| A high-level delegation from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) visited FAO’s project interventions in Cox’s Bazar. The delegation was led by Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, accompanied by First Secretaries Jan Swillens and Tim Spaans, and Senior Policy Advisor Osman Haruni. Dia Sanou, Deputy FAO Representative in Bangladesh, was also present during the visit.
During the mission, the delegation observed FAO’s support to farmers and local communities through collective marketing, improved market access, and climate-smart innovations, including solar-powered, water-efficient irrigation systems. They visited climate-smart horticulture nurseries, commercial vegetable plots, community gardens, and aquaculture sites, which are contributing to enhanced local market and Fresh Food Corner (FFC) productivity, higher incomes, year-round cultivation, and improved household nutrition and dietary diversity. The delegation also visited FAO’s food processing and preservation training initiatives, which are strengthening livelihoods and expanding market engagement. In addition, they reviewed FAO’s disaster preparedness and resilience-building activities, including the upgraded Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS), reforestation, and slope stabilization efforts aimed at protecting ecosystems in landslide-prone areas. FAO expressed its appreciation for the partnership and continued support of EKN in advancing sustainable agricultural development, improved food security and livelihoods, and climate resilience in Cox’s Bazar. |
