D-8 to take integrated project on climate-smart agro tech
Various international donor agencies— IDB, FAO, IRRI, IFAD, etc. are set to provide financial support
The Developing 8 (D-8), an alliance of eight developing countries, has agreed to Bangladesh's proposal to undertake a multinational integrated project "Dhaka Initiative" to develop climate-smart agricultural technology.
The proposal suggested joint research, innovation, development and expansion of advanced agricultural technologies to be carried out in the D-8 countries to address the effects of climate change.
The agriculture ministers of the eight countries agreed to the proposal and approved the "Dhaka Initiative" on13 January at the 7th ministerial meeting of D-8 focused on "Agriculture and Food Security: Development of Climate-Smart Agriculture", said a press statement.
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The Ministry of Agriculture organised the two-day virtual meeting, from 12-13 January, at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC).
The project will be implemented and managed with financial and technical assistance from various international donor agencies such as— IDB (Islamic Development Bank), FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation), IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), etc, the press statement added.
Presiding over the meeting, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque said, "The agricultural production system would be the most affected by climate change in the world. In order to sustain agricultural production and food security in the future, innovation and expansion of climate change tolerant crop varieties and technologies must be increased."
"The agriculture sector of D-8 countries employs 26% of the population and contributes about 13.50% to the GDP. In addition, 60% of the people in the alliance countries live in rural areas and are largely dependent on agriculture. Therefore, today's 'Dhaka Initiative' will play an important role in the innovation and exchange of climate-smart agricultural technology and food production and security," the minister added.
D-8 Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Indonesian Agriculture Minister HE Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Iranian Agriculture Minister Javad Sadati-Nejad, Malaysian Agriculture and Food Minister Ronald Kiandee, Pakistani Federal Minister Syed Fakhar Imam, Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Deputy Minister Akif Ozkaldi, Nigerian Agriculture and Rural Development Federal Minister Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, and Egypt Agriculture Research Centre (ARC) Vice-president Shireen Kamal Assem attended the meeting.
Ministry of Agriculture Secretary and Bangladesh Delegation Member Md Sayedul Islam, Additional Secretary Md Ruhul Amin Talukder, BARC Executive Chairman Dr Sheikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, and representatives from FAO, IDB, IFAD, IRRI, etc. also attended the conference.
