As both countries face similar challenges and conditions, the solutions are also common to both countries

In a recent Inaugural Session of the India Bangladesh Digital Conference on Agriculture Sector, Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce & Industry and Railways, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India stated about the huge scope of collaboration between India and Bangladesh in the Agriculture sector.

According to the minister, there is a need to improve agricultural productivity in both countries from the current level of 4.5 tonnes per hectare to 10 tonnes per hectare. As both countries face similar challenges and conditions, the solutions are also common to both countries.

The minister stressed on the need to work together in areas such as farm mechanization, food processing, and fisheries. He was of the view that cooperation in the agriculture sector can help overcome the economic difficulties that both countries were facing. He stated that India was committed to ensuring barrier-free trade between India and Bangladesh. According to the minister, India had already removed import duties on agricultural imports from Bangladesh. On the issue of export restrictions on certain agricultural items such as onions, the minister stated that India was looking at ways of building up a buffer stock of these commodities before lifting the restrictions to ensure a regular supply to Bangladesh.

In his address, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Agriculture Minister, Government of Bangladesh stated that India could not only help with farm mechanization, it could also help with training farmers on these machines. It could also consider manufacturing these machines locally in Bangladesh.