The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) inaugurated at a three-day virtual regional consultation meeting on Monday to promote regenerative agriculture among its member states.
The consultation, titled “Promotion of Regenerative Agriculture in SAARC Member States,” will continue until Wednesday, and includes participants from SAARC nations, various agricultural research organisations, universities, and international bodies.
The opening session Ambassador Abdul Motaleb Sarker, additional foreign secretary (SAARC and BIMSTEC) from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was present as the chief guest.
He underscored the critical need for South Asian countries to adopt regenerative agriculture, emphasising its potential to restore soil health, leverage digital tools, and develop effective strategies.
He called on the SAC to lead this initiative, which he believes will also help in restoring biodiversity across the region.
Md. Harunur Rashid, the director of SAC, who chaired the meeting, reiterated SAC's commitment to promoting sustainable and innovative farming practices in South Asia, stating that regenerative agriculture not only addresses environmental issues but also ensures long-term productivity and resilience for farming systems.
Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD & SDF) of the SAARC Secretariat in Nepal, attended as a special guest. He highlighted the economic benefits of the approach, noting that it improves soil and environmental health while also delivering financial returns for farmers. He stressed that a collaborative regional framework is essential to scale up these practices throughout the SAARC region.
The inaugural session also featured presentations from experts, including Debashis Chakraborty of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Sikander Khan Tanveer, a senior program specialist at SAC. Their presentations focused on how regenerative agriculture can restore the "Earth’s balance through soil, science, and stewardship" and provided an overview of the consultation’s objectives and program.
The first day of the event included presentations from each of the SAARC member states, with scientists and specialists sharing their country-specific reports on regenerative agriculture. The consultation's primary goal is to foster regional cooperation, facilitate the exchange of
knowledge, and align policies to promote these practices, with a focus on restoring degraded soils, enhancing biodiversity, and building climate-resilient food systems in South Asia, according to a press release.
