Foreign Affairs Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Tuesday told Parliament that Bangladesh had started ‘contract farming’ in the African countries with appointment of 11 Bangladeshi farmers in Zambia.

A Bangladeshi company ‘Bhati Bangla Agritech’ that is engaged in contract farming in Zambia has got clearance of the government there to appoint 11 Bangladeshi farmers in agricultural projects of the African country, he said replying to a starred question from Awami League MP Rahim Ullah (Feni-3).

“Following huge prospect of contract farming in various African countries, it is the first incident of appointment of Bangladeshi farmers and it is a good start,” the minister said.