Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid seeks Japanese support for sticky rice production.
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.
