• 17 Dec, 2023
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The milestone publication on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) titled “Building Climate Resilience in South Asia: A Synthesis of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies and Practices” was ceremoniously unveiled during the grand commemoration of the 39th SAARC Chartered Day held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in Dhaka on 10^th December 2023. This groundbreaking work, a culmination of the concerted efforts of the Consortium for Scaling up Climate-Smart Agriculture in South Asia (C-SUCSeS) project, was officially launched by the Honorable Secretary of Agriculture in the Government of Bangladesh, Ms. Wahida Akter, along with the Ambassador of SAARC and BIMSTEC, Abdul Motaleb Sarker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, C-SUCSeS PSC Chairperson Dr. Shaikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, and SAARC Agriculture Centre Director Dr. Md. Baktear Hossain, alongside Ambassadors and High Commissioners from SAARC member states. The presence of high-ranking government officials, key agricultural scientists, and development representatives marked a significant moment in the pursuit of advancing sustainable agriculture practices in South Asia.

This comprehensive publication encapsulates the CSA technologies and practices specific to South Asia, drawing from the findings of published books on CSA technologies and practices from the six member states. Spanning across the diverse landscapes of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the book serves as a synthesis, amalgamating insights from individual publications on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in the region. The research, conducted by the national focal points and their associates of the C-SUCSeS project in respective countries, ensures a robust compilation of valuable insights into the region’s climate-smart agricultural landscape.

Categorizing technologies into five key areas, the synthesis addresses the overarching goal of seamlessly integrating climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into agricultural practices. Its primary focus is to safeguard the pillars of food, nutrition, and livelihood security in the face of a changing climate. The book not only provides a comprehensive overview of agriculture in the SAARC member countries but also dives into the nuanced challenges and opportunities arising from climate change, offering a distinctly South Asian perspective on CSA.

According to the Director of SAC, Dr. Md. Baktear Hossain, this book aims to provide a holistic understanding of the region’s vulnerabilities and innovative approaches to building climate-resilient farming communities in the region.

With detailed policy recommendations, the synthesis emerges as a valuable resource, poised to foster regional cooperation and facilitate the widespread adoption of CSA technologies tailored to the unique environmental and climatic conditions of South Asia.

This innovative initiative reflects a collective commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices in the South Asian region, and the synthesis stands as a testament to the potential transformative impact of CSA on the future of farming communities across the SAARC nations.

The synthesis of South Asian CSA can be found here.