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Editor Dr. Md. Younus Ali

Senior Technical Officer, SAC

Editorial BoardDr. S.M. Bokh�ar, Director, SAC

Dr. Nasreen Sultana SPS (Hor�culture)Graphics

Ms. sanjida Akter

SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC)BARC Complex, Farmgate Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh

Tel: 880-2-58153152Fax: 880-2-9124596

Email: director@sac.org.bdWebsite: www.sac.org.bd

Vol.12, Issue 3July-September, 2018

Issue Highlights Vol.13, Issue-IIIJuly-September-2019

Regional Expert Consultation on "Food Safety in South Asia Region: Current Status, Policy

Perspective and Way- Forward”

Dr. S.M. Bokh�ar handed over the crest to the Chief Guest

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ISSN 1607- 8317

Visit us at www.sac.org.bd

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SAARC Agriculture centre (SAC) organized a SAARC Regional Consulta�on on "Food Safety in South Asia Region: Current Status, Policy Perspec�ve and Way- Forward” in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 26-28 August 2019. The program was jointly organized by SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) and BSAFE Founda�on. The consulta�on program aims to discuss the current situa�on of food safety, issues, challenges and way-forward to overcome the issues/challenges in the SAARC region.Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was graced as the Chief Guest. Mr. Md. Nasiruzzaman, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was present as the Special Guest. Ms. Syeda Sarwar Jahan, Chairman, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and Dr. Md. Kabir Ikramul Haque, Execu�ve Chairman, BARC were present as guests of honor.

Regional Expert Consulta�on on "Food Safety in South Asia Region: Current Status, Policy Perspec�ve and Way- Forward”

SAARC Regional Consulta�ve Mee�ng on Seeds without Borders in South Asia

Regional Training on Good Agriculture Prac�ces (GAP) in SAARC Member States

Developing Country Specific Integrated Plant Nutri�on System Modules for Major Crops and Cropping System

The SAARC Regional training on “Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Surveillance of PPR”

SAARC Regional Training Workshop on Earth Observa�on and Climate Data Analysis for Agricultural Drought Monitoring in South Asia

Regional Training on “Safe and Sustainable Vegetable Value Chain Development in South Asia”

Family Farmers Coopera�ves to End Hunger and Poverty through Integrated Farming in South Asia

Mul�-Sectoral Program Development for SAARC Agriculture Centre through Expert Consulta�on

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Dr. Mohammed Zainul Abedin, President, BSAFE Founda�on presided over the inaugural func�on. Dr. Debashish Mazumder, Senior Research Scien�st, Project Lead-Food Provenance-Environmental Research, Australia was as a key note speaker on “Towards the Development of Food Safety and Traceability Tools for Sustainable Human Health and Business: A Need for Larger Coopera�on” of the program. The consulta�on mee�ng was a�ended by more than 300 par�cipants from different ins�tu�ons and organiza�ons of SAARC member countries- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. On behalf of SAC Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Technical Officer, SAC coordinated the consulta�on and led the SAARC delega�on to Dhaka.

A�er the inaugura�on, technical sessions were taken place and eight country status papers were presented on “Food Safety in South Asia Region: Current Status, Policy Perspec�ve and Way- Forward” including policy recommenda�ons for countries and the region. In the second day, invited speakers from Bangladesh and India shared their learning, challenges and way forward on food safety in South Asia. Last day of the mee�ng, the par�cipants visited the interven�on on food safety management in Comilla, on 28th August 2019 and to further con�nue their discussions.

Major Recommenda�ons

The major recommenda�ons come out of the regional consulta�on mee�ng are described below.

• Making awareness among the people, consumer and food actors about importance of assurance of food safety, since each and every individual has to play a big role in it and foster a Food Safety Culture to improve food safety

• Intensify consumer educa�on, training and awareness

• Awareness raising on toxic contaminants at mass level.

• Develop Regulatory framework, direc�ves and guidelines on food safety management

• Con�nuous support of Govt. for effec�ve Food Safety Regulatory Framework

• Regional networking on FSRF & FS innova�ons.

• Collaborate, Cooperate and build trust amongst the various food safety agencies in the region.

• Establish pla�orms for mul�disciplinary/ mul� agency collabora�on and coordina�on.

