SAARC Seminar Spotlights Sustainable Family Farming

A three-day SAARC regional workshop on “Sustainable Family Livestock Farming” is underway in Kathmandu, Nepal, aiming to advance the United Nations–declared Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in South Asia.

Representatives from six SAARC member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — are attending the workshop. In addition, delegates from farmers’ organizations in Mongolia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and India, as well as national and international speakers, livestock scientists, professionals, and academics, are participating.

Coordinated by Dr. Md. Yunus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock) of the SAARC Agriculture Centre in Dhaka, the workshop began on 11 August with around 65 participants. Following three days of discussions, the event will issue policy recommendations and an action plan to accelerate sustainable family livestock farming. Topics include the use of technology in animal husbandry and the sharing of regional technical knowledge and applications.

Jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre, Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA) of the Philippines, and Heifer International Nepal, the workshop aims to develop strategies and action plans to strengthen family-based and pasture-based livestock farming in South Asia.

Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary (Agriculture Development) of Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, inaugurated the event as the chief guest. Tanvir Ahmad Torfadar, Director (ARD and SDF) of the SAARC Secretariat, and Dr. Ram Nandan Tiwari, Director General of Nepal’s Department of Livestock Services, attended as special guests.