BMirror Report:
Anticipation is high as a significant round-table discussion is poised to unfold in the Netherlands, bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders in the agricultural sphere. Scheduled under the theme of ‘Transformation of Bangladesh’s Agriculture and Future Cooperation’, the event promises robust engagement and collaboration.
Organized jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Bangladesh Embassu in the Netherlands, the round table aims to shine a spotlight on Bangladesh’s agricultural potential and investment opportunities, resonating with global partners and agricultural stakeholders alike.
Slated for Monday, May 6, the discussion is set to be a collaborative effort with Wageningen University and Research, renowned worldwide for its pioneering work in agricultural research, and Canada’s University of Saskatchewan. Noteworthy figures from various esteemed organizations including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, World Bank, Gates Foundation, among others, are expected to grace the occasion with their presence.
The proceedings of this pivotal round table will be broadcasted online from the Netherlands, offering a virtual platform for global engagement and exchange of ideas. Key topics to be explored include strategies for enhancing crop productivity, agricultural mechanization, sustainable supply systems, and addressing skill shortages within Bangladesh’s agricultural landscape.
Adding to the gravity of the event, the Minister of Agriculture will lead a distinguished delegation comprising Md. Abdus Shahid, Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akhter, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Md. Mahmudur Rahman, who will journey from Dhaka to partake in the deliberations.
The Netherlands, esteemed as the second-largest exporter of agricultural products globally, stands as a beacon of modern agricultural practices. Bangladesh’s current administration is keen to harness the wealth of expertise and innovation in the Netherlands to propel its own agricultural sector forward, a commitment reaffirmed by Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to the Netherlands in 2015.
In recent years, bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and the Netherlands in the agricultural domain has witnessed remarkable strides. The groundbreaking ‘Future of Agriculture in Bangladesh’ conference hosted by Wageningen University and Research in 2022 laid the groundwork for subsequent collaborative endeavors. Notably, in 2023, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sanctioned funding for three transformative projects in collaboration with the University, aimed at addressing the challenges confronting small and marginal farmers in Bangladesh.
Furthermore, as part of broader international agricultural cooperation, a memorandum of understanding was inked with the University of Saskatchewan, a bastion of agricultural research in Canada. This collaboration has borne fruit in the form of several initiatives, including the establishment of the Bangabandhu Chair at the University of Saskatchewan, the Bangabandhu-Pierre Trudeau Agricultural Technology Center at the Rice Research Institute in Gazipur, and the Institute of Food Security office at the BARC premises in Dhaka.
As the program draws near, stakeholders eagerly anticipate the fruitful exchange of ideas and strategies that will emerge from this multilateral discussion, fostering greater cooperation and innovation in Bangladesh’s agricultural landscape.