• Development of regional standards and co-ordina�on of food controls where appropriate;

• Capacity building and making enabling environment of farmers/producers and processor from Farm to Fork in order to implement food safety management system

• Establish Food Safety Reference Laboratory of Interna�onal Standard

• Func�oning of Food Safety Authority as the NCA

• Promo�on of Good Agricultural Prac�ce in primary produc�on

Member States par�cipant with the Chief Guest

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To accelerate the delivery of new gene�c gains to farmers, seed regulatory frameworks need to be flexible, dynamic, need-based and member countries be willing and prac�cally reciproca�ng in the smooth flow of new valuable germplasm of food crops at least that have been listed by Interna�onal Treaty on Plant Gene�c Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and endorsed by all the SAARC member countries, a global treaty for food security and sustainable agriculture. Considering the vital importance of sharing and accelera�ng the delivery of valuable rice germplasm among Asian countries, Interna�onal Rice Research Ins�tute (IRRI) ini�ated the facilita�on of harmonizing seed policies across Asia to enable crop varie�es released by one country to benefit the farmers in another. This ini�a�ve is known as “Seeds without Borders” Agreement or Protocol. This agreement in principle provides access to new improved varie�es of crops to the member countries very quickly with minimum investment on �me and resources.Three Agreement Protocols (Dhaka Agreement 2013; Kathmandu Agreement 2014 and Siem Reap 2017) have been signed to facilitate the movement of seed varie�es to member countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in SAARC countries and Cambodia and Myanmar from ASEAN countries.

South Asia is the home for about 25% of the world popula�on depending in 11% of total global arable land. Over 50% popula�on in the region is engaged in agriculture which is dominated by marginal and smallholder farmers with an average land holding of less than 2 hectares. It is not unsurprising that 40% of world's poor and 35% of the world’s undernourished popula�on live in South Asia (World Bank, 2019). In spite of these constraints, South Asian countries made remarkable progress in improving produc�on and produc�vity of major staple foods in the past three decades.

Rice-based agri-food systems are most important systems in south Asia; rice, wheat and maize and grain legumes are the most important staples as highlighted in SAARC Agriculture Vision 2020 of South Asian Associa�on for Regional Coopera�on (SAARC). Presently, gene�c gains in major cereals are less than 1% per annum and delivering these gains to farmers takes very long due to various reasons. It indicates that South Asian farmers are not adequately benefi�ng from the recent advancement in plant breeding and gene�c improvements. Fast tracking variety tes�ng, release, seed produc�on and seed delivery can greatly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, par�cularly the SDG II- Zero Hunger and contribu�ng to several other SDGs.

Group photo with the Chief Guest

SAARC Regional Consultative Meeting on Seeds without Borders in South Asia

In order to materialize and func�oning these Protocols, SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) and IRRI organized a regional consulta�on mee�ng on “ Seeds without Borders” represen�ng SAARC Member States to iden�fy a permanent func�onal mechanism of Seeds without Borders framework to see if it would work when the volume of seed exchange increases. It was expected that the mechanism would be fully owned, resourced and formally endorsed and authorized by SAARC Member States and SAC.

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Mee�ng’s Recommenda�ons

• Seed without Border is a fast track mechanism of bilateral sharing of seeds and informa�on using the mandatory requirement for material transfer between two countries.

• SAARC Agriculture center (SAC) is recommended to act as coordina�ng body for facilita�ng the “Seeds without Border” ini�a�ve.

•SAARC Member States yet to join Seeds without Borders are requested to join The Ini�a�ve.

• SAARC Member States are requested to recommend nodal ins�tu�on and nodal person to facilitate this ini�a�ve.

• SAARC Member States are requested to provide check list of documents (e.g. request le�er, import permit, phytosanitary cer�ficates, templates, SPS requirements, etc.) required for sharing seed varie�es and informa�on to SAC.

• Each SAARC Member State is requested to iden�fy poten�al and popular crop varie�es along with passport data including agronomic, agro-clima�c (temperature, rainfall, day length, etc.), disease, insect pests and other relevant informa�on to be shared with the Member States. These informa�on should be placed in SAC web portal linked with the web sites of Member States.

• SAARC Member States are requested to share above men�oned informa�on by the end of September 2019 and SAC will share consolidated informa�on by 10th October 2019.

•Seeds receiving SAARC Member States are bound not to share the materials with the third country without prior consent of providing country.

•SAARC Seed Bank would need to facilitate the exchange process of seeds and associated informa�on among the SAARC Member States on Seeds without Border.

