Published:  09:27 PM, 14 January 2025

Campaign on 'Local Economic Development Model' held in Shibganj

Campaign on 'Local  Economic Development Model' held in Shibganj
 
A day-long regional campaign on "Local Economic Development Model (a customized model tailored for Bangladesh to enhance municipal competitiveness) and the Role of the Mango Sector in Economic Development" was held at the Shibganj Upazila Parishad premises on Tuesday.

Shibganj Municipality hosted the campaign with the technical support of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) to highlight innovative agricultural practices that drive economic progress in the upazila.

Nine prominent

mango trade-focused  municipalities participated. They learned from Shibganj's best practices in advancing the mango sector and improving municipal services, which have significantly boosted the local economy.

The campaign was supported by the PRABRIDDHI - Local Economic Development (LED) Project, funded by the Government of Bangladesh and Switzerland, and implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD) and Swisscontact.

The event aimed to foster peer learning among municipalities involved in mango trade by sharing Shibganj's achievements in the mango sector and showcasing its improved municipal services to enhance the business environment. The adoption of Ultra-High-Density (UHD) technology has significantly transformed mango productivity, ensuring fair prices for farmers through the production of late-variety mangoes available throughout the year.
Prominent attendees of the event included Md. Azahar Ali, Administrator of Shibganj Municipality, Jiban Krishna Saha, Director General of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); Md. Abdus Samad, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chapainawabganj; Alamgir Kabir, Head of Business Administration at Swisscontact Bangladesh; and Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Chief Scientific Officer at the Regional Horticulture and Research Center, Chapainawabganj.

Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman, Chief Scientific Officer, HCRC, Chapainawabganj, stated "Shibganj's pioneering use of advanced UHD technology in mango production is exemplary. Not only has it increased production, but the region has also made significant strides in establishing an effective marketing process, creating opportunities for year-round mango exports and expanding the global export network".

Dr. Md. Sorof Uddin, Senior Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), presented his in-depth field research on eight municipalities to identify the challenges of adopting UHD technology based on Shibganj's model. He recommended practical solutions to these challenges and highlighted Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for mango production and top-working technology. His presentation offered strategies for achieving higher yields, addressing adoption challenges, and meeting export standards.
The event brought together over 1000 participants, including private conglomerates, prominent mango farmers, entrepreneurs, processors, agricultural extension officers, and senior government officials from BIDA and BARI, reflecting strong community involvement from municipalities including Shibganj, Chapainawabganj, Bagha, Godagari, Nachol, Mundumala, Noahata, Charghat, Puthia, and Satkhira.

The campaign marked a significant step towards fostering sustainable agricultural practices and local economic development, with the mango sector emerging as a key driver of economic growth in the region.





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