 The role of agriculture in world’s economy cannot be denied. According to Webster’s dictionary, agriculture is defined as “the art or science of cultivating the ground, including the harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of livestock; tillage; husbandry; farming.” It is also one of the main activities and income resources for human being for ages. Agriculture not only provides food and raw material but also employment opportunities to a very large proportion of population. However, while some countries enjoy the new technological improvements and mechanical capabilities in agriculture, and decrease its proportion of the labour force accordingly; some of them, which are experiencing extreme hunger and poverty, still face problems of efficiency in the agricultural sector due to the lack of useful and efficient agricultural techniques to increase fertility. The Statistical Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), with its experience in contributing to the “Ministerial Conferences of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Food Security and Agricultural Development” initiates the Agriculture Capacity Building Programme for OIC Member Countries (OIC-AgriCaB) within its framework of Capacity Building Programmes (CPBs).
OIC-AgriCaB is expected to enhance the capacities’ of the related institutions in OIC Member Countries in wide range of areas such as efficient techniques of land, water and livestock management, fisheries and aquaculture and food security. Besides, a platform where best practices can be shared will be created.
Within the framework of this programme, SESRIC also has special CBPs for Cotton (OIC-CTP) and Environment (Environment-CaB).
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