D-8 summit on food security starts today

The seventh D-8 ministerial meeting on agriculture and food security is all set to begin today. The two-day event will be held virtually considering the coronavirus situation.

Bangladesh will host the meeting as incumbent president of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8 or D-8.

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The organisation aims to facilitate development cooperation among member countries, namely Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan handed over chairmanship of the D-8 to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a two-year period in April, 2021.

"The main topic of discussion at this year's meeting will be Agriculture and Food Security: Development of Climate Smart Agriculture," Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said yesterday.

Besides, cooperation on various issues, including agricultural production and increasing productivity, joint agricultural research, mechanisation, agro-processing, blue economy, fertiliser production, seeds, animal feed, value chain development, training and capacity building will be discussed.

The high-level meeting will be attended by agriculture and food ministers, secretaries and other senior officials from D-8 member states.