Bangladesh has expressed interest in deepening bilateral cooperation with Italy in fisheries and livestock, Krishi Sangbad reports. State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku MP met Luigi D'Eramo, Undersecretary of State at Italy's Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, on Sunday on the sidelines of an event at the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture, livestock, marine fisheries and the blue economy, and both expressed interest in signing a memorandum of understanding to that end, with follow-up talks and steps to be taken at the appropriate level.

The state minister set out the contribution of fisheries and livestock to Bangladesh's food security, nutrition, employment and livelihoods, and said farmers in the two sectors would be brought under the farmer card and receive the same government facilities as crop farmers.

Bangladesh is committed to sustainable, climate-resilient and technology-based fisheries and aquaculture, he said, and there is scope to strengthen cooperation with Italy through advanced technology, research, training and exchange of experience.

Bangladesh's ambassador to Italy A T M Rakebul Haque, joint secretary Md Saiful Islam of the fisheries and livestock ministry and economic counsellor Md Al Amin were present. If fish and livestock farmers are brought under the farmer card as announced, they would join crop farmers on the list of those eligible for government inputs and incentives.

Source: Krishi Sangbad