Dhaka, Delhi sign MOU on agri co-op

Bangladesh and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to institutionalise cooperation between the two neighbours in the field of agriculture, reports BSS.

The MOU, signed at the state Guest House Padma yesterday in the presence of visiting Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Kumar Panja and Agriculture Minister Begum Motia Chowdhury, will provide cooperation through joint activities, exchange and training of scientists, joint publications and promotion of joint ventures in agro-industries.

The specific areas of cooperation will include fisheries, jute production and cultivation, animal husbandry, bio-technology, agri-research, the salient features of the MOU said.

An official handout said the accord will promote development of cooperation in agricultural science and technology, agricultural production and agro-processing between the two countries through joint activities, programme, exchange of scientific materials, information and personnel between the two countries.

The MOU, which is valid for five years, was signed by Mostafa Faruque Mohammad, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, and Deb Mukherjee, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

The MOU envisages the setting up of a Joint Agricultural Working Group (JAWG) which will meet alternatively in India and Bangladesh.

JAWG will review progress of activities, provide guidance and facilitate cooperation in agriculture, the features mentioned.

The signing was held after Panja had made a call on Agriculture Minister Begum Chowdhury at the State Guest House Padma where they discussed matters of mutual interest, in particular the cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture.

Additional Secretary Agriculture Rafiqul Alam, and Indian High Commissioner Mukherjee were present.

The signing over, Panja said the MOU would give a thrust to the existing cooperation between the two countries whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture. He said cooperation that had been going on so long between the two countries and was being institutionalised. He expressed his happiness to be present at the signing ceremony.

Begum Motia Chowdhury expressed the hope that the MOU signed yesterday would bring benefits to agriculture and the large number of people dependent on farming in both countries.

The two ministers agreed that the MOU is a great step forward for development of agriculture in the region.

Panja arrived here Thursday on a three-day "goodwill" visit to Bangladesh. He is the first minister of the new Indian government which was sworn in in October last year.