climate change and market volatility. He stressed the need for evidence-based prioritization and design of agricultural investments to address these challenges.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Bangladesh government and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), organized the workshop to discuss policy analysis findings in agriculture. This event marks a significant step in modernizing and strengthening the sector’s sustainability and productivity. The initiative, titled ‘Technical Support for Sustainable and Resilient Investment towards the Agriculture Sector Transformation Programme of Bangladesh (AsTP)’, is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and funded by the Gates Foundation.
The workshop, held in Dhaka with 35 participants, focused on advancing evidence-based agricultural transformation and sustainable development. It emphasized the analysis of agricultural policy, public expenditure, and investment optimization scenarios. The FAO’s Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme facilitated the event.
Participants included senior government officials, policymakers, economists, and technical experts from various ministries and institutions. The workshop built on groundwork laid in March 2025, during the first inception mission and technical workshop, where the FAO team introduced the MAFAP programme and initiated technical collaboration with Bangladesh.
Discussions at the workshop contributed to preparing six Regional Investment Plans under the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 climate hotspot framework. These plans aim to identify high-potential agricultural commodities with substantial socioeconomic and environmental returns for each climatic zone.
The workshop employed a country-owned approach, encouraging active engagement and feedback from participants. They discussed improving analytical approaches, strengthening institutional coordination, and supporting efficient and evidence-based agricultural investment planning in Bangladesh.