SB Online Desk:

The hopes, aspirations, challenges, and potential of the people of Nepal and Bangladesh are similar. Through excellent international relations and mutual cooperation, both countries can further develop industries, commerce, communication, education, and agriculture. Additionally, Nepal and Bangladesh share a friendly and multifaceted relationship.

Speaking as the chief guest at a workshop held in the conference room of the Department of Agriculture at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on Thursday (March 14), Nepalese Ambassador Ghanshyam Bhandari expressed these views.

The workshop titled “Production Efficiency and Employment Nexus: Advanced Technology based Urban and Peri-Urban Horticulture in Bangladesh and Nepal” was organized under the auspices of the “Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture” of the United States and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The ambassador stated that although Nepal and Bangladesh have almost equal land areas, there is a vast difference in the amount of arable land. Due to the majority of Nepal’s terrain being mountainous, agriculture is challenging there. He discussed the status, potential, and challenges of fruit and vegetable cultivation in cities and surrounding areas in Nepal during his presentation.

Prof. Dr. Md Anwarul Abedin, Co-PI of the project, explained that due to climate change, the amount of arable land is decreasing annually. Therefore, the project aims to increase fruit and vegetable production in urban and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh and Nepal. Through this project, new employment opportunities will be created for women and youth, and new areas will be established through computer modeling.

He further informed that the project is being implemented in four regions of Nepal and three regions of Bangladesh. This project, which started on March 1, 2023, is ongoing in the Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions of the country until August 31, 2026.

Dr. Kalyani Mishra Tripathi, PI of this project and Professor at the Agriculture and Forestry University of Nepal, provided detailed information about the progress of the project in Nepal.

BAU vice chancellor Prof Dr. Emdadul Haque Chowdhury was present as the chief patron under the chairmanship of Dr. Shofiqul Islam, head of Soil Science Department. Special guests included Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani, Dr. Humnath Bhandari form International Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh, Prof. Dr. Mahfuza Begum, Director of Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System, and Abu Md. Enayet Ullah, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Mymensingh.