The program was organized from 3 to 5 September, 2019 in Godavari, Nepal inaugurated by Honrable Minister Mr. Chakrapani Khanal, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD), Special Guest Dr. Yubak Dhoj GC, Secretary, MOALD, Special Guest Ms. Isharat Jahan, Director, SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu. The program was par�cipated by 31 officials (Annexure 1) consis�ng of two representa�ves from each Member States of SAARC (Pakistan representa�ves delivered presenta�on was made in audio), representa�ves from ADB- Nepal and related officials from development partners based in Kathmandu, Nepal with resource persons from Nepal. Dr Tek Bahadur Gurung, Execu�ve Director of Nepal Agriculture Research Council as a chair and chief guest of the closing session expressed his gra�tude to SAC and SAARC for such type of instrumental program conducted in Nepal. At the same program Dr Krishna Dev Joshi, IRRI Country Representa�ve Nepal highlighted the ten point recommenda�ons and other major outcomes of the consulta�on mee�ng. Dr Pradyumna Raj Pandey, Senior Program Specialist (Crops) from SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), who was the coordinator of the program on behalf of SAC express gra�tude to all the dignitaries and par�cipants for their valuable contribu�on to make frui�ul program.

There were two technical sessions: one, Seed Regulatory Frameworks in South Asia and arrangement for sharing crop varie�es; and second, mechanism within SAARC framework to facilitate the exchange of crop germplasm between the member states; and group discussion (Annexure 2). The outcome of the program is as follows:

Objec�ves

� To review major achievement and gaps to date of Seeds without Borders ini�a�ve in all SAARC member coun�es.

� To present country status of exis�ng policies, laws, regula�on in rela�on to Intellectual Property (IP), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirement and iden�fy major bo�lenecks for the exchange of seed varie�es in line with Seeds without Borders understanding/ini�a�ve among the SAARC Member States and from CGIAR Centers.

� To prepare recommenda�ons of a Model/Mechanism to facilitate the exchange of germplasm between SAARC member states with its roles, responsibili�es and opera�onal modality.

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With the sharing of current status of GAP implementa�on in their respec�ve countries by the par�cipants, technical part of the training had been started. Major topics covered during topics men�oned in the program schedule (Annexure 2). Par�cipants were exposed to a Mushroom produc�on farm following GAP.

Objec�ves

• To review the past framework and ac�vi�es under country specific GAP as well as SAARC GAP.

• To train the GAP structure, indicators and implementa�on modali�es in South Asia and other parts of the worlds.

• To establish GAP network for SAARC Member States in coordina�on with SAC, FAO-RAP and Quality Council of India (QCI).

• To establish quality infrastructure mechanism in each of the SAARC na�on.

Recommenda�ons

• Par�cipants were highly interested in GAP training program, and have requested to increase the total number of days for training and to include more a�endees.

• Due to high demand, the training may be repeated next year with different par�cipants from member states in a different host country.

Regional Training on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) in SAARC Member States

The training was conducted at the Mahagun Sarovar Por�co Suites, Ghaziabad, U�ar Pradesh, India with 14 par�cipants from seven SAARC Member States (except Pakistan). The four-day long training program was inaugurated with tradi�onal Indian lamp ligh�ng. The inaugural session was chaired By Dr. Manish Kumar Pandey, Director, Quality Council of India, Dr Suresh Kumar Malhotra, Agriculture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, Coopera�on and Farermers Welfare (FW), Ministry of Farmers FW of India, graced the session as Chief Guest. Dr. Anjay Dave, Interna�onal Consultant, Food Safety and Former Chairperson Codex Alimentarius Commission India, was present in the ceremony as Special Guest. On behalf of organiser Dr. Nasreen Sultana, Senior Program Specialist (Hor�culture) coordinated the whole program. In his inaugural address, Dr. S. K. Malhotra said that GAP is a crucial tool for India to increase agricultural exports and become a 5 trillion economy by 2024. He emphasized on the need for harmoniza�on of the individual na�onal GAP standards to enhance regional trade in South Asia and also urged for the establishment of cer�fica�on systems in all these countries.Mr. Sanjay Dave, said that GAP has been instrumental in the transforma�on of the grape industry in India and we must expand it to other products and countries in South Asia. Dr. R. P. Singh, Secretary General, QCI conveyed the message QCI is commi�ed to support fully on technical ma�ers for the successful implementa�on of GAP standards in the SAARC in collabora�on with SAC. The speakers for the training include experts from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Agricultural Produce Export Development Authority (APEDA), GLOBAL Good Agricultural Prac�ces, and the Na�onal Accredita�on Board for Cer�fica�on Bodies (NABCB).

