Rashid seeks more Japanese assistance in agricultures
Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today sought Japanese assistance in producing Japanese sticky rice here. "If Japan is interested, large-scale organic agricultural production can be carried out there for export . . . Bangladesh is interested in producing Japanese sticky rice," the minister told the Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Saida Shinichi as he paid a courtesy call on him at the Bangladesh Secretariat here today. "During the meeting, the agriculture minister also sought for Japan's technical cooperation in export-oriented Eel (cuchia) and crab farming in Bangladesh," said a press release this afternoon. Besides, various issues related to Bangladesh-Japan relations, agriculture, safe food, fisheries and livestock sectors dominated the discussion, it said.
The minister thanked Japan for its continued cooperation in the agricultural sector as a true friend and long-standing development partner of Bangladesh. Noting that Japan is cooperating Bangladesh in various sectors through JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the agriculture minister pointed out many similarities of Japan with Bangladesh in agriculture, especially rice production. Drawing his [the ambassador] attention to increasing the import of agricultural products from Bangladesh to Japan, he said, "We have numerous chars in the basins of major rivers ... Where the soil is fertile, there is huge potential in producing crops like sweet potatoes." The Japanese ambassador said Japan is working as a development partner in the agriculture and fisheries sectors of Bangladesh through JICA. "The Japanese private sector is keen to invest in the agriculture, fisheries, livestock and food processing sectors of Bangladesh," the envoy added. Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul E Mohamed was present at the time.
