Bangladesh, Netherlands sign deal to improve water management, agriculture

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Deputy Head of Mission of EKN Carel Richter and Joint Secretary of ERD Abul Mansur Md Faizullah exchanging documents after signing the agreement at ERD (NEC-2) Wednesday.

Bangladesh and Netherlands signed an agreement for the programme to improve water management and boost agricultural production in the coastal areas in Bangladesh, said a statement. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) and Economic Relations Division (ERD) on behalf of Bangladesh signed the agreement of the Blue Gold Programme Wednesday under which the Netherlands Development Cooperation will provide financial and technical support for integrated and sustainable economic development by improving the Water management and production in selected polders of Bangladesh. The agreement was signed by Carel Richter, Deputy Head of Mission, EKN and Abul Mansur Md Faizullah, Joint Secretary, ERD at a ceremony at ERD (NEC-2). The Blue Gold programme has been designed taking into account the lessons learnt over the past twenty years, the new insights in how to deal with the challenges created by the very dynamic rivers of Bangladesh, active people's participation in the development works and the new communication technologies. The Netherlands contribution will be Euro 50 million for a period of 6 years. Under the terms of this agreement, the programme will concentrate on development of about 25 polders in three districts: Satkhira, Khulna and Patuakhali. In a limited number of polders (25,000 ha) rehabilitation of the water infrastructure will be done while fine-tuning of the water infrastructure will be done in the majority of polders (135,000 ha), as to ensure that water can be used more effectively for the productive sectors. In a later phase of the programme other districts could be included as to introduce the participatory integrated approach. Overcoming water problems and implementing good water management practices through the approach of community participation is seen as the basis for further improving food production and establishing business opportunities, from which the communities will significantly benefit. Blue Gold Programme areas will also be serviced through two other separate EKN funded programmes; i) "MAX value for WASH"- drinking water, sanitation and hygiene project (Euro 6 million) under which the livelihood conditions will be improved: by awareness raising and applying the principles of balanced nutrition, of sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), on gender, on good governance and on climate change; and ii) SAFAL (sustainable agriculture, food security and linkages)- 12.5 million Euro; will support business and value chain development of livestock (dairy), fisheries and horticulture. Therefore, the total EKN financing in the Blue Gold Area will be around 68.5 million Euro.