Member State Par�cipants with the Chief Guest Interac�on of the par�cipants during training program

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Developing Country Specific Integrated Plant Nutrition System Modules for Major

Crops and Cropping SystemThe opening session of the SAARC Regional Consulta�on Mee�ng on Developing Specific Integrated Plant Nutri�on System Modules for Major Crops and Cropping Systemwas graced by Honorable Chief Guest, Ms. Jayantha Ilangakoon, Addi�onal Director General, Department of Agriculture; Guests of Honor Dr. W.M.G. Samarasinghe, Director, Hor�culture Crop Research & Development Ins�tute and Dr. Punyawardana, SAARC Agriculture Centre’s Governing Board Member, Sri Lanka. Country Focal Experts from 6 SAARC Member States (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and IRRI have a�ended this consulta�on mee�ng. In addi�on, 15 Local Par�cipants from Hor�culture, Tea & Rubber Planta�ons, University and non-governmental organiza�ons have also a�ended the mee�ng. Mr. Kinzang Gyeltshen, Senior Program Specialist (NRM) from SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) was the over all coordinator of this consulta�on mee�ng. The Director, Hor�culture Crop Research and Development Ins�tute welcomed the experts and other par�cipants of the mee�ng. Honorable Chief Guest Ms. Jayantha has highlighted the alarming rate of land degrada�on and adverse climate change impacts in SAARC region,posing serious challenge to agriculture sectors. She commented that it is �mely, SAC ini�ated Integrated Plant Nutri�on System (IPNS) mee�ng to share IPNS modules of respec�ve countries, iden�fy challenges to adopt IPNS and recommendfor large scale adop�on of IPNS concept to increase soil produc�vity and maintain soil health. She also stressed on the need to have strong coordina�on among Researchers - Extensions – Farmers to adopt IPNS modules actually in the farms. Mr. Kinzang briefly presented about the objec�ves and ra�onale for conduc�ng the mee�ng. He informed the mee�ng that IPNS has been increasingly recognized and SAARC Agriculture Centre is focusing to draw regional a�en�on for large-scale adop�on of IPNS. Its adop�on requires strong collabora�on and assembling of scien�fic community, extension workers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders’ concerned, which ul�mately help to mainstream the concept of IPNS. All Focal Experts and other par�cipants have made a field visit to Na�onal Spice Garden, Matale to see the IPNS modules used for various Spice species and also to CIC Agri Businesses, Dambulla to see the IPNS concept adopted for hor�culture crops.

Member States focal points with Chief Guest

The closing session of the mee�ng was graced by Chief Guest, Dr. Punyawardana, SAARC Agriculture Centre’s Governing Board Member, Sri Lanka and handed over mementos to all Country Focal Experts. Mr. Kinzang has delivered closing remarks of the mee�ng and stressed the need to adopt IPNS concept for major crops and cropping systems in SAARC region.

Objec�ves

• To map organic and inorganic plant nutrient resources of our region;• To study the alarming rate of natural resources degrada�on in the region;• To develop country specific IPNS modules for major crops and cropping system;• To disseminate validated IPNS modules of respec�ve countries.

Recommenda�ons

• Encourage Liquid fer�lizers and encourage nutrient based subsidy policy.• Encourage use of soil amendments for improving soil physical condi�on and to tackle other soil problems e.g. acidity, alkalinity • Extension:• Ensuring availability of inorganic and organic fer�lizers to ensure �mely availability at required �mes.• Develop and ensure regulatory laws/mechanisms for genera�ng and recycling organic ma�er/ green manures in-situ

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• Invest and con�nue research to adapt IPNS modules to new risks including climate change.• Using modern tools and techniques in soil resource inventoriza�on. • Encourage manufacturing of bio-fer�lizers and develop laws to ensure quality control. • Encourage ICT based interven�ons to catalyze extension of IPNS recommenda�ons.• Include good agricultural prac�ces and new responsive varie�es to supplement IPNS for maximum benefit.• Encourage strategies to increase nutrient use efficiencies e.g. neem coa�ng urea, USG, slow release fer�lizers.• Develop strategies for purchase of inputs for improving soil health e.g. Kisan Credit Card. • Improve soil, plant and (fer�lizer) tes�ng facili�es, explore in-situ tes�ng tools.• Develop interven�ons to combat water pollu�on due to injudicious use of inorganic and organic fer�lizers.• Re-visit land ownership issues to ensure that the cul�vators own and care for the land (Maldives)• Ensure collabora�on with various stakeholders and departments (researchers, extension workers, farmers, private sector, policy makers etc.) to ensure maximum adop�on and benefit. • Encourage and explore use of locally available sources of nutrients to decrease fer�lizer imports.• Countries should have ac�on plan and vision statements to replace the inorganic fer�lizers with organic fer�lizers.• Involvement of farmwomen and youth into IPNS modules. • Develop policy recommenda�ons and policy briefs around IPNS

