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BSMRAUinks MoU with Syngenta Bangladesh Limited

MoU

Partnership aimed at boosting agriculture research and extension initiatives Will enable the two organizations to develop superior crop varieties and agro techniques

Dhaka, Feb 7, 2016: To provide an impetus to agricultural research and extension initiatives, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the leading agri business company Syngenta Bangladesh Limited (SBL). Syngenta’s top leadership including its global Chief Operating Officer DavorPisk, Regional Director (APAC) Tina Lawton and South Asia Territory Head BipinSolanki were present at the occasion, along with other Syngenta officials.

“This MoU is aimed at exploring joint research and extension initiatives towards supporting productivity enhancement of farmers as well as ensuring sustainable food security of Bangladesh,” said DrMahbubur Rahman, Vice Chancellor, BSMRAU.

Speaking at the occasion DavorPisk said, “At Syngenta, we firmly believe that agricultural research and extension and their application would augment farmers’ income, generate employment opportunities, conserve natural resources and increase value addition for higher and inclusive agricultural growth. By leveraging our global R&D resources, Syngenta is able to continuously develop and launch solutions tailored to fulfil the needs of the farmers. We believe in a partnership oriented approach and our ability to identify adjacencies and engage strategic partners has enabled us to broaden the solutions we offer to the farming communities. We are certain that our partnership with BSMRAU, one of the leading agriculture universities of Bangladesh, will help us in delivering more innovative solutions to the growers of the country.”

Under the pact, BSMRAU will share technical know-how and mutual access to facilities, research farms and equipment and support personnel on mutually acceptable terms and conditions. The MoU will also allow the two organizations to partner for identifying and developing superior crop varieties and agro techniques. BSMRAU is a government-financed, public university of Bangladesh. It is located at Salna, Gazipur.

The MoU was signed by Dr Ismail Hossain, treasurer, BSMRAU and Md Sazzadul Hassan, Managing Director, Syngenta Bangladesh Limited

Tina Lawton added, “With our unique approach of thinking like a grower we have embraced farmer with one voice and one face, to deliver end-to-end integrated solutions for key crops like corn, wheat, rice, vegetables and cotton. Syngenta provides integrated solutions which combine our existing Crop Protection technologies into tailored agronomic and crop protection protocols to ensure better products, strong plant growth and yield gain resulting in increased satisfaction and profitability for the growers.”

Lauding Syngenta, Vice Chancellor DrMahbubur Rahman and other dignitaries hoped that this collaboration would go a long way in addressing emerging challenges like climate change and sustainable food security issues.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Director General of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Md. Hamidur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Dr. Jibon Krishna Biswas, Director Research of BRRI, Dr. Ansar Ali, Director, Research of BARI, Dr. Jalal Uddin, Member Director of BARC, Dr. Sultan Ahmed, all Dean of BSMRAU, Director research, Director Outreach, Director, student welfare of BSMRAU. The participants also contributed to an interactive session aimed at developing a precise activity plan for this new public-private partnership.

Syngenta Bangladesh Limited already has existing MoUs with organizations like Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) among others.

About Syngenta

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/Syngenta.