Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Canada's Minister of State for International Development, Randeep Sarai, discussed drawing on Canadian experience in information management and data-driven planning for Bangladesh's farmer card, through which the government plans to supply fertiliser, seed and other inputs to farmers. The courtesy meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office in the Secretariat on Monday (12 October), Banglanews24 reports.
The prime minister said the farmer card would give the government detailed information on farmers, helping it plan for agriculture and deliver support more effectively.
The two sides discussed scope for closer cooperation on the production and supply of farm commodities such as pulses and oilseeds. Canada said it was interested in supporting Bangladesh's food security and briefed the prime minister on its ongoing work through the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).
Citing World Bank figures, the prime minister said that consolidating several food subsidy programmes, targeting cash assistance better and linking it to the family card could lift another 2.85 million people out of poverty.
On climate, the Canadian minister said Canada intends to provide C$13 billion in global climate finance over the next five years, from which Bangladesh could benefit. Canal excavation, the 250 million tree-planting programme, renewable energy, Rohingya repatriation, technical education and nurse training were also discussed.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and Canada's High Commissioner in Dhaka, Ajit Singh, were among the officials present.
Photo: a mustard field in a Bangladeshi village. Photo: Hopeoflight / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Banglanews24
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