The SAARC Regional capacity development on “Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Surveillance of PPR” was carried out at SAARC Regional Leading Diagnos�c Laboratory for PPR, Bangladesh Livestock Research Ins�tute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh from 21st to 26th July, 2019. The cited training programme was jointly organized by SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka and Bangladesh Livestock Research Ins�tute, Savar. Dr. Ashis Kumar Samanta, Senior Programme Specialist – Livestock was the programme coordinator and lead the SAARC delega�on team to the host organiza�on. Dr. Younus Ali, Senior Technical Officer looked a�er the on spot implementa�on of the above training.Peste des pe�ts ruminants (PPR) is a great threat for the small ruminants in South Asia. Needless to say, small ruminants are the means of livelihood of marginal and landless farmers living in South Asia. In view of the above perspec�ves, the training was organized with following objec�ves: (i) To develop the capaci�es of scien�st/ professionals of na�onal laboratories of the SAARC Member States in laboratory diagnosis of PPR and (ii) To harmonize the procedures and protocol for PPR diagnosis in the region.

The inaugural session was graced by Mr. Subol Bose Moni, Addi�onal Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Peoples Republic Bangladesh as Honourable Chief Guest, Dr. S.M. Bokh�ar, Director, SAARC Agriculture Centre as Special Guest. Dr. Nathu Ram Sarker, Director General, Bangladesh Livestock Research Ins�tute, chaired the inaugural session. The par�cular training was a�ended by eight par�cipants from four Member States namely Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The topics covered under the training include PPR eradica�on strategy, Regional roadmap for PPR control, ELISA: an essen�al tool for surveillance of PPR, cell culture for virus isola�on and iden�fica�on, RT-PCR: the technique for the detec�on of PPR, general guidelines for PPR sample collec�on, preserva�on and genomic analysis, detec�on of PPRV an�body in sera by compe��ve Elisa, etc covering both theory as well as hands on experience. sample collec�on, BLRI developed PPR control model; comprising primarily prac�cal (hands on experience) along with theory aspects. A lecture was also arranged through skype on “Na�onal Animal Disease Referral Expert System (NADRES)” by Indian expert.

The SAARC Regional training on “Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory

Surveillance of PPR”

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The valedictory func�on of the training programme was held on 26th July, 2019 a�er undertaking field sampling of PPR in the early morning. Mr. KaziWasi Uddin, Addi�onal Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock graced the occasion as Chief Guest; while Dr. Hiresh Ranjan Bhowmik, Director General, Department Livestock Services, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh was present as Special Guest. Feedback was given by the par�cipants par�cularly the usefulness of training on PPR. Dr. Nathu Ram Sarker, DG, BLRI emphasized for more number of regional training programme as the disease challenges are mul� fold in South Asia.

Group photo with the Director SAC In view of the closing session

SAARC Regional Training Workshop on Earth Observation and Climate Data

Analysis for Agricultural Drought Monitoring in South Asia

The SAARC regional training workshop on Earth observa�on and climate data analysis for agricultural drought monitoring in South Asia was organized in Islamabad, Pakistan. Dr. Mohammad Faisal Director General South Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, formally launched the system during the opening ceremony of SAARC Regional Training program held from 29 July to 01 August 2019.The officials from SAARC Member States are a�ending a four-day training workshop jointly organized by SAARC Agriculture Center (SAC), Interna�onal Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in Islamabad. The training aimed for meteorological, agriculture and climate scien�sts, delves on the techniques of data development and analysis tailored for use in drought monitoring to understand drought and its implica�ons be�er, and minimize the impacts of drought in the region. Mr. Muhammad Riaz, Director General, Pakistan Meteorological Department highlighted the role of PMD in genera�ng �mely advisory on extreme climate events par�cularly on

