Dhaka — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed a financial agreement with Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Ministry of Agriculture on 21 November to enhance locally appropriate and socio-economically beneficial adaptation, and promote climate resilient crop value chains in Bangladesh's climate-impacted areas.

FAO will support DAE for Bangladesh’s transition to a climate resilient and nature positive production system, consistent with national development goals and adhering to best practices of social and environmental safeguards through this USD 6.57 million project interventions. The objective of the “Building Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Vulnerable Landscapes in Bangladesh” project is to improve the resilience of people, communities, and ecosystems to climate change, and improve livelihoods through increased value addition in the agricultural food systems of Bangladesh.

FAO Representative ad interim in Bangladesh said on the occasion “This is a great opportunity for both FAO and DAE to intensify the partnerships and ultimately promote most effective and locally beneficial adaptation options as well as the UN’s sustainable development goals in Bangladesh’s climate hotspots. FAO will continue its endeavor in building climate resilient agri-food system and support Government agencies in accessing climate finance in the days to come.”

Mr. Badal Chandra Biswas, Director General, DAE said “We hope that FAO and DAE partnership will reduce climate vulnerability and build local level resilience in High Barind Tract (HBT), Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), saline and waterlogging prone areas in the view of the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events combined with low socio-economic situation, inadequate enabling conditions, and limited coping mechanisms.”

Under this agreement, DAE will bring 16 000 ha of land under climate resilient agricultural practices; train 32 000 farmers on adaptation; provide machineries, farm equipment, and stress-tolerant seeds to 19 000 vulnerable farmers; establish 150 rainwater catchment structures and 300 women-led vermicompost pits and 100 community seed banks. DAE will also develop and disseminate crop advisory and agro-met information to 27 200 farmers twice a week for wheat, maize, mango, cashew nut, watermelon and dragon fruits. To engage private sector and increase farmers income DAE will facilitate the selling of 45 000 tons of produce through agreements between the farmers organization and private sector, and provide business training to 100 entrepreneurs and micro SMEs.

In the signing ceremony high officials from DAE and FAO attended and expressed their enthusiasm to work together in the areas of climate resilient agriculture, agri-food system transformation, technology transfer, nature based solutions, climate finance and private sector engagement.

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This news release was issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Bangladesh Country Office.

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