ADB to support UGC’s Tk 23 billion project on smart agriculture, food technology
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest in research and development of the country's agricultural and food technology sectors, the creation of skilled human resources, climate management, and smart agriculture.
For this purpose, a five-year 'Strengthening Higher Education in Agriculture Project (SATP)' scheme of Tk about 23 billion has been taken up which is expected to start from next year.
Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) and Bangladesh Agricultural University will jointly implement this project, said the UGC in a statement on Thursday after it held a meeting with the ADB officials in its office in the city.
In a courtesy call with the UGC Chairman Prof SMA Faiz, ADB Bangladesh Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong and other officials assured the implementation of this new project in the agriculture sector, said the UGC.
Jeong said in the meeting that the SATP project will strengthen the country's food and agriculture industry and create skilled human resources in this sector.
He feels that the project will also help in achieving economic growth of the country. He expects the help of UGC and related parties for the successful implementation of this project.
The UGC Chairman said that the proposed project will play an important role in the development of human resources and economic growth in the agricultural sector of the country.
It will help Bangladesh in food security, climate management, food processing, smart agriculture, and conducting advanced research. He assured the ADB delegation that full cooperation would be provided in the implementation of the proposed project.
The academic and research infrastructure of Bangladesh Agricultural University will be created under the SATP project.
An advanced research center named 'Bangladesh Instrumentation Center for Climate Change and Agricultural Research' will be built with the funding of this project.
Apart from establishing modern labs, agriculture and agriculture major universities will be able to conduct research from this center.
Besides, the project will create linkages with teachers-students, farmers and agriculture-related industries.
Under the project, the necessary training will be provided to develop professional skills along with designing modern curriculum in agriculture, food processing and climate change education, according to the UGC.