The request was made when FAO Director General Jacques Diouf called on the prime minister at her office yesterday in the afternoon.

The components of the FAO regional networking programme include integrated pest management, biotechnology and bio-safety, fertilizer and fertility management and plant and animal genetic information.

Khaleda, who is the chairperson of the National Task Force on Biotechnology, also sought FAO support in developing a gene bank as well as in the development of biotechnology, its capacity building and research.

Jacques assured FAO support in supplying agri-inputs like seeds and fertilizers to the farmers.

Khaleda appreciated the FAO support in the field of crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry since the independence of Bangladesh.