flood and droughts in the country. He emphasized on close engagement with focal ins�tu�ons to yield best returns of our investment. Senior Program Specialist of SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) and coordinator of the program, Dr. Pradyumna Raj Pandey shared that the training would enable par�cipants to understand how satellite data, weather forecast and early warning systems can help understand and manage droughts. He said, “This is the second joint training programme by SAC and ICIMOD in this year. We hope that this training will foster further programs to promote ins�tu�onal capaci�es in genera�ng data products related to drought”.Speaking about the system’s capabili�es, ICIMOD’s Programme Manager Dr. Ghulam Rasul shared that the system provided mul�ple indices for droughts and seasonal weather outlooks at the na�onal and regional levels, and baselines on crop type maps, and farming prac�ces calendars valid at the district level. He said, “As a regional knowledge Centre, ICIMOD has been promo�ng the use of Earth Observa�on informa�on for evidence-based decision-making through applica�ons and informa�on systems to

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provide �mely and accurate informa�on.In his concluding remarks, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Director General, Na�onal Agriculture Research Centre (NARC), Pakistan expressed that this regional training will provide excellent means in achieving these goals. Mr. M. Idrees Mahsud, Member Disaster Risk Reduc�on, Na�onal Disaster Management Authority highlighted the learning’s of NDMA from past catastrophic events and expressed that now NDMA Pakistan has well-structured Disaster Risk Reduc�on plan and be�er preparedness. Hon. Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Member Climate Change & Food Security, Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan was the chief guest of the closing ceremony. He appreciated the efforts made by SAC, ICIMOD, PARC and other collabora�ng ins�tu�ons for such type of prac�cal and need based training program conducted in Pakistan. Mr. Birendra Bajrachrya, Programme Coordinator, ICIMOD welcomed the guests and par�cipants of the programs. He expressed his gra�tude to SAC, PARC and other collabora�ng ins�tu�ons for their supports. Dr. Mir Ma�n, Theme Leader Ge-spa�al Sciences from ICIMOD highlighted the essence of the four days training. Likewise, among the par�cipants Ms. A.B.Abeysekara, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Research), Sri Lanka expressed her gra�tude to SAC and ICIMOD for organize such type of prac�cal and technical training program for the SAARC par�cipants. Dr. Pradyumna Raj Pandey, Senior Program Specialist, SAC expressed sincere thanks to all par�cipants from the Member States of SAARC, local par�cipants, officials of PARC and ICIMOD for their significant contribu�ons to make a successful and frui�ul program.

All together 25 par�cipants from SAARC Member States, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are par�cipa�ng from the Member States of SAARC. Besides, more than 15 par�cipants from na�onal, state-level organiza�ons from Pakistan a�ended the training.

Objec�ves

• To capacitate agriculture and climate scien�sts through a training workshop on the techniques of data development and analysis tailored for use in drought monitoring.

• To impart hands-on skills and knowledge in remote sensing and climate data analysis to the workshop par�cipants. • To give prac�cal skill to handle locally generated clima�c data and their prac�cal use in drought monitoring.

Recommenda�ons

• Drought monitoring and early warning systems can support na�onal- and local-level planning and agro-advisory services to help local popula�ons and governments.

• Need to prepare for drought and cope with its impacts on agriculture.

• Drought preparedness measures, a range of climate-resilient adapta�on prac�ces— micro irriga�on systems, water harves�ng and storage prac�ces, and soil nutrient management—can be customized to local situa�ons.

• Need to prac�cal applica�on of drought monitoring and early warning systems, which can play a vital role in improving food security in the HKH region

Regional Training on “Safe and Sustainable Vegetable Value Chain

Development in South Asia”The five-day training was inaugurated with tradi�onal Sri Lankan lamp ligh�ng. This session was chaired by Dr. W. Weerakoon, Director General (DG), Department of Agriculture (DoA), Sri Lanka. Dr. Ajanthe deSilva, Addi�onal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Sri Lanka graced the session as Chief Guest. Ms. Jayantha MenikeIlankoon, Addi�onal Director General DoA, Sri Lanka and Dr. .R.Punyawardene, Director, Natural Resources Management Centre, Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka and Governing Body member, SAC were present as Special Guest and Guest of Honour, respec�vely.

