“Countries like Bangladesh have to think about new research in agriculture in order to adapt to the changing world situation,” said Bangladesh Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque. To that end, global initiatives like One CGIAR can help take Bangladesh forward in this new way of thinking in agricultural research.
The Minister made the remarks at One CGIAR online briefing session organized by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on 10 September 2020.
CGIAR is a global partnership of 15 organizations conducting research for a food-secure future. Recently, One CGIAR was announced aiming for greater integration and impact in the face of the interdependent challenges facing today’s world.
Under One CGIAR, the global research organizations will work together on common agricultural issues, a move that One CGIAR leaders believe will ensure efficient use of resources and help achieve the goals of research activities through better cooperation.
The Bangladesh Agriculture Minister, who himself is an agriculturist by training, welcomed the commitment of One CGIAR to work towards a world free of hunger by 2030, and assured that the government of Bangladesh would fully support One CGIAR. He also hoped that other research institutions, including IRRI, would come forward with stronger research activities in the field of agriculture and economic development in the country.
“The Bangladesh government has a long-standing relationship with IRRI and other CGIAR organizations,” said Agriculture Secretary Md. Nasiruzzaman. “They have an important role to play in upholding food security in Bangladesh. One CGIAR will have a lot in common with the Bangladesh government's plan for the areas it would prioritize for research.”
IRRI Director General Matthew Morrell said the initiative would not have a negative impact on ongoing IRRI-BRRI research activities in Bangladesh, but would, in fact, make the partnership stronger.
BRRI Director General Dr. Md. Shahjahan Kabir, IRRI Board of Trustees Chair Jim Godfrey, IRRI Regional Representative for South Asia Dr. Nafees Meah, IRRI Country Representative for Bangladesh Dr. Humnath Bhandari, and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Executive Chair Dr. SM Bakhtiyar were also present at the online briefing.
Other organizations under CGIAR include Africa Rice Center, Center for International Forestry Research, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, International Food Policy Research Institute, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, International Livestock Research Institute, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, International Potato Center, International Water Management Institute, The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, World Agroforestry, and WorldFish.
These organizations will continue to work together to address food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation and improvement of quality of life, gender equality and social inclusion, climate change, and environment and biodiversity.