Bangladesh and Botswana have agreed to identify potential areas of cooperation in agriculture, livestock and fisheries and exchange technical knowledge and expertise in the agriculture sector.

Both sides agreed to continue discussions in agriculture and fisheries at the government, farmers and expert levels.

Bangladesh's State Minister Md Shahriar Alam, who is on a two-day official bilateral visit to Botswana, met with Botswana's Minister of Agriculture Fidelis M Malao in Gaborone Friday (February 10, 2023).

Shahriar was accompanied by the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Pretoria, foreign ministry officials and embassy officials.

Read More: US sees huge potential to grow its relations with Bangladesh: Counselor Chollet

The Botswana delegation was represented by high officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, including representatives of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Fidelis said Botswana is connected to many countries of the region by land routes.

The Botswana government is putting special focus on developing the country's fisheries and aquaculture sectors, he added.

Shahriar said his visit to Botswana marked the first foreign ministry delegation visit to Botswana and expressed satisfaction over the conclusion of the visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral political consultations between the countries.

Read More: Business Eswatini for signing MoU with FBCCI

He briefed the Botswana side about Bangladesh's achievements in the agriculture sector during the last decade, including the production of food staples, vegetables, fisheries, poultry and livestock, despite having a comparatively low amount of land.

He called on the Botswana side for considering providing contract farming opportunities to Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the unused agricultural land. 

Bangladesh already initiated contract farming in other countries in Africa on a low scale, Shahriar added. "Cooperation may be forged among B2B and B2G levels on contract farming."

The Botswana side expressed keen interest in concluding an MoU on cooperation in agriculture and contract farming between Bangladesh and Botswana. 

Read More: Newly established Bangladesh-Türkiye Business Forum launched as trust

Fidelis invited an agricultural expert delegation from Bangladesh to visit Botswana and underlined the need of establishing contacts between the agricultural experts and producers of the two countries.

The Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources proposed building a partnership with Bangladesh in agricultural education areas.

The delegation led by the state minister also had a meeting with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The university said both sides may exchange knowledge in horticulture, food security, nutrition and veterinary areas.

Read more: Bangladesh, Botswana sign agreement on visa exemption, MoU on political consultations

Shahriar said cooperation may be forged between Bangladesh and Botswana agricultural institutes.

Both sides agreed to sign an MoU on cooperation in agriculture and livestock areas and to exchange visits of agricultural experts.