Bangladesh has made a move to seize an opportunity of farming in the Northeast African country Sudan through overseas investment.
To this end, an 11-member committee, led by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) executive chairman Kazi M Aminul Islam, has been formed.
The 'implementation taskforce' was constituted at a high-level meeting convened by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on September 10.
Md Abul Kalam Azad, principal coordinator of the SDG affairs at the PMO, presided over the meeting.
The meeting was a follow-up to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's instruction issued on August 23, 2010 regarding long-term land lease in far-off Sudan.
The move is aimed at the country's long-term food security and unstable food prices in the global market.
"We've decided to tap farming opportunity in Sudan considering food security and global food price volatility," Mr Islam told the FE.
Sudan has 136.24 million hectares of the total land mass. Of them, some 40 per cent are farmlands that grow cotton, sugarcane and wheat.
There is a growing demand for livestock there. But its climate is little adverse for farming.
Under the PMO initiative, required land might be taken out as lease for 99 years for comprehensive farming.
Earlier, the local business community proposed to invest in the African country for commercial farming.
A discussant at the meeting suggested that land in Sudan be leased to ensure the country's food security.
A land ministry representative said there is no possibility of fisheries in Sudan, but livestock is in great demand.
"Our investors can do farming and livestock business there, competing with India and China," he observed.
Investors from China and India are engaged in long-term land lease deals with the Sudanese government, said a source with knowledge of the development.
The task force will prepare a roadmap on the modus operandi to lease land for farming and fisheries there.
It will also scrutinise the current policies of Sudan.
The panel will also fix a target to lease land, its utility and commercial farming there.
Sources said relevant domestic policies may be reviewed and amended if need be.
It was not possible to take the BIDA chief's comment in this connection because of his staying abroad now.
On the other hand, BIDA secretary Moinul Islam could not be contacted over phone despite several attempts.
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