FAO Marks 50 Years of Partnership with Bangladesh Agriculture

Photo : FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Government of Bangladesh celebrated a dual milestone today, commemorating FAO’s 80th anniversary globally and 50 years of partnership with Bangladesh aimed at ensuring a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food future.

The event, titled “FAO@80 and Bangladesh: A Shared Legacy of Agricultural Transformation for Five Decades,” brought together government officials, FAO representatives, diplomats, UN agencies, financial institutions, private sector actors, civil society organizations, youth, and farmers.

The celebration highlighted Bangladesh’s agricultural transformation while envisioning the next decade of collaboration. It began with a youth-focused session featuring 15 young agri-entrepreneurs who are redefining agriculture through innovation and ambition.

The main session included statements from government and FAO representatives and a keynote address highlighting the milestones of the partnership. A high-level panel discussion, “Dialogue for Impact – Partnering Hand in Hand for Inclusive Transformation,” showcased diverse voices committed to advancing agricultural development in Bangladesh.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, emphasized the longstanding collaboration, stating that for over five decades, Bangladesh and FAO have worked together to strengthen policies, build resilience, and drive innovation in food and agriculture. He noted the partnership remains vital as Bangladesh approaches LDC graduation, supporting sustainable growth, export development, and a resilient food system.

Md Mahmudur Rahman, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted FAO’s contributions through flagship programmes such as the Agriculture Transformation Programme, One Country One Product (OCOP), climate adaptation, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and emergency response initiatives. These efforts have strengthened national capacity, guided reforms, and improved millions of farming livelihoods.

Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, remarked that the milestone reflects a shared journey powered by communities, innovators, and partners. Deputy FAO Representative Dia Sanou underscored the remarkable transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture and the opportunities ahead.

The dialogue session featured distinguished participants including A K M Sohel (UN, ERD), Jean Pesme (World Bank), Hakon Arald Gulbrandsen (Norwegian Ambassador), Antonio Alessandro (Italian Ambassador), and Uzma Chowdhury (PRAN-RFL Group, MCCI).

Parallel afternoon sessions focused on technical discussions, including the closure of the Pesticide Risk Reduction project and the EAF-Nansen Survey 2025 in the Bay of Bengal.

The day concluded with a culinary exploration led by Farida Akhter, Adviser, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, showcasing Bangladesh’s heritage foods and demonstrating how traditional cuisine can inspire sustainable and nutritious food systems for the future.

Through the event, FAO reaffirmed its commitment to work hand in hand with the Government of Bangladesh to build a sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and food-secure nation, promoting better production, nutrition, environment, and livelihoods for all.