Bangladesh, FAO sign technical assistance project agreement

The Economic Relations Division of the Ministry
of Finance has signed a technical assistance project agreement with the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).

The core objective of this collaboration is to evaluate the potential of
mechanized ratooning rice systems. The project aims to achieve the following
specific objectives:

Development of a regional project proposal to expedite the transformation of
rice-based agro-food systems by promoting the adoption and expansion of
mechanized ratoon rice cultivation.

Identification and accessibility of rice varieties/germplasm that exhibit
robust ratooning capability.

Creation and implementation of ecologically sustainable management practices
for mechanized rice ratooning.

Enhancement of awareness among diverse stakeholders regarding ratoon rice
technology through project workshops and field exhibitions, fostering the
exchange and dissemination of knowledge and experience.

The agreement was signed today by Sharifa Khan, secretary of the Economic
Relations Division, and Robert D. Simpson, FAO representative in Bangladesh,
said an ERD press release here today.

Implementation of the project will be led by the Bangladesh Rice Research
Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture. This collaborative initiative
will be carried out simultaneously in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam. The
allocated budget for the project in Bangladesh amounts to $146,044 USD.

Since becoming a member of FAO in 1973, Bangladesh has benefited from the
organization’s technical and financial support across various domains,
including food, agriculture (crops, fisheries, livestock), and environmental
matters.

Over the years, FAO has contributed to 400 projects within the country. These
projects are closely aligned with the objectives of the eighth Five Year Plan
and the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby supporting Bangladesh’s
endeavors to establish efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agro-
food systems.

The project’s execution falls within the framework of FAO’s Country
Programming Framework for 2022-2026. This framework is centered on the
attainment of improved production, nutrition, environmental sustainability,
and overall quality of life for all citizens, leaving no one behind. (BSS)