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Dr. W. Wickramaarachchi, Addi�onal Director, Na�onal Plant Quaran�ne Service, DoA, Sri Lanka and former Senior Program Specialist (SPS) SAC, Dr. Gaminisamarasinghe Director, Hor�cultural Research & Development Ins�tute, DOA and Ms K. Ranathunga, Director, Extension and Training Centre, DoA were also present. On behalf of organisers Mr. George Babu, Program Officer, CIDAP, Dr. Nasreen Sultana, SPS, SAC and Ms. Disna Rathnasinghe, Deputy Director, DoA, Sri Lanka coordinated the program.During his inaugural speech, Dr. Ajanthe de Silva, stated that global food markets are undergoing significant changes over �me. Consequently, consump�on of vegetables has increased many folds. Hence, it is high �me for South Asian countries to enter global vegetables trade by developing capacity of stakeholders. Emphasizing the importance of vegetable in solving nutri�on insecurity in SAARC Countries, Dr. Weerakoon expressed his thanks to SAC and CIRDAP for organizing this much-demanded training in his organiza�on. Stressing on regional integra�on and free trade, Dr. Punyawardene, acknowledged that among SAARC Centers, SAC is working diligently and con�nuously proving itself as a centre of Excellence.

With the sharing of current status of vegetable value chain in their respec�ve countries by the par�cipants, technical part of the training started. Major topics covered during training are men�oned in the program schedule. In addi�on, there was a round-table discussion, group works and two field visits.

Objec�ves

• To understand concept and guiding principles of vegetable value chain approach;

• To understand roles of value chain actors and opportunity to create new market linkages.

• To develop capaci�es for iden�fying compe��ve challenges for determine market requirements by value chain analysis.

Recommenda�ons:

• Par�cipants were highly interested in this Vegetable Value Chain training program, and have requested to increase the total number of days for training and to include more a�endees.

• Due to high demand, the training may be repeated next year with different par�cipants from member states in a different host country.

Chief Guest and others on the Dias

Group photo with the Member States Par�cipant

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Technical papers were more focused on technical aspects (for example, food for�fica�on and nutri�on security, coopera�ve governance, livelihood promo�on through collec�ves, Farmers’ Coopera�ve Ini�a�ve to enhance Farmers Income with Integrated Farming System, etc). Meanwhile, field visit in some of the model project areas of NDDB (for example, Amul, mild processing, slurry, gas, solar power, Biddhya dairy) were visited that made insigh�ul on the overall integrated approach of coopera�ve development in India.

Objec�ves

The main objec�ve of this program was to strengthen the farmers’ coopera�ves in a�aining the SDG I-no poverty and the SDG II-zero hunger in South Asia. The specific objec�ves of this workshop are as follows:

� share good prac�ce among South Asia and other countries regarding policies and programs that provide incen�ves for Family Farmers to build and strengthen their coopera�ves’ produc�on and marke�ng endeavours.

� iden�fy and analyze policies and programs that can help boost the forma�on and strengthening of family farmers coopera�ves.

� iden�fy constraints and challenges, policy gaps and recommenda�on in for strengthening family farmers coopera�ves at the country and the regional level.

Recommenda�ons

• Farmers’ coopera�ves can be the best op�on for ending poverty and hunger. Therefore, align the coopera�ves program and policies towards ending poverty and improve food security.

• There are series of constraints and challenges pertaining to agricultural coopera�ve sector needs to be fixed.

• Coopera�ve movement and development could be integrated from inputs arrangement to output marke�ng that helps to increase the economics of scale.

South Asian Associa�on for Regional Coopera�on (SAARC) region covers around 3% of world's landmass and represents about 24% of world popula�on. Around 67% of its popula�on live in rural areas and they depend on agriculture, fisheries and forest for their livelihoods. Although, South Asia has good progress on a�aining several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, more efforts to be given on mee�ng the targets of SDG I- no poverty and SDG II- end hunger. Further increased efforts along with strong func�onal partnerships among different development partners including governments, private sector, interna�onal community, coopera�ves and civil society is crucial task in the developing world. SAARC leaders recognized the poten�ality of coopera�ves in “achieving inclusive, broad-based and sustainable economic growth and development at its Eighteenth SAARC Summit- 2005.

A regional expert’s consulta�on mee�ng on “Family Farmers Coopera�ves to End Hunger and Poverty through Integrated Farming in South Asia” was held during 22- 24 July 2019 in Anand, Gujarat, India. This program was jointly organized by SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Farmers’ associa�on(AFA) and Na�onal Dairy Development Board, Anand, Gujarat, India. The main objec�ve of this program was to strengthen the farmers’ coopera�ves in a�aining the SDG I-no poverty and the SDG II-zero hunger in South Asia. In this 3 days program, Country Focal Point Experts from the SAARC Member Countries, Technical papers from experts, and farmers’ experiences sharing from coopera�ve leaders were presented. Country focal point experts from six countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) presented paper on the main theme “Making Family Farmers Coopera�ves towards Ending Hunger and Poverty in South Asia”.

