SAARC Launches Climate-Smart Agriculture Training

The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Bangladesh, has launched a three-day regional training programme to strengthen the capacity and climate resilience of smallholder farmers across South Asia. The programme focuses on climate-resilient agricultural technologies, technology transfer, knowledge sharing and strategies to improve the sector’s ability to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.

The training was inaugurated virtually on Tuesday, 3 November, with agricultural experts, policymakers, researchers and representatives of relevant institutions from different South Asian countries participating. The programme will continue until 5 November.

Strengthening smallholder farmers’ capacity

The main objective is to expand climate-resilient agricultural practices, technologies and strategies through knowledge and experience sharing. It also aims to strengthen the capacity of relevant stakeholders to develop effective responses to the increasing effects of climate change on agriculture across South Asia.

The inaugural session was moderated by Dr Raza Ullah Khan, Senior Programme Specialist (Natural Resource Management) at the SAARC Agriculture Centre.

Dr Md Golam Mahboob, Director of SAC, delivered the welcome address and opening remarks. He highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, knowledge sharing and collective action in addressing climate-related challenges in agriculture.

Technology transfer for climate-smart agriculture

The keynote presentation was delivered by Professor Dr Nutan Kaushik of Amity University, India. Her presentation was titled “Scaling Climate-Smart Agriculture in South Asia: Capacity Building and Technology Transfer for Smallholder Resilience.”

She emphasised the need to strengthen institutional capacity and facilitate technology transfer to improve the resilience of smallholder and vulnerable farming communities.

The presentation highlighted the importance of expanding climate-smart agricultural practices while ensuring that farmers and relevant institutions have the knowledge and technical capabilities needed to respond to climate-related risks.

Participation from agricultural research and development institutions

Dr Md Abdus Salam, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), attended the inaugural event as the Chief Guest.

Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD & SDF) at the SAARC Secretariat in Nepal, attended as the Guest of Honour. Dr Md Abdul Majid Pramanik, Director General of the Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bangladesh, joined as the Special Guest.

Technical sessions to continue until 5 November

During the three-day programme, participants will discuss strategies for advancing climate-smart agriculture, strengthening smallholder farmers’ capacities and developing more resilient agricultural systems.

The schedule includes technical sessions, expert presentations and exchanges of regional experiences. These activities are expected to help identify practical technologies and adaptation strategies while strengthening cooperation among South Asian countries in responding to climate change.
//DBTech/ABR/SMP/MVNO//