Exporting agri-entrepreneurship

BANGLADESH has successfully ‘exported’ agricultural labour for decades to Qatar and Malaysia, where our farmers have evolved from labourers into entrepreneurs. This article proposes a formal policy shift — from unorganised labour migration to state-backed agricultural investment in English-speaking African nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia. By adopting a structured and strategic approach, Bangladesh can secure external food sources, diversify export earnings and elevate the status of its farmers — from wage earners to global farm managers and investors. Our farmers have already demonstrated remarkable adaptability across diverse climates and regulatory environments, making this transition not only feasible but strategically compelling. The Qatar experience IN RESPONSE to food security initiatives, Bangladeshi migrants in Qatar moved beyond manual labour to leasing land in Al Khor and Al Shamal. They now manage over 1,100 farms, contributing to approximately 46 per ...