Bangladesh is looking for ways to sign a framework with potential African countries to explore untapped contract farming opportunities and identify particular countries in Africa for initiating a pilot project.

An inter-ministerial meeting co-chaired by Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaq and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on taking lands one lease in African countries for contract farming by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs was held at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by the Executive Chairman, BIDA, Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary), representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Armed Forces Division, the Prime Minister Office and Bangladesh Bank.

The meeting focused on identifying ways and means for establishing contract farming in African countries by Bangladeshi farmers and entrepreneurs.

The Foreign Minister said by leasing land in the African countries, employment opportunities may be created for a very large number of Bangladeshi workers and farmers.

He suggested that peacekeeping Missions in the African countries may establish contacts with local authorities for contract farming opportunities.

The Foreign Minister also suggested that exchange of training on agriculture may be made with the African countries to make them familiar with our advancements made in the field of agriculture.

The Agriculture Minister said since Bangladesh has a huge population, contract farming could be a viable source of creation of employment abroad.

He said Bangladeshi farmers could be employed in the African countries for the purpose of importing and commercializing the products that they would produce in the countries.

He underlined the importance of identifying suitable countries in Africa in this regard.

Foreign Secretary Secretary Masud Bin Momen said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Commerce should work together on exploring contract farming opportunities in Africa and identifying particular countries for initiating pilot projects.

He underlined that a framework agreement needs to be signed with the potential African countries.

Masud Momen suggested offering training to the African agricultural scientists in Bangladesh as well as demonstrating to them the remarkable advancement Bangladesh achieved in the agriculture sector.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized inter-ministerial meetings attended by representatives from the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ministry of Agriculture, Armed Forces Division, BIDA and Bangladesh Bank on opportunities of contract farming in Africa in recent times.

At the meeting, the representatives of the Agriculture Ministry informed that huge potentials exist in the African countries of growing food staples, fruits, vegetables and cash crops for import to Bangladesh and export to other countries.

The Foreign Ministry officials said there exist opportunities of crop production and import of produced crops from the African countries back to Bangladesh as well as exporting the produced crops to other countries.

The Foreign Ministry representatives informed that contract farming would contribute to food security for both Bangladesh and Africa.

The representative of the Armed Forces Division mentioned that there exist huge opportunities of contract farming in the African countries that we need to explore.

The official underscored the need for long term planning for contract farming in Africa.

The representatives of the Ministry of Commerce recommended that trade bodies including FBCCI and BGMEA may be involved in government initiatives for establishing contract farming in African countries.