IFPRI and SAARC Agriculture Centre Sign MoU in New York
An agreement was signed in New York between the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC). The ceremony was attended by Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), as the chief guest, while Dr. Johan Swinnen, Director General of IFPRI, joined as special guest.
Also present were Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director of the SAARC Agriculture Centre; Dr. Shahidur Rashid, Director of IFPRI’s South Asia Office (New Delhi); Dr. Purnima Menon, Senior Director of IFPRI (Washington); and Dr. Teunis van Rheenen, Director of Business Development and External Relations at IFPRI (Washington).
The collaboration aims to strengthen coordination in critical areas such as agricultural research, extension services, nutrition, and policymaking.
SAARC Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar stated, “The MoU between the SAARC Agriculture Centre and IFPRI will play a special role in strengthening regional cooperation. Such partnerships will make important contributions to technology development and effective extension in agriculture and related sectors.”
Dr. Swinnen, IFPRI Director General, said, “Cooperation will further increase in knowledge acquisition and management, agricultural trade, policy innovation, and capacity development.”
The event concluded with a joint commitment to building a food-secure, resilient, and prosperous South Asia.
