Averting Food Crisis: PM proposes forming int’l seed bank

News Desk

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday proposed the formation of an international seed bank to avert food crisis in future.

She made the proposal when Qu Dongyu, director general of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), called on her at her official residence Gono Bhaban, according to PM’s press wing.

She also told the DG to form a consolidated fund for taking projects on digitisation and innovation.

Qu Dongyu assured that the existing cooperation will continue with a more robust, innovative, and digital approach. He invited the PM to participate in the World  Food Forum, from October 3-7, in Rome.

He was accompanied by Maximo Torero, chief economist at FAO HQ; Jong-Jin Kim, ADG at FAO Regional Office,  Bangkok; and Robert D Simpson, FAO representative in Dhaka. Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Ambassador-at-large  Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam, and Ambassador to Rome and Permanent Representative to FAO, Rome Md Shameem Ahsan were also present.