Bangladesh, Oct. 3 -- Smallholding and outmoded farming is poised for extinction through mechanisation and commercialisation of agriculture under a donor-funded programme aimed at switching to production of marketable high-value crops.

Officials have said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide $100 million in financial assistance to Bangladesh government for realising the recipe that will boost agricultural productivity, too.

The Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance is currently finalising negotiations with the Manila-based multilateral lender for the proposed loan agreement, according to officials familiar with the process.

The agricultural-upgrade scheme, titled 'High-Value Crop Commercialisation and...