Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The World Bank is supporting the Government for the Integrated Agricultural Productivity Project (IAPP) that aims to benefit approximately 300,000 small and marginal farmers in northern and southern districts.
The Bangladesh government places top priority on agriculture and food security.
The Upazila Project Coordinating Committees has already selected 375 unions for piloting. The Project has distributed 13.5 tons of improved seeds of different crops to the farmers. Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation has produced more than 122 tons of seeds.
The project will enhance the productivity of agriculture (crop, livestock and fisheries) in the flash-flood and drought-prone northern districts of Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilfamari, and Lalmonirhat and saline-affected tidal surge areas in the southern districts of Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalokhati.
The Department of Agriculture Extension has formed 375 Livelihood Field Schools and started providing training to farmers. On the first year of project implementation, the government has arranged 758 Rabi season demonstrations and 750 Kharif demonstrations for farmers’ groups. The Department of Livestock has selected 7000 beneficiaries and formed 350 groups.
The IAPP is funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), a multi-donor Trust Fund. Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia to be awarded a grant under the Program, amounting to US$ 50 million.
The World Bank is supervising the investment Project, the total cost of which is US$ 63.81, with a GAFSP Grant of US$ 46.31 and Government contribution of US$ 17.50 million. The remaining US$ 3.69 million from the GAFSP Grant is being used for a separate capacity building component, which is being supervised by the FAO.
The project is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. It is expected that the project will benefit about 175,000 crop farmers, 60,000 livestock farmers and 60,000 fish farmers in the selected project districts.
BBN/SSR/AD-05July12-5:30 pm (BST)
