Bangladesh

Collaborative Activities between BIOVERSITY/COGENT and Bangladesh

1. Capacity Building

a) Technical assistance/expert advice
Between 1994 - 2006, seven experts visited Bangladesh to assess the country’s R&D capability as well as to assist the national programme in identifying common problems, opportunities and projects for network collaboration; to serve as resource person for a Farmer’s Participatory Training Workshop on Coconut Diversity; to assist in the installation of equipment for feasibility studies; to train on Production of Coconut-based Candy, Coconut Virgin Oil, Bakery Products and Coconut Shell Handicrafts in Bangladesh.

b) Training and human resources development
To date, four training activities have been conducted in Bangladesh on Farmer Participatory Research on Coconut Diversity; Training Course on Producing Coconut-based Candy; Training Course on Producing Coconut-based Bakery Products and Coconut Virgin Oil; Training Course on Producing Coconut Shell-based Handicrafts with 30 local researchers and community members participating.

Thirteen staff from partner coconut research institutions in Bangladesh were sponsored by COGENT to undergo staff development training from 1996 to 2004 in other countries on courses such as standardized research techniques in coconut breeding (STANTECH), technical/proposal writing and seminar presentation; coconut data analysis; embryo culture; MSPGR and Ph D scholarship.

c) COGENT meetings/workshops
So far, no COGENT-initiated or -sponsored meeting or workshop have been conducted in the country.

2. Research Projects

17 projects have been carried out in the country, by Banchte Shekha and BARI as the implementing institution.

3. Financial Support and Funding

ADB, IFAD and DFID provided funding support for projects in Bangladesh totaling US$83,796, with the national government giving counterpart financing of US$36,770.

4. Summary of Activities and Accomplishments, Bangladesh

Prepared by:
Yeow Giap Seng, COGENT Programme Assistant