The SAARC Agriculture Centre, Bangladesh, has held a coordination meeting with heads and senior representatives of various national and international organisations to identify possible joint programmes and areas of cooperation for 2027.

The meeting was held at the centre's office in Dhaka on Saturday, 29 August, chaired by its director Dr Md Harunur Rashid. Representatives of organisations working on agriculture, food systems, rural development, livestock, fisheries, the environment and people-centred development took part.

Dr Md Harunur Rashid said coordinated cooperation between government, non-government and development partner organisations must be strengthened to meet the growing challenges facing South Asia's agriculture and food systems.

He added that effective and sustainable change for farmers and rural communities is possible through sharing knowledge and experience, spreading technology and innovation and implementing programmes jointly. Cooperation from partner organisations is important to make the agriculture and food systems of SAARC countries more sustainable, resilient and inclusive, he said.

Heads and senior representatives attended from organisations including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Bangladesh; Heifer International Bangladesh; HarvestPlus; the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, Bangladesh; ACI; Spectra Hexa Feeds Limited; RSB Properties Limited; Shishuk; Wave Foundation; Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK); Welthungerhilfe; TMSS; Climate Action Network South Asia; Fishtech Hatchery; Root Agrovet; Shushilan; and the Niribili Group.

The meeting discussed in detail how to identify possible joint programmes and collaborative initiatives between the SAARC Agriculture Centre and partner organisations in 2027. Participants presented their organisations' priorities, experience, expertise and ongoing work.

The discussion highlighted the potential for joint work in sustainable agriculture, agroecology-based farming, food and nutrition security, climate resilience, livestock and fisheries development, agricultural value chains, rural livelihoods, skills development, and the exchange of knowledge and technology.

The participating organisations expressed interest in strengthening mutual cooperation in 2027 and taking up practical and fruitful joint initiatives. The meeting expressed hope that this would contribute effectively to building more sustainable, resilient and inclusive agriculture and food systems for SAARC countries.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.