Family Farmers Cooperatives to End Hunger and Poverty through Integrated Farming

in South Asia

Family Farmers Cooperatives to End Hunger and Poverty through Integrated Farming

in South Asia

Group photo with the Chief Guest

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The Country Focal Point Experts made presenta�on on Na�onal Agricultural Research and Development: Policy and Priori�es in the country perspec�ves covering all the issues of agriculture and allied disciplines. The Thema�c Experts made presenta�ons on each thema�c areas (Crops, Hor�culture, Livestock, Fisheries, Natural Resource Management, and Agricultural Policy) in the regional perspec�ves. Furthermore, some presenta�ons on regional programma�c framework focusing on global issues vis a vis South Asia status on technology, innova�on and development in Agri-Food Systems were presented. One session was discussed on road mapping the SAARC Agriculture Vision 2030, par�cularly focusing on vision, mission, goal and objec�ves, and modality in formula�ng the strategic vision to be formulated in 2020 program.

This three days program was expected to achieve following two outputs:

• Formulate the long-term program framework for 10 years in six thema�c areas: Crops, hor�culture, livestock, fisheries, natural resource management and agricultural policy.

• Road mapping the SAARC Agriculture Vision 2030 to be formulated in 2020 program.

Objec�vesThe main objec�ve of this program is to develop long-term program to be implemented by SAARC Agriculture Center. The specific objec�ves are:

• Assess the current status of agricultural research and development, and policy issues in the region vis a vis global developments in technologies, innova�on and development processes;

• Iden�fy challenges and opportuni�es, and priority areas in policies and programs for agricultural research and development in the region; and

• Iden�fy need based demand driven program framework in agriculture and allied sectors for long-term.

A regional experts consulta�on mee�ng was held on “Mul�-Sectoral Program Development for SAARC Agriculture Centre” during 16-18 July, 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This program has been organized jointly by SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh and Asia Pacific Associa�on of Agricultural Research Ins�tu�ons (APAARI). The main objec�ve of this program is to develop long-term program for 10 year to be implemented by SAARC Agriculture Center in the South Asia region and road mapping for the SAARC Agriculture Vision 2030. SAC had developed regional agriculture program in 2007 that guided the SAC in formula�ng programs for last 10 years (2007 to 2017). Meanwhile, SAARC Agriculture Center (SAC) vision 2020 envisioned in 2013 for the promo�on of agricultural research and development and technology dissemina�on ini�a�ves for sustainable agricultural development and poverty reduc�on in the SAARC Member Countries, is going to be terminated by 2020. In this context, SAC is going to develop long-term program to be implemented by SAC for next 10 years and make road mapping SAARC Agriculture Vision 2030 incorpora�ng the lessons learned from the previous experiences and global changing reali�es.

In developing this program, SAC is collabora�ng with the Asia Pacific Associa�on for Aricultural Research Ins�tu�ons (APAARI). APAARI is a membership-based, apoli�cal and mul�-stakeholder inter-governmental regional organiza�on. It is bridging na�onal, regional and global stakeholders to bring about collec�ve change in agri-food systems. APAARI is joining hands with SAC to develop its mul�sectoral program, because APAARI has its vision of “Strengthened Agri-food Research and Innova�on Systems” which also covers the South Asia region. In this 3 days program, Country Focal Point Experts from the SAARC Member Countries, Thema�c Experts, Review Penalists, Development Partners and professionals from cross-cu�ng issues were gathered to formulate long-term programs framework and road mapping the SAARC Agriculture Vision 2030.

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Multi-Sectoral Program Development for SAARC Agriculture Centre through

Expert Consultation

Recommenda�ons

• The country focal points experts will revise their papers adjus�ng the comments and sugges�ons made during the mee�ngs aligning with the respec�ve country’s reality.

• The thema�c experts will finalize their papers adjus�ng the comments and sugges�ons made in the mee�ngs and adhere the papers of country focal point experts.

• The long-term program should be formulated in strategic plan of ac�on to be implemented by SAC.

• The long-term program will be �e-up with SAARC Agriculture Vision 2030 to be formulated in next year 2020.

Published by SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh