The government of Bangladesh and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have marked the 50th anniversary of the FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), celebrating a partnership that has supported the country’s agricultural development for decades.
The event, held on Sunday at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), also saw the formal launch of five new FAO-backed technical cooperation projects designed to help address emerging challenges facing Bangladesh’s agriculture and food systems.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid inaugurated the programme as chief guest.
Senior government officials, development partners, representatives of farmers’ organisations, civil society groups and members of the media also attended.
The Technical Cooperation Programme, established by the FAO in 1976, provides rapid technical assistance to member countries in response to national priorities.
It supports governments in strengthening agricultural systems, developing policies, responding to emergencies, improving institutional capacity and testing innovative solutions that can later be expanded through larger investments.
According to the FAO, the programme has supported more than 11,000 projects across 178 member countries over the past five decades, with total investment reaching around 2 billion US dollars. Between 700 and 800 new TCP projects are approved every two years, making it one of the organisation’s principal technical support mechanisms.
In Bangladesh, FAO said it has implemented more than 380 technical assistance projects since 1973, with combined funding exceeding 420 million US dollars. The initiatives have focused on strengthening agricultural institutions, improving policymaking and promoting innovation across the country’s agrifood sector.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid said Bangladesh’s progress in agriculture had been built on strong national leadership and long-standing international cooperation.
He said the Technical Cooperation Programme had contributed to creating a more resilient, productive and sustainable food system.
FAO Representative in Bangladesh Jiaoqun Shi said the programme reflected the organisation’s commitment to delivering timely technical support based on the priorities identified by member states. He added that, over the past 50 years, the initiative had helped turn technical knowledge into practical development outcomes.
The newly launched projects were developed jointly by the government and the FAO and are intended to strengthen innovation, technical expertise and collaboration in response to evolving agricultural needs.
During the event, speakers from government agencies, development organisations and technical institutions highlighted the programme’s role in building national capacity and supporting long-term agricultural development.
They also described the TCP as an effective link between technical expertise and wider investment programmes.
The celebration also recognised the contributions of farmers, researchers, agricultural extension workers and public institutions whose efforts have supported Bangladesh’s agricultural transformation over the years.
As Bangladesh continues to pursue its national development goals and the Sustainable Development Goals, the government and the FAO reaffirmed their commitment to promoting sustainable food production, improved nutrition, environmental protection and inclusive rural development.
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