SAARC Workshop Charts Path for Family Farming in Livestock Sector

Category: ফারমার্স এন্ড ফার্মিং প্রডাক্টস্ Written by Shafiul Azam

Agrilife24.com:A three-day SAARC regional workshop on “Sustainable Family Farming in the Livestock Sector for Attaining the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) and the SDGs in South Asia” began yesterday (11 August 2025) in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The event is jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal, the Asian Farmers Association (AFA), Philippines, and Heifer International, Nepal. The workshop aims to develop strategies and an action plan to strengthen family farming in livestock and pastoralism across the region.

Delegates from six SAARC member states- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are attending, alongside farmer organization representatives from Mongolia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and India. National and international speakers, animal science experts, professionals, and academics are also participating.

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

The programme is being coordinated by Dr Md Younus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock) at SAC, Dhaka. Around 65 participants from different SAARC countries are taking part. The workshop will conclude with policy recommendations and an action plan to accelerate sustainable family farming in the